Ernst Rolf

Ernst Rolf
File:Portrett av Ernst Rolf (1891-1932) (11286723903).jpg
Born	Ernst Ragnar Johansson (1891-01-20)20 January 1891 Falun, Sweden
Died	Stockholm, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation	Actor, singer, musical revue artist
Years active	1907–1932
Spouse(s)	Margit Strugstad (m. 1916–23) Gueye Rolf (m. 1924–27) Tutta Rolf (m. 1930–32)
Children	Four (including Tom Rolf)

Ernst Rolf (1891–1932), was a Swedish actor, singer and musical revue artist. Rolf was born in Falun in the Swedish province of Dalarna, where his father was a tailor and member of the temperance movement. His musical talent was evident from the start when even as a young child he performed at IOGT meetings. He would sing while his older brother Birger played the piano.

In 1906 Rolf found work at the Åhlén & Holm mail order company in Insjön, Dalarna. He made his stage debut in a performance of The Wizard of Oz, playing Dorothy in an all-male cast. In 1907 he began touring the country as a singer and comedian, quickly becoming one of Sweden's most famous and successful entertainers.

During the 1920s Rolf was known for producing revues that were acclaimed for their dazzling sets, first class actors and stirring music. He was also a lyricist and composer, who wrote, for instance, the words to Finska Valsen (The Finnish Waltz) and the music for Från Frisco Till Cap (From Frisco to the Cape). He recorded his first song in 1910 and throughout his career made over eight hundred recordings. He acted in a number of films as well.

He was married three times. In 1930 his third wife, actress Tutta Rolf, appeared with him in a Scandinavian version of Paramount on Parade. The following year they had a son, Tom Rolf, who became an Academy Award-winning film editor. In spite of his success, personal and financial problems became overwhelming, and in 1932 Rolf attempted to drown himself. He survived the incident but contracted pneumonia, which proved fatal. He was buried at Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm.

External links

File:Disc from Rolf Winner Succès.jpg

Swedish record label owned by Ernst Rolf 1918

Image files

• Ernst Rolf 01
• Ernst Rolf 02
• Ernst Rolf LP
• Lars Bondeson and Ernst Rolf
• Bondeson and Rolf photo captions

Articles

• Ernst Rolf at Find a Grave.
• Ernst Rolf at the Internet Movie Database.
• Ernst Rolf in the Swedish Biographical Dictionary.

Discographies

• Ernst Rolf (lyricist) on Victor Records.
• Ernst Rolf (composer) on Victor Records.
• Ernst Rolf at the National Library of Sweden.

Song lyrics

• Ernst Rolf songbook

Streaming audio

• Från Frisco Till Cap
• Gråt Inte, Anne-Marie
• Ernst Rolf at the Internet Archive.