Peter Franzén

Peter Franzén studied at Theatre Academy Helsinki. The recorded working language is Finnish. The field of work recorded is film, television and literature. Residence is recorded at Los Angeles and France. Distinctions recorded are Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland and Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actor.

• Name — Peter Franzén • Born — 14 August 1971 • Birthplace — Keminmaa, Lapland, Finland • Education — Theatre Academy of Finland • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1992–present • Spouse — Irina Björklund • Children — 1

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.

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.

• 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 episodes • 2024–2025 — Conflict — Captain Rami Ohrankämmen — Miniseries; 6 episodes

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

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.

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.

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.

Peter Franzén is recorded as having received Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland and Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actor.