Viggo Elith William Pio (3 July 1887 â€" 10 February 1983) was a
Danish actor of stage, screen, radio and television. He is most noted
for starring roles in films such as Carl Theodor Dreyer's Leaves from
Satan's Book, Johan Jacobsen's Jenny and the Soldier and Benjamin
Christensen's Häxan.Elith Pio made his theatre debut in 1907 as a
member of the Peter Fjelstrup's theater company. He worked in various
theaters in Denmark until 1931, when he was employed by the Royal
Danish Theatre. He remained a member of the Royal Theatre until his
retirement in 1974. Some of his most famous roles were Aristophanes in
Johan Ludvig Heiberg's A Soul after the Dead, Dr. Relling and Old
Ekdal in Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck (Vildanden) and a chamberlain to
in Ibsen's The League of Youth (De unges forbund). In Denmark Pio was
also well known for his numerous roles on local radio theatre, where
his characteristic voice was an invaluable asset.Pio debuted on screen
in the 1908 production of A Folk Tale (Et Folkesagn). Thereafter, he
performed in approximately 40 silent films. In 1931, well known from
his work at the Royal Theatre, Pio starred in his first sound feature,
Hotel Paradis, in the role of Fridolin. From then on he took part in
over forty films. In 1947, Pio appeared as the state's attorney in the
film Jenny and the Soldier (Soldaten og Jenny) which received the
first Bodil Award for Best Danish Film. Pio's last film, The Man Who
Thought Life (Manden der tænkte ting) starring John Price, was
nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1969.As
part of a small group of participants in an emerging Danish cinema,
Pio was a favorite of many directors, working more than once with
Benjamin Christensen, Viggo Larsen, Mogens Skot-Hansen, Emanuel
Gregers, Ole Palsbo, Gabriel Axel, Knud Leif Thomsen, Lau Lauritzen
Jr. & Alice O'Fredericks, Svend Methling, and the legendary Carl
Theodor Dreyer. He worked four times with director Johan
Jacobsenâ€"most notably on Jenny and the Soldierâ€"and four times with
director George Schnéevoigt, who had worked as the cinematographer
for both of Elith's films with Dreyer. Elith also acted in eight films
authored by Danish screenwriter Fleming Lynge, who wrote the 1952 film
Meet me on Cassiopeia.
Danish actor of stage, screen, radio and television. He is most noted
for starring roles in films such as Carl Theodor Dreyer's Leaves from
Satan's Book, Johan Jacobsen's Jenny and the Soldier and Benjamin
Christensen's Häxan.Elith Pio made his theatre debut in 1907 as a
member of the Peter Fjelstrup's theater company. He worked in various
theaters in Denmark until 1931, when he was employed by the Royal
Danish Theatre. He remained a member of the Royal Theatre until his
retirement in 1974. Some of his most famous roles were Aristophanes in
Johan Ludvig Heiberg's A Soul after the Dead, Dr. Relling and Old
Ekdal in Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck (Vildanden) and a chamberlain to
in Ibsen's The League of Youth (De unges forbund). In Denmark Pio was
also well known for his numerous roles on local radio theatre, where
his characteristic voice was an invaluable asset.Pio debuted on screen
in the 1908 production of A Folk Tale (Et Folkesagn). Thereafter, he
performed in approximately 40 silent films. In 1931, well known from
his work at the Royal Theatre, Pio starred in his first sound feature,
Hotel Paradis, in the role of Fridolin. From then on he took part in
over forty films. In 1947, Pio appeared as the state's attorney in the
film Jenny and the Soldier (Soldaten og Jenny) which received the
first Bodil Award for Best Danish Film. Pio's last film, The Man Who
Thought Life (Manden der tænkte ting) starring John Price, was
nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1969.As
part of a small group of participants in an emerging Danish cinema,
Pio was a favorite of many directors, working more than once with
Benjamin Christensen, Viggo Larsen, Mogens Skot-Hansen, Emanuel
Gregers, Ole Palsbo, Gabriel Axel, Knud Leif Thomsen, Lau Lauritzen
Jr. & Alice O'Fredericks, Svend Methling, and the legendary Carl
Theodor Dreyer. He worked four times with director Johan
Jacobsenâ€"most notably on Jenny and the Soldierâ€"and four times with
director George Schnéevoigt, who had worked as the cinematographer
for both of Elith's films with Dreyer. Elith also acted in eight films
authored by Danish screenwriter Fleming Lynge, who wrote the 1952 film
Meet me on Cassiopeia.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.