( in Swedish), or "Ska(r)shgord"; born June 13, 1951) is a Swedish actor, famous for his roles in the films Breaking the Waves, Good Will Hunting and the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

Stellan Skarsgård became a star in his teens through the title role in the TV-seies _"Bombi Bitt och jag" (1968) (mini)_. Between the years 1972-88 he was employed at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where he participated in "Vita rum" (1988), August Strindberg's "Ett drömspel" (1986) and "Mäster Olof" (1988). Simultaneously Skarsgård did outstanding film roles, noatably in Enfaldige mördaren, Den (1982) by Hans Alfredson and with Fred Ward (I) in Noon Wine (1985) (TV). The fantastic performance gave him both a well-earned Guldbagge and Silver Berlin Bear. He portrayed the Skagen-painter Sören Kröyer in Hip hip hurra! (1987) and the Swedish ambassador Raoul Wallenberg in _God afton, Herr Wallenberg (1990)_ , both directed by Kjell Grede. Täcknamn Coq Rouge (1989) and Demokratiske terroristen, Den (1992) he played Jan Guillou's Swedish superagent Carl Hamilton. He also had the leading part in the Oscar nominated Oxen (1991) directed by the world-famous cinematographer Sven Nykvist. Skarsgård did his first (but small) role in an big American film with Unbearable Lightness of Being, The (1988). The role of Captain Tupolev in Hunt for Red October, The (1990) was at supposed to be biggest part in a Hollywood-film, but unfortunately it was cut down. His breakthrough instead came with Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996) opposite newcomer Emily Watson (I). After that Skarsgård got several supporting roles in American films, such as in My Son the Fanatic (1997), Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting (1997) and Steven Spielberg (I)'s Amistad (1997).