Bill Skarsgård
A Swedish actor who transformed physicality and unsettling presence into an art form, becoming a generation's definitive screen monster.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Swedish actor and model·Birthday: August 9·Millennials
Biography
Emerging from a formidable Swedish acting dynasty, Bill Skarsgård carved his own path not through avoidance of his family's shadow, but by plunging into the darkest corners of character. He began acting as a child, but his international arrival was a thing of nightmare fuel with his portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's 'It'. Skarsgård didn't just play the part; he engineered it through a grotesque physicality, a chilling vocal disconnect, and a deeply researched malevolence that haunted a global audience. This role branded him as a master of the monstrous, a reputation he has both embraced and nuanced with roles like the vampiric Count Orlok in 'Nosferatu' and the enigmatic Marquis in 'John Wick: Chapter 4'. His work suggests a fascination with the outer limits of the human form and psyche, making him not just a horror star, but a compelling character actor who finds profound expression in the abnormal.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Bill was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in 'The Devil All the Time'.
- His portrayal of Pennywise in the two 'It' films contributed to them becoming the highest-grossing horror films of all time.
- Won a Berlinale Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2018.
- Starred as the lead in the Netflix series 'Clark', playing the notorious Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson.
Did You Know?
He is one of four acting brothers, including Alexander, Gustaf, and Valter Skarsgård.
He directed, wrote, and starred in the 2021 Swedish film 'Jag är Zlatan' about footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović.
He learned to play the piano for his role in 'The Devil All the Time'.
He is over six feet four inches tall (193 cm).
“I'm interested in the weird and the strange and the off-putting.”
