Peter Franzén

Peter Vilhelm Franzén (born 14 August 1971) is a Finnish actor, author, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for his role as King Harald Finehair in Vikings (2016–2020).

Personal life Franzén grew up in Keminmaa, in Northern Finland. Franzén has described his childhood as difficult due to his violent and alcoholic stepfather. Later, Franzén's relationship to his abusive stepfather was a major focal point in his semi-autobiographical novel, Above Dark Waters. He met his actress wife Irina Björklund while studying in Theatre Academy of Finland. In 1999 the couple moved to Los Angeles, where they lived until 2013, after which they moved to France. They have a son, born in September 2007.

Career As an actor, Franzén has appeared in over 50 films and TV series. For his role in Dog Nail Clipper, Franzén was awarded a Jussi Award for Best Actor as well as earning praise from film critic Jay Weissberg from Variety magazine who called the actor "one of the most talented and versatile thesps in Finland".

In his career he has appeared in Finnish, Estonian, German, English, Swedish, and Hungarian speaking roles. In 2015, Franzén was cast as King Harald Fairhair from the fourth season of Vikings. Franzén has also been cast in Amazon Prime Video's The Wheel of Time TV series.

Filmography

Films

Year Film Role Director Notes 1994 Kissan kuolema – Death of a Cat Saku Raimo O. Niemi 1996 Tie naisen sydämeen Kauko Pekka Parikka 1998 A Summer by the River Kottarainen Markku Pölönen Won — Jussi Award for best supporting actor 1998 Trains'n'Roses Lako's lover Peter Lichtefeld 1999 Ambush Lieutenant Eero Perkola Olli Saarela Nominated — Best Actor in Jussi Awards Won — Best Actor in Rouen Nordic Film Festival 1999 Rikos ja rakkaus Jussi Rosenström Pekka Milonoff 2000 Badding Ossi Mäki Markku Pölönen Franzén's second collaboration with Markku Pölönen 2000 Bad Luck Love Reino Olli Saarela 2001 Drakarna över Helsingfors Sammy Ceder Peter Lindholm 2001 Jewel of the Sahara Young François Renoir Ariel Vromen Short 2001 Rollo and the Spirit of the Woods Lakeija Olli Saarela 2001 On the Road to Emmaus Mankka-Arvi Markku Pölönen Nominated — Best Supporting Actor in Jussi Awards 2002 Names in Marble Sulo Kallio Elmo Nüganen 2002 Lovers & Leavers Marko Aku Louhimies 2003 At Point Blank Juha Peter Lindmark 2003 Bad Boys Otto Takkunen Aleksi Mäkelä Franzén's first collaboration with Jasper Pääkkönen 2004 Dog Nail Clipper Mertsi Markku Pölönen Won — Jussi Award for best actor 2004 Honey Baby Waiter Mika Kaurismäki 2004 Hotet Magnus Kjell Sundvall 2004 Popular Music Voice-over Reza Bagher 2004 Täna öösel me ei maga Harri Ilmar Taska 2006 Babas bilar Pekka Kukka Rafael Edholm 2006 Matti: Hell Is for Heroes Nick Nevada Aleksi Mäkelä Franzén's second collaboration with Aleksi Mäkelä 2006 Mystery of the Wolf Antero Venesmaa Raimo O. Niemi 2007 The Matriarch Laszlo Markku Pölönen 2008 Cleaner Bronson Renny Harlin 2008 Three Wise Men Santa Claus Mika Kaurismäki Franzén's second collaboration with Mika Kaurismäki 2009 Hellsinki Krisu Aleksi Mäkelä Won — Jussi Award for best supporting actor 2009 Ralliraita Suko Markku Pölönen 2010 Priest of Evil Timo Harjunpää Olli Saarela Nominated — Best Actor in Jussi Awards 2010 Princess Saastamoinen Arto Halonen 2011 Body of Water Elias Joona Tena 2012 Road North Pertti Paakku Mika Kaurismäki Nominated — Best Supporting Actor in Jussi Awards 2012 The Path of the Righteous Men Taisto Raappana Anders Engström 2012 Purge Hans Pekk Antti Jokinen 2013 Open Up to Me Sami Simo Halinen Nominated — Best Actor in Jussi Awards 2013 Heart of a Lion Teppo Dome Karukoski 2013 Above Dark Waters Kake Peter Franzén Directorial debut 2015 The Gunman Reiniger Pierre Morel 2015 Lapland Odyssey 2 Jorma Teppo Airaksinen 2015 Homecoming Tomi Mika Kaurismäki 2015 Johan Falk 15: Blood Diamonds Milo Peter Lindmark Straight to DVD 2015 Johan Falk 17: The End Milo Richard Holm Straight to DVD 2016 The Mine Raimo Aleksi Salmenperä 2018 Ashes in the Snow General Komarov Marius A. Markevicius 2020 Meander Adam 2021 Omerta 6/12 Aku Louhimies 2021 Tale of the Sleeping Giants Narrator Marko Röhr 2023Boudica: The Queen of War Wolfgar 2023The Abyss Tage Vibenius Richard Holm

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1996 Maigret Leo Liikanen 1 episode Franzén's first collaboration with Irina Björklund 1999 The Wild Thornberrys Guard (voice) Episode: "On the Right Track" 2001 V.I.P. Nazi Episode: "Val's Big Bang" 2003 Irtiottoja 2003 Madventures Himself Episode: "U.S.A. – California" 2004 CSI: Miami Ivan Radu Episode: "Legal" 2006 Studio Impossible Various characters 2007–2012 Karjalan kunnailla Jake Rosenius 2009 True Blood Hrolf Episode: "Never Let Me Go" 2016 Beck – Gunvald Risto Kangas 1 episode 2016–2020 Vikings King Harald Fairhair Main role (seasons 4–6). Named Harald Finehair in the series. 2021 Love, Death & Robots Snow Episode: "Snow in the Desert" 2021 The Wheel of Time Stepin 3 episodes 2022, 2024 Helsinki Syndrome Elias Karo 14 episodes 2024 Twilight of the Gods Glaumar (voice) 2 episodes2024–2025Conflict Captain Rami OhrankämmenMiniseries; 6 episodes

Video Games

Year Title Role Notes 2023 Alan Wake II Ilmo Koskela/Jaakko Koskela Voice and likeness

Writing In 2010 Franzén published a partly autobiographical novel Tumman veden päällä (Above Dark Waters).

In 2013 Franzén wrote Samoilla silmillä, a sequel to Tumman veden päällä.

In 2017 Tammi published Särkyneen pyörän karjatila, third book by Franzén.

Directing In 2013 Franzén directed the film "Above Dark Waters", based on novel he had written in 2010. In 2020, he directed and narrated a viking-themed short movie called "Age of Vikings: Fated" which was shot in Old Swedish.

Singing In 2021 Franzén sang the song Þat Mælti Mín Móðir (My Mother Told Me), that was performed by the Swedish band Hindarfjäll. The song first appeared in the TV-series Vikings where it was sung by Harald Fairhair (portrayed by Peter Franzén). Here Franzén reprises his performance, singing the song in the Old Norse language.

Awards and honours

In 2013 Franzén was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.