Olaf Poulsen (26 April 1849 â€" 26 March 1923) was perhaps the
best-known Danish comedic stage actor of his time. He was famous for
playing such roles as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and
Falstaff, among others for the Royal Danish Theatre. His performance
as Old Ekdal in an 1885 production of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck was
particularly acclaimed. Olaf was by accounts an outsize personality,
unafraid to insult wealthy or noble men even when insulting a man in
public was a crime in Denmark. Five minutes of his improvisation on a
1913 film reel were described at the time as "the best film ever to
leave a Danish factory."Poulsen's brother Emil staged Royal Danish
Theatre plays in addition to being an acclaimed dramatic actor.
Poulsen was the uncle of actor and director Johannes Poulsen, who
married the ballerina Ulla Iversen.
best-known Danish comedic stage actor of his time. He was famous for
playing such roles as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and
Falstaff, among others for the Royal Danish Theatre. His performance
as Old Ekdal in an 1885 production of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck was
particularly acclaimed. Olaf was by accounts an outsize personality,
unafraid to insult wealthy or noble men even when insulting a man in
public was a crime in Denmark. Five minutes of his improvisation on a
1913 film reel were described at the time as "the best film ever to
leave a Danish factory."Poulsen's brother Emil staged Royal Danish
Theatre plays in addition to being an acclaimed dramatic actor.
Poulsen was the uncle of actor and director Johannes Poulsen, who
married the ballerina Ulla Iversen.
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