Sven Olof Björklund (28 June 1916 â€" 27 March 1981), better known as
Olle Björklund, was a Swedish actor and television host. Björklund
was the first Swedish television news presenter, hosting the national
news show Aktuellt from 1958. In that capacity, he quickly earned his
popular nickname Mr. Aktuellt. However, in 1961, Björklund's career
came to an end as he was fired from his position at Swedish Television
in the midst of a controversy involving a tobacco
advertisement.Björklund graduated from the Gothenburg High School of
Latin in 1933. He went on to study at the Lorensbergsteatern Theater
Acting School (1933â€"1934), The Reima School (1934â€"1935), and later
the Dramatens elevskola (Swedish Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in
1936. In 1937, Björklund was engaged at the Svensk Filmindustri
motion picture studios, and in the following year at the Vasateatern
Theater in Stockholm. In 1958, he was employed at Swedish Television;
hosting the very first national news program, Aktuellt, where he soon
became a national celebrity. Aktuellt was first aired on 2 September
1958; this particular transmission become notorious, as almost
everything went wrong. However, Björklund did his best - with forced
patience - to keep his composure.At the height of his career in 1961,
during his summer leave, Björklund toured local events at public
parks on the Swedish West Coast. His appearance was in part sponsored
by a local beer and tobacco wholesaler. Although Björklund had been
promised that his name would not appear in any advertising, the deal
was not honored by the sponsor. The national TV executive Nils Erik
Bæhrendtz, who had publicly criticized Björklund for his park tour,
personally ordered Björklund's swift resignation from Swedish
Television. After his forced resignation, and despite many viewers
demanding his immediate return to the evening news show, Björklund
virtually disappeared from the public scene. Four years later, on 20
October 1964, Björklund briefly returned to television; when he
appeared as a guest in a TV show, reading a short poem by Swedish
author Harry Martinson.Björklund was married to Ylva Dahlström. They
were divorced in 1969. Björklund died in Örkelljunga in 1981.
Olle Björklund, was a Swedish actor and television host. Björklund
was the first Swedish television news presenter, hosting the national
news show Aktuellt from 1958. In that capacity, he quickly earned his
popular nickname Mr. Aktuellt. However, in 1961, Björklund's career
came to an end as he was fired from his position at Swedish Television
in the midst of a controversy involving a tobacco
advertisement.Björklund graduated from the Gothenburg High School of
Latin in 1933. He went on to study at the Lorensbergsteatern Theater
Acting School (1933â€"1934), The Reima School (1934â€"1935), and later
the Dramatens elevskola (Swedish Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in
1936. In 1937, Björklund was engaged at the Svensk Filmindustri
motion picture studios, and in the following year at the Vasateatern
Theater in Stockholm. In 1958, he was employed at Swedish Television;
hosting the very first national news program, Aktuellt, where he soon
became a national celebrity. Aktuellt was first aired on 2 September
1958; this particular transmission become notorious, as almost
everything went wrong. However, Björklund did his best - with forced
patience - to keep his composure.At the height of his career in 1961,
during his summer leave, Björklund toured local events at public
parks on the Swedish West Coast. His appearance was in part sponsored
by a local beer and tobacco wholesaler. Although Björklund had been
promised that his name would not appear in any advertising, the deal
was not honored by the sponsor. The national TV executive Nils Erik
Bæhrendtz, who had publicly criticized Björklund for his park tour,
personally ordered Björklund's swift resignation from Swedish
Television. After his forced resignation, and despite many viewers
demanding his immediate return to the evening news show, Björklund
virtually disappeared from the public scene. Four years later, on 20
October 1964, Björklund briefly returned to television; when he
appeared as a guest in a TV show, reading a short poem by Swedish
author Harry Martinson.Björklund was married to Ylva Dahlström. They
were divorced in 1969. Björklund died in Örkelljunga in 1981.
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