Erik Paaske (21 August 1933 in Kolding, Denmark – 13 June 1992 in Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark) was a Danish theater, TV and film actor and singer.
Early life Erik Paaske was born on 21 August 1933 on Graacksvej in Kolding to father Frithjof Paaske (1900–1982) and mother Johanne Dorthea Thomassen (1898–1967). Paaske attended the local school in adjacent Strandhuse until his fourteenth year and then started his bricklayer's apprenticeship, completing it in 1952.
As a child Erik Paaske was taught to play the accordion and harmonica and was accompanying dances from the age of 10, later with his own trio of musicians. He was also active in the local Frivilligt Drenge- og Pige-Forbund scout-like organisation, playing trombone in their marching band.
Amateur acting and acting school In 1950 Erik Paaske made his first forey into acting when he joined the local amateur society Sydjydsk Amatørteater, appearing in plays such as Nitouche (1950), Den Grønne Elevator (1950), Det Lille Fyrtøj (1951), Den Elskelige Landstryger (1951) and Den Spanske Flue (1951). In 1955 he switched to KOTA (Kolding og Omegns Teateramatører), an amateur society that staged outdoor summer performances in the local castle Koldinghus.
In 1957 KOTA elected to perform William Shakespeare's En skærsommernatsdrøm (A Midsummer Night's Dream) and engaged actor Søren Weiss from the Royal Danish Theatre to direct. Erik Paaske was cast as the character Rendegarn (Nick Bottom) and Søren Weiss was so impressed by his abilities that he offered to read with Paaske for the purpose of auditioning for entry to the actor's school of the Royal Danish Theatre.
On 5 May 1958 Erik Paaske performed roles from Vor ære og magt by Nordahl Grieg and Erasmus Montanus by Ludvig Holberg in front of theatre principal Alf Henriques, directors Henning Rohde and Henning Brøndsted, and actors / teachers Poul Reumert, Else Højgaard, Martin Hansen and John Price. Erik Paaske was accepted into the school, with two others joining out of a list of 37 applicants.
Career
Theatre Erik Paaske graduated in May 1961, was immediately offered a three-year contract to appear on 100 nights per season, and worked in the ensemble until 1974. His debut role in September 1961 was that of Andrei in Anton Chekhov's De tre søstre (Three Sisters).
He was kept busy at the two Royal theatre stages, sometimes playing twice the same day. In the season 1968-69 he was the busiest actor at the venue, appearing a total of 180 times in 7 of the 9 scheduled productions.
During his tenure, Paaske's size and physical appearance made him an obvious choice for comical roles, but major character roles eluded him. In 1974 Paaske requested and was granted leave to pursue other opportunities, but as an extension was denied he decided it was time to go: "I felt it was necessary to be brave. I did not want to end up as someone taken for granted - like one of the chairs stored in the magazine."
After leaving the Royal Danish Theatre Erik Paaske worked exclusively as a freelance actor until his death.
Television The first day of TV broadcasting in Denmark was 2 October 1951 and in the ensuing decade only small steps were taken in the theatre genre, partly by transmitting live from performances in the existing national venues, partly by enacting live plays in the TV studio. Ten years later a heated discussion erupted as to the future scope of this genre; was it time to cede the stage to modern playwrights or should the TV theatre remain easily accessible to the audience by sticking to traditional and tried-and-tested content?
Erik Paaske inadvertently became an exponent for both options. Following his appearance in two plays in 1962, he was selected as one of the three protagonists of Danish modern dramatist Leif Panduro's first commissioned TV play En af dagene, broadcast on 7 April 1963 and telling a contemporary 20th century story about office politics. This was described as the "first Danish attempt to create a modern form of TV realism." Seven months later Paaske was featured as a main character in Hosekræmmeren (The Hosier and his Daughter). Based on an 1829 short story by clergyman, author and poet Steen Steensen Blicher, this production was deeply ingrained in a 19th century rural and religious sensibility both in terms of language and narrative.
In 1967 Paaske was selected to play one of the two main characters of Leif Panduro's 6-part crime series Ka’ De li’ østers? a role that started his journey towards becoming a Danish household name. As stated by B.T. (tabloid): "After six years of bit parts at the Royal Danish Theatre, Erik Paaske jump into the TV role with a success that made the viewers identify him with the senior constable - and for the first time the reviewers were completely on his side." In an October 1967 JydskeVestkysten newspaper report it was described that Erik Paaske had "become so famous that people turn around on the street when they see him."
TV appearances +Play titleTitle in original languageAuthorRoleFirst broadcastGeorg DandinGeorge Dandin ou le Mari confonduMolièreColin06.01.1962Nu vågne alleBedtime StorySean O 'CaseyJohn Jo Mulligan26.11.1962Skovtur på slagmarken Pique-nique en campagneFernando Arrabal2. Red Cross man09.01.1963En af dageneLeif PanduroNormann06.03.1963PaladsrevolutionenSven ClausenSuhm11.04.1963HosekræmmerenSteen Steensen BlicherEsben24.11.1963Den stundesløseLudvig HolbergChristen Griffel26.12.1963Natteherberget28.10.1964I rum søNa pełnym morzuSławomir MrożekA mailman20.11.1964StilladsSandro Key-Åberg & Peter Ronild04.10.1966Stillads 2Peter RonildA man06.12.1966Kontoristerne06.04.1966Ka' De li' østers? 6 part series, first episode 09.09.1967En nat i Roskilde02.04.1968Cirkulæret08.04.1971Karrig niding26.01.1969Vægteren 12.08.1969Den fine mand01.01.1971Erotik08.04.1971Tykke Olsen 20.05.1971Livsens ondskabepisodes 1-4, 09.04.1972Fire portrætter14.05.1972Solens børn 27.08.1972Stoppested29.11.1972Dr. Knock13.01.1973Vinterbyøster voice, 01.12.1973Dialog på skærmen18.05.1974Uvejr 15.09.1980Strømmens dag 09.02.1981Uvejr 15.09.1980Strømmens dag 09.02.1981Gøngehøvdingen09.02.1981
Film Erik Paaske worked in films intermittently throughout his career, almost exclusively in smaller parts. His largest role was in Bille August's Pelle the Conqueror, the film winning both the Palme d'Or in Cannes and the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 1988.
Filmography
Ditte, Child of Man (1946) Crazy Paradise (1962) Weekend (1962) Paradise and Back (1964) Sådan er de alle (1968) Det er så synd for farmand (1968) Stormvarsel (1968) Mordskab (1969) Me and My Kid Brother and Doggie (1969) Den røde rubin (1970) Hovedjægerne (1971) Thorvald og Linda (1982) Otto er et næsehorn (1983) Walter og Carlo - Yes det er far (1986) Hip Hip Hurrah! (film) (1987) Pelle the Conqueror (1987) Katinka (film) (1988) Casanova (1990)
Recording artist As a young amateur performer Erik Paaske demonstrated a talent for singing and in the summer of 1958 he appeared in a semi-professional capacity in the local Kolding variety theatre Sans Souci. Parallel to his work at the theatre Paaske continued in this genre, appearing in May 1962 in Simon Rosenbaum's cabaret together with Henry Lohmann Paaske's abilities were noticed and in 1970 he was offered his first contract by Quick Record, singing 13 traditional Danish 20th century cabaret and folk songs on his first album "Mine yndlingsviser."
Erik Paaske was featured on a total of 18 records on Quick Record, Carl Petter, Hamlet and Mermaid (as well as an unknown number of compilations), selling 170.000 copies during his contract with Quick Record / Carl Petter.
Discography +TitleDetailsProducerMusical DirectorStudioEngineerMine yndlingsviser Released 1970 Label: Quick Record Format: LP (QRLP 501)Hans Peder ÅseMine yndlingsviser II Released 1971 Label: Quick Record Format: LP (QRLP 504)Quick RecordHans Peder ÅseAlto StudioHelge AlbrechtsenMine yndlingsviser III Released 1972 Label: Quick Record Format: LP (QRLP 509)Hans Peder ÅseHelge AlbrechtsenVise Romantik Released 1973 Label: Quick Record Format: LP (QLP 2005)Hans-Ole NielsenMine yndlingsviser IIII Released 1974 Label: Carl Petter Format: LP (412-12), MC (420-12)Carl PetersenErik BækQuali Sound StudioPalle JuulMine Yndlingssange Released 1975 Label: Carl Petter Format: LP (412-20), MC (420-20)Carl PetersenPoul GodskeHelge AlbrechtsenErik Paaske synger viser af Sigfred Pedersen og Hans Hartvig Seedorff Released 1976 Label: Carl Petter Format: LP (812-13), MC (820-13)Carl PetersenDanske Sange & Digte (with Ole Jensen) Released 1976 Label: Quick Record Format: LP (QSLP 3001) Hans Peder Åse (music) Henning Pade (poems)Julens salmer og sange Released 1976 Label: Carl Petter Format: LP (812-15), MC (820-15)Carl PetersenSide 1: accompanied by organist Bente Frendrup Side 2: Paul GodskeSide 1: Abbey of Our Lady, Aalborg Side 2: Wifos StudioMine yndlingsREVYviser Label: Carl Petter Format: LP (312-03), MC (320-03)Carl PetersenHans-Ole NielsenRosenberg StudioIvar RosenbergPortræt Af En Bums Released 1979 Label: Hamlet Format: LP (HPLP-1017), CD (HAM00031-2)Willy Grevelund / Eugen TajmerWilly GrevelundRosenberg StudioIvar RosenbergErik Paaske Synger Salmer Released 1979 Label: Hamlet Format: LP (HPLP-1022), MC (HPMC-2022)Eugen Tajmer / Willy GrevelundWilly GrevelundIvar RosenbergNye Viser Om Kærlighed Released 1980 Label: Hamlet Format: LP (HPLP-1053), CD (HAM00036-2)Eugen TajmerWilly GrevelundWifos StudioHvis jeg var en rig mand Released 1980 Label: Hamlet Format: LP (HPLP-1049), CD (HAM00006-2)Eugen Tajmer / Willy GrevelundWilly GrevelundBirger SwahnTil mor Released 1986 Label: Mermaid Format: LP (020187)Per SørensenWilly GrevelundStudio 39Hans NielsenNu Har Vi Altså Jul Igen Released 1987 Label: Mermaid Format: LP (060987)Arbejdersange - Sange Min Far Lærte Mig Released 1989 Label: Mermaid Format: LP (751089), CD (CD751089)Per SørensenWilly GrevelundSun StudioErik Paaske Synger Evert Taube Released 1989 Label: Mermaid Format CD (1090990)Per SørensenWilly GrevelundBjarne Hansen
Personal life In October 1961 Erik Paaske announced his engagement to actress Elsebet Knudsen. They married on 20 January 1962 in the Nørre Bjert village church. According to Paaske the marriage lasted only three months, as the couple "quickly found out that it was based on a misunderstanding. ... I had been accepted to a position at the theatre, had been on TV and radio, and this success had to be crowned with me marrying a pretty girl."
In 1965 Erik Paaske met "assistent i Centralarbejdsanvisningskontoret" ("clerk at the central labour exchange") Margit Jensen (20 September 1937 - 17 May 2016) at a private party and they started cohabiting in 1966. The couple married on 23 December 1970, the union lasting until Paaske's death.
Death In September 1991 the tabloid Ekstra Bladet first reported that Erik Paaske had been seriously ill with a kidney disease the previous winter, announcing as front page news that after recuperating he had returned to the stage on 18 September to perform in Ödön von Horváth's Tro, håb og kærlighed (Faith, Hope, and Charity). The article spoke of industry rumours that Paaske "was dying, had cancer etc." but this he denied. In December 1991 Paaske was rushed from theatre rehearsals to the operating table and forced to give up his leading role in Jens Christian Hostrup's En Spurv i Tranedans (A Sparrow in a Dance of Cranes), not returning to the production.
In April 1992 Folketeatret director Preben Harris announced that Erik Paaske would return to the stage in September to play the main role in Carl Erik Soya's Parasitterne (The Parasites).
On 17 June 1992 the main national Danish broadsheets and tabloid newspapers all reported as front page news that Erik Paaske had died at the age of 58.