On June 27th, 2017 the film industry lost a budding character actor when 56 year old Michael Nyqvist died of lung cancer in his hometown of Stockholm Sweden. In tribute to this actor that has contributed a lot to the film world, I want to countdown some of his greatest roles. R.I.P Michael, you will be missed.
Let’s get this countdown started.
5. “Together” (Role: Rolf)
We have to start this countdown with the role that first brought Michael Nyqvist success as an actor and put him on the radars of casting director around the globe. The film both managed to be satirical and warm-hearted, and Nyqvist was exceptional in his performance. That’s a big part of the reason the film achieved international success and earned Michael his first Guldbaggae nomination for Best Actor. If you want to see the depth of Nyqvist talent, this is the movie to watch.
4. The Girl Who Played with Fire (Role: Mikael Blomkvist)
Sequel to the ultra-successful “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” this film didn’t disappoint. Neither did Michael Nyqvist in his role as investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist. The movie was an international box office success bringing in over $60 million, a drop off from it’s predecessor, but definitely, a big money maker in its own right.
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Role: Mikael Blomkvist)
Based on the novel of the same this film was Nyqvist first box office smash. The film racked in over $100 million at the box office and garnered critical acclaim. Since then the film has gained somewhat of a cult following and legendary status. Definitely a classic.
2. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol (Role: Kurt Hendricks)
Kurt Hendricks will go down as one of the most formidable villains to come from the “Mission Impossible” franchise. Also known as “Cobalt” the Russian nuclear strategist aim is to start a nuclear conflict between Russia and America by arranging for the destruction of the Kremlin while ultimately pitting the blame on America’s Mission Impossible Force. This character was an outright evil genius, and Michael played the role to perfection.
1. John Wick (Role: Viggo Tarasov)
Viggo Tarasov had two goals… Running his criminal enterprise and… Killing John Wick. John… Once one of Viggo’s best hitmen, all hell breaks loss when Viggo’s son Iosef crosses John. This film did better than most analysts projected, bringing in over $80 million at the box office. All around this is a great action flick that sees Michael Nyqvist deliver one of his all-time greatest performances. If you haven’t seen John Wick yet, you definitely don’t want to miss out on this one if you’re an action movie fan.
Conclusion
It’s always said when we see a rising stars potential cut short by an untimely departure. Some would argue that Michael Nyqvist was a legend in the making, his peak not even close to being met in the film industry. This actor will be missed not only by his fans but by his wife and two children. Here’s to you and your incredible career Mr. Nyqvist. As your final curtain fell, and you exited the stage of life, we all knew we lost one of the great ones.
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