Sven Alarik Melander (30 October 1947 – 31 March 2022) was a Swedish journalist, comedian, television presenter, and actor. He hosted multiple shows for SVT, acted in films and theater, and co-presented the 1994 Melodifestivalen competition.

Sven Melander
Melander in 2012
Born
Sven Alarik Melander

(1947-10-30)30 October 1947
Malmö, Sweden
Died31 March 2022(2022-03-31) (aged 74)
NationalitySwedish
Occupation(s)Journalist, TV host, actor
Years active1970–2022
SpouseKarin Melander Hassler (divorced)
Children3
Websitewww.svenmelander.se Edit this at Wikidata

Early life edit

Melander grew up in Malmö with his parents, Alrik Melander (1907–1977) and Alice Melander (née Mattsson; 1911–1986).[citation needed] By 1965, Melander was part of the Malmö FF ice hockey team, which won the SDS-Pucken competition of that year.[citation needed] Two of his teammates were future national-team footballers Staffan Tapper and Roy Andersson.[1] During his high school years, he befriended musician Björn Afzelius.[1] In 1967, both Melander and Afzelius were part of a hootenanny band called Lille Mats.[2]

Melander studied engineering, but after graduation, he soon became interested in journalism and attended the School of Journalism in Gothenburg.[3] In 1970, Melander interned at the newspaper Expressen in Malmö, and after graduating in 1971, he found a substitute job at the newspaper.[4] After his period at the newspaper ended, he obtained a full-time job at the newspaper Aftonbladet. [4] Between working at the newspapers, he worked for Radio Stockholm and also filmed his first big movie role.[4]

Career edit

Film and television edit

In the early 1980s, Melander established himself as an comedian and entertainer, starting with the role of Berra in Lasse Åberg's film Sällskapsresan in 1980.[5] Along with Åke Cato, Melander wrote sketches and scripts for the SVT shows Häpnadsväktarna (in 1981) and Vitsuellt.[6]

Along with Stina Lundberg Dabrowski, he was the television presenter for the SVT entertainment and comedy show Nöjesmaskinen between 1982 and 1984.[7] In 1985, Melander presented the show Nöjesmassakern along with Gösta Engström, Jon Skolmen, and Åke Cato; some of his most well known comedy sketches originated from that show, including "Werner och Werner" and "Trollet Rulle".[8] Between 1986 and 1989, Melander worked for SVT as the CEO of entertainment programmes.[9] In 1991, he presented another comedy and entertainment show for SVT called Tack för kaffet.[9]

Melander co-presented Melodifestivalen 1994 with Kattis Ahlström.[10] For several years, Melander presented the show Upp till bevis on SVT, and sports shows on TV4, such as the horse-racing show Vinnare.[11][12] In 2019, he was given an award for his work in television at the Kristallen-gala.[13] In 2018, he took part in Stjärnorna på slottet, on which he shared his life's story.[14]

In 2021, he participated in Masked Singer Sverige, singing in its first season which was broadcast on TV4.[15]

Theater edit

Along with Åke Cato, Melander acted in the show En rökare på Tobaksbolaget in Malmö in 1991.[1] Along with Eva Rydberg, he acted in the comedy play Allo Allo Emliga armén and in Lilla fransyskan at the Palladium in Malmö.[16] He also acted in Eva Rydberg's production of Hemvärnets glada dagar at Fredriksdalsteatern in Helsingborg in 2005.[16] Between 2007 and 2008, he acted in the play Little Shop of Horrors in Halmstad.[17] He also appeared in the revue Två bröder emellan.[18]

In 2016, Melander returned to the role of Berra in the musical version of Sällskapsresan at Nöjesteatern in Malmö and Chinateatern in Stockholm.[19] He also worked as a translator of scripts, including translation of Ray Cooney's revues Hotelliggaren, Det stannar i familjen, and Kuta och kör.[20]

Death edit

Melander died of esophageal cancer at the age of 74 on 31 March 2022.[21]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Edliden/TT, Ann (1 April 2022). "Rollerna som gjorde Sven Melander folkkär". Svenska Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  2. ^ Liljedahl, AV Ola. "Åsiktsmaskinen – så gjorde Sven Melander tyckarsuccé på nätet". fonstret.se. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Sven Melander, 70: "Jag är tillfälligt friskförklarad"". Hälsoliv. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "JAN-OLOV ANDERSSON: Den här människan är ju galet rolig, minns jag att jag tänkte". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  5. ^ Nyheter, S. V. T.; Nydahl, Kjell (1 April 2022). "Tv-personligheten Sven Melander död". SVT Nyheter. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  6. ^ ""Var helt kraftlös när det var som värst"". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  7. ^ Nyström, Nina (1 April 2022). "5 klassiska sketcher och citat från Sven Melander". MåBra. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  8. ^ Oxblod, Aino (4 April 2022). "Gösta Engström ensam kvar från Nöjesmassakern – så lever han idag". Femina. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  9. ^ a b Nyheter, S. V. T. (31 March 2022). "Sven Melander är död – blev 74 år". SVT Nyheter. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Sven Melanders stenhårda kritik mot Melodifestivalen". Expressen. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Melander får sparken". Expressen. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  12. ^ Lindström, Mikael. "Travvännen Sven Melander död". Gratistravtips.se. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  13. ^ Jami, Nanna (1 September 2019). "Världsartisten hyllar Melander: "Finns där för dig"". Sydöstran. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Cancerbehandlingen nära att stoppa Melander i "Stjärnorna på slottet"". Dagens Nyheter. 28 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Kända tv-profilen fick lämna "Masked singer"". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Eva Rydberg minns vännen Sven Melander - Aftonbladet TV". Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022 – via Aftonbladet TV.
  17. ^ Hammerby, Johan (1 April 2022). ""Vi skrattade så att tårarna rann på Halmstads teater"". Hallandsposten. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Väldigt ojämn mix av hjärta och sexskämt". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  19. ^ Justin Kase Digital Design & Development. "Sällskapsresan - på Chinateatern i höst". Chinateatern. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  20. ^ Richter, David (8 May 2017). ""Hotelliggaren"". Sveriges Radio. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  21. ^ Lindqvist, Daniel Andersson,Johan (31 March 2022). "Sven Melander är död". Göteborgs-Posten. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links edit