Biography

Carl Schenstrøm was born on November 13, 1881 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was an actor and director, known for Med fuld musik (1933), Mellem muntre musikanter (1923) and Don Quixote (1926). He died on April 10, 1942 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He was trained as a bookbinder, but went on the stage in 1903. Because he did not earn enough money for his living he was looking for alternatives. In 1909/1910 he joined Nordisk Film Company.

He worked under directors such as August Blom and Lau Lauritzen Sr. It was Lauritzen who brought him together with Harald Madsen as a comic couple.

Together with Harald Madsen, Schenstrøm formed the Danish comedian couple Fyrtårnet og Bivognen (Fy og Bi), known as "Long & Short" in England and "Ole & Axel" in the U.S.

He emigrated with his family to Chicago in the 1890s, but the family returned 3 years later to Denmark after his father was hit by a streetcar.