Overview
Jan Patrik de Laval (28 March 1948 – 19 December 2019) was a Swedish actor whose career included work on stage, in films and on television. He was born in Västrum, Sweden, and became known to Swedish audiences through recurring roles in mainstream TV drama.
Career highlights
De Laval's screen work reached a wide audience thanks to appearances in widely viewed serial dramas. He is most frequently associated with two long-running Swedish television series, which introduced him to viewers across the country and helped make his face familiar in popular culture.
Notable credits
- Rederiet — a popular seafaring workplace drama that featured ensemble casts and ran for many seasons.
- Skilda världar — a contemporary soap opera that focused on family and social conflict, also widely watched in Sweden.
Beyond these titles, de Laval also took part in theatre productions and smaller film and television projects, contributing to Sweden's performing arts scene over several decades. His roles varied from guest appearances to longer recurring parts.
Legacy and death
Jan de Laval is remembered as a reliable character actor who helped populate some of Sweden's best-known television dramas of the late 20th century. He died in Stockholm on 19 December 2019, aged 71, a passing reported by Swedish media here.
His work remains part of the era of ensemble-driven Swedish television storytelling, and he is cited among the many professional actors who sustained long-running series that were important to national popular culture.