Jonas Gardell

Jonas Gardell
Jonas Gardell
	Gardell in 2018
Born	Lars Jonas Holger Gardell; 2 November 1963 (age 60); Täby, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation(s)	Author, playwright, comedian, artist
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Mark Levengood (m. 2011; div. 2023)
Children	1
Relatives	Mattias Gardell (brother)

Lars Jonas Holger Gardell (born 2 November 1963) is a Swedish novelist, playwright, screenwriter and comedian. He is the brother of religion scholar Mattias Gardell. He is well known for his books and plays in all of Scandinavia and his books have been translated to around 25 languages.^[1]

Early career

Gardell's first novel, Passionsspelet (The Passion Play), was published in 1985. Since then, he has written some ten novels, including En komikers uppväxt (A Comedian Growing Up), which became a TV series. He has also written several other books, nine plays and two screenplays that were made into movies, including Livet är en schlager (Life is a Schlager). His novels are not yet available in English. He wrote and performed himself the song "Aldrig ska jag sluta älska dig", which was performed by Bergström in the film.

Later years

In 2006, more than 20 years after his first novel was published, Gardell is one of Sweden's most famous stand-up comedians. Well known to be openly gay, Gardell was married to the Finnish-Swedish-American writer and TV presenter Mark Levengood. He has one child by a female friend. Gardell performed his own play Tillfällig gäst i ditt liv (Temporary guest in your life) (2007) at the Scala Theater in Stockholm.

In 2013, Gardell was elected "Homo Bi Trans Person of the Year" at the Swedish Gaygalan Awards, notably for the book Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar (Don't Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves).^[2] His prize was presented to him by the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, whom Gardell thanked with the words: "Victoria, you are our Crown Princess, but tonight I think that I'm our little queen" - this went down well with the Crown Princess, whom Gardell knows well. His husband Levengood hosted the immensely popular "Victoria Day" for several years at the Swedish island of Öland, when the Swedes celebrate Crown Princess Victoria's birthday on 14 July.

He participated in Melodifestivalen 2018.

In January 2023, Gardell and Levengood announced their separation after having been in a relationship for 37 years.^[3] The couple divorced the following June.^[4]

Bibliography

1979 – Den tigande talar
1985 – Passionsspelet
1986 – Odjurets tid
1987 – Präriehundarna
1988 – Vill gå hem
1990 – Fru Björks öden och äventyr
1992 – En komikers uppväxt
1993 – Mormor gråter och andra texter
1995 – Frestelsernas berg
1997 – Isbjörnarna. Cheek to cheek. Människor i solen (tre pjäser)
1998 – Så går en dag ifrån vårt liv och kommer aldrig åter
1998 – Oskuld och andra texter
2001 – Ett ufo gör entré
2003 – Om Gud
2006 – Jenny
2009 – Om Jesus
2011 – Har man inget liv får man köpa ett som alla andra: Samlade visdomsord 2010–2011
2012 – Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar: 1, Kärleken
2013 – Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar: 2, Sjukdomen
2013 – Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar: 3, Döden