Biography

Became a cocaine addict after a visit to Berlin, Germany for the title role in Faust (1926). This abuse led to deteriorating health, and eventually his death.

During the shooting of "Faust" Gösta Ekman came in contact with cocaine when it was offered him as a helpful aid to cope with the work. He became addicted and the drugs affected his health and led eventually to his death at the age 47.

His son Hasse Ekman became a well-known actor, director and screenwriter for movies. Unfortunately he could not witness the birth of his grandson who was born the year after his death. Hasse Ekman baptized him Gösta Ekman in honor of his father. Today Gösta Ekman jr. belongs to the most successful Swedish actors. His other grandsons are also busy in the film business, Stefan Ekman as an actor and Mikael Ekman as a director.

The actor Gösta Ekman was regarded as a theater legend in Sweden of the 10's and 20's - a naming he already got to in his lifetime.

Known as a self-taught master of disguise with theatre make-up and costumes, Gösta Ekman was equally convincing as a farmer's son, an 18th-century middle-aged aristocrat, or an 80-year old lunatic. Furthermore, he played in comedies, tragedies, dramas, and operettas. As a result, it was believed that he was capable of being convincing in all genres and as all types of characters. At different times, he also ran and supervised several private theaters in Stockholm, including the Oscarsteatern, the Vasateatern, and the Konserthusteatern. He was also head of the Gothenburg City Theatre in the 1930s. At the Vasateatern, which he ran from 1931 to 1935, he both directed and played the lead in several plays, while also producing a large number of productions. As a result, his time at the Vasateatern is considered to be the peak of his stage career.