Talking about child stars, the Skarsgård family has more than a few. From Alexander to Bill and Gustaf, these brothers basically grew up on screen and went on to become famous names in Hollywood.
However, there’s one Skarsgård who took a different route: Sam Skarsgård.
As a kid, Sam had a small taste of acting, but he didn’t stick with it for too long. Instead, he stepped away from the spotlight and chose a career in a different field. In a family packed full of actors, he’s the one who steered away, and that’s what makes him stand out.
Let’s take a closer look at the life of the lesser-known Skarsgård brother and learn how he found his own way outside of show business.
Sam Skarsgård: Personal Profile
Sam Skarsgård grew up in one of Sweden’s most famous families. Yet, he didn’t become as famous as his other siblings. Before going further into his life story, take a look at some key highlights of his personal profile.
- Full Name: Samuel Kristoffer Ymer Skarsgård
- Date of Birth: June 5, 1982
- Place of Birth: Stockholm, Sweden
- Nationality: Swedish
- Education: Studied medicine in Sweden
- Current Profession: ICU doctor
- Previous Experience: Acting and production management
- Parents: Stellan Skarsgård (actor) and My Skarsgård (physician)
- Siblings: Five (Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, Valter, and Eija Skarsgård)
- Half-Siblings: Two (Ossian and Kolbjörn Skarsgård)
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Pat Metheny
- Current Residence: Stockholm, Sweden
Image source: Google
Sam Skarsgård: Early Life and Education
Sam Skarsgård came into the world on June 5, 1982, in Stockholm, Sweden. He’s the third born of Stellan Skarsgård, a well-known Swedish actor, and My Skarsgård, a physician.
Having five siblings, most of whom would go on to become actors, Sam grew up in a house of talent and creativity.
From a young age, everything around Sam pulled him towards the bright lights of Hollywood. While his brothers responded to the drawing force, he was more interested in science and medicine.
Sam did try acting as a kid, but it just didn’t stick. So, he quickly realized that his father’s career wasn’t for him.
Sam Skarsgård: Previous Career in Movies
Even though Sam didn’t commit to acting, he did have a taste of what it was like when he was younger. Growing up in such an artistic family, he had to end up in front of the camera at least once.
In 1987, Sam appeared in the Swedish film “Jim & Piraterna Blom,” where he played a minor role. As surprising as it may sound, he also appeared as a body double for his father, Stellan Skarsgård, in the 2002 movie “The Invisible.”
On top of that, Sam worked at some point behind the camera. He was a production assistant in the 2003 short movie “Att döda ett barn” (aka To Kill a Child). Additionally, he worked in the 2005 short film “Skuggvärld” as an assistant production manager.
That said, this was pretty much the extent of Sam’s career in cinema. While his brothers went on to star in international films and TV shows, he decided not to keep following that path.
Sam Skarsgård: Medicine Career
After stepping away from acting, Sam focused on a completely different career: medicine. He studied in Sweden to become a physician. So, instead of following in his father’s footsteps, he chose to walk down the path of his mother, who also worked in healthcare.
Reportedly, Sam now works as a physician in Stockholm, Sweden. According to some resources, he specializes in intensive care.
Sam Skarsgård: Personal Life
Image source: Google
Sam Skarsgård keeps his personal life private. However, some sources claim that he’s married to a woman called Pat Metheny. The couple has been spotted together at a few public and family events, but they mostly stay away from the spotlight.
That said, an old post on an Instagram fan page dedicated to the Skarsgård brothers claims that Sam’s wife is named Sanna Skarsgård. It’s worth noting that no official sources have confirmed nor denied this piece of information.
Sam Skarsgård: Height
You probably have noticed from Sam’s photos that he’s quite a tall guy (I mean, really tall). He stands at around 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters). That makes him one of the tallest of the Skarsgård siblings, which is astonishing since most of them are well over six feet.
In fact, the Skarsgård siblings have a playful competition with each other about who’s the tallest. It’s all fun and games, but Sam definitely holds the number one spot when it comes to height.
Sam Skarsgård: Public Appearances
Unlike his siblings, Sam prefers to stay away from the public eye. Nevertheless, he’s been seen at events with his family a handful of times. For instance, he walked the red carpet with his dad and siblings at the premiere of the film “VI” in 2013.
Image source: Google
Although Sam is not as famous as most of his family members, they still look up to him. In an interview, Alexander said he’s a real hero, stating, “He works at an ICU, so he, on a daily basis, saves lives.” He also jokingly mentioned, “We’re either actors or doctors.”
Sam Skarsgård: Parents
Sam Skarsgård’s parents are Stellan Skarsgård and My Skarsgård. Both of them played a huge role in shaping the man Sam is now, even though they come from two different worlds.
Stellan and My got married in 1975 and were a couple for over 30 years before separating in 2007. Together, they had six children. After their divorce, Stellan remarried and had another two kids of his own.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
Stellan Skarsgård
Image source: Google
Stellan is a famous actor with a long and successful career. You may recognize him from movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Good Will Hunting, and the Thor series.
Ever since he was a teenager, Stellan has fallen in love with acting. Over the years, he managed to become one of Sweden’s most respected actors.
My Skarsgård
Sam’s mother, My, is a doctor. Just like her son, she appeared in the Swedish movie “Jim & Piraterna Blom.” She also made a few guest appearances in some reality talk shows but didn’t further pursue a career in acting.
My grew up in the same neighborhood as Stellan and knew him for years before they married. She worked in the medical field in Sweden while raising her six children alongside her husband. After their divorce, My maintained a private life away from the public eye.
Sam Skarsgård: Siblings
Sam Skarsgård comes from a big family and has seven siblings. Here’s a quick look at the Skarsgård siblings:
Image source: Google
- Alexander Skarsgård—started acting as a kid but quit for a while before returning to the screen in his twenties. He’s best known for his roles in “True Blood,” “Succession,” and “Big Little Lies.”
- Gustaf Skarsgård—best known for playing Floki in the TV series “Vikings.” He’s a trained stage actor who also appeared in “Westworld” and several other major projects.
- Bill Skarsgård—rose recently to huge fame for his chilling performance as Pennywise the Clown in the “IT” movies. He also starred in “Hemlock Grove,” “Castle Rock,” “Barbarian,” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.”
- Eija Skarsgård—the only sister in the group (and she’s loving it). She worked as a model during her teenage years but later moved on to focus on a career as a casting director.
- Valter Skarsgård—the youngest of Stellan and My’s six Skarsgård siblings. He’s worked mostly in Sweden in both film and TV, taking on roles in projects like “Black Lake” and “The Sandhamn Murders.”
- Ossian and Kolbjörn Skarsgård—Sam’s younger half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Megan Everett. While they’re still young, both Ossian and Kolbjörn have made a few appearances with the family at events as well as in small roles
Image source: Google
Final Words
Sam Skarsgård, a member of the famous Skarsgård family, chose a career in medicine over acting. Despite brief stints in film, he now works as an ICU doctor in Stockholm, distancing himself from Hollywood fame.
Featured image source: Google
