Benny Holger Fredriksson (2 July 1959 – 17 March 2018[1]) was a Swedish actor, theatre director, and CEO of Stockholm City Theatre, Sweden.[2]

Benny Fredriksson
Benny Fredriksson in August 2013
Born
Benny Holger Fredriksson

(1959-07-02)2 July 1959
Hägersten, Sweden
Died17 March 2018(2018-03-17) (aged 58)
Sydney, Australia
EducationNational Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Actor, theatre director
SpouseAnne Sofie von Otter

Career

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From 1979 to 1982, Fredriksson studied at the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Stockholm. At the age of sixteen, he was a ticketer at Stockholm City Theatre. After finishing his education, he worked as an actor and director at the Royal Swedish Opera, Gothenburg City Theatre, National Swedish Touring Theatre, Drottningholm Palace Theatre and Stockholm City Theatre. Later he served as art director at Parkteatern and ensemble boss at Stockholm City Theatre before he became CEO and theatre chief at Stockholm City Theatre in 2002.[3] After sixteen years as CEO, Fredriksson resigned in December 2017.

Death & Allegations

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While on holiday in Sydney, Australia, Fredriksson committed suicide on 17 March 2018. Three months previously accusations had been made of sexual harassment and that he had allowed a culture of sexual harassment as CEO of the Stockholm City Theatre.[4][5][6][7] A preliminary report in March 2018 found no evidence that Fredriksson had engaged in such conduct,[8] and the newspaper that originally had reported the accusations has since indicated that some reports were misleading.[9]

Personal life

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Fredriksson was the son of Nils Holger Fredriksson and Ulla Maria Fredriksson; he grew up in a working class home in Hägersten.[3] From 1989 until his death in 2018, he was married to Anne Sofie von Otter, Sweden's most notable mezzo-soprano.[4][10]

Filmography

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  • Sammansvärjningen (TV Series, 1986)
  • Kära farmor (TV Series, 1990)

References

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  1. ^ "Benny Fredriksson död". Svenska Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  2. ^ TT. "Stadsteaterns förre vd Benny Fredriksson död" (Press release). Svenska Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b elisabet.andersson@svd.se, Elisabet Andersson. "Benny Fredriksson tog sitt liv: "Gränslöst mediedrev"". Svenska Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b Galvin, Nick (20 March 2018). "Anne Sofie von Otter cancels after sudden death of husband Benny Fredriksson". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  5. ^ "TRAGIC NEWS - Former Stockholm City Theatre CEO Benny Fredriksson Has Committed Suicide - Aged 58". The Violin Channel. theviolinchannel.com. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Benny Fredriksson slutar på Kulturhuset Stadsteatern". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 7 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Benny Fredriksson avgår som vd för Kulturhuset Stadsteatern". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  8. ^ Nyheter, SVT (20 March 2018). "Inga anklagelser om sexuella trakasserier mot Benny Fredriksson". Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  9. ^ "High-profile death prompts backlash against #MeToo in Sweden". The Irish Times. 30 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  10. ^ Sveriges befolkning 1990, CD-ROM, Version 1.00, Riksarkivet (2011).
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