Network/People/Erik Balling
Erik Balling
Quick Facts
BirthplaceNyborg, Danmark
Credits71 titles
Person

Erik Balling

Director · Writer · Producer· Nyborg, Danmark

Erik Balling was one of the most beloved Danish filmmaker in the 20th century. Balling was a director, a producer and a writer. Erik Balling was mostly famous for creating such TV epics as "Matador" and "Huset På Christianshavn" and the film-series of "Olsen banden". Erik Balling was born the 19th of November 1925 in the Danish city of Nyborg, as a son of a priest. In 1946 Balling was hired as an assistant at "Nordisk Film Kompagni" - the world's oldest film production company. His talent was soon recognised, and Balling soon had the opportunity to work as a director. His debut as a director came in 1952, with the film: "Vi arme syndere". Balling soon gained a reputation of having good technical skills, and after that film his talent was widely recognised. In 1957 he became head of "Nordisk Film" - the youngest one ever. Balling was mostly famous for his comedies. In his early days he directed Poeten og Lillemor (1959) and Sommer i Tyrol (1964), which were very popular at the time. In the middle of the 1960s Balling tried to chance his style when it came to comedies. At this time the popular James Bond films circled the globe, Balling's next film was inspired by those films, teaming up with Henning Bahs to make the Jamed Bond spoof "Slå Først Frede" (1965), which became very popular in Denmark - so popular it spawned a sequel Slap af, Frede! (1966). This co-work with Henning Bahs was so fruitful that they made many more movies together. This co-work eventually led to film-series of "Olsen banden", which started with Olsen-banden (1968) - and eventually they made a total of 14 "Olsen banden" film, plus a TV series and a movie version where the characters in "Olsen banden" are children. "Olsen banden" was about a small band of small time criminals, trying to become millionaires. "Olsen banden" were not only very popular in Denmark, but also in East-Germany, Poland, Sweden and Norway - especially in Norway and Sweden, who eventually made their own national versions of "Olsen banden", namely the Norwegian "Olsen banden" and the Swedish "Jönssonligan" - Henning Bahs and Erik Balling also helped the Norwegians and the Swedes to write those. In that late 60s and early 70s Balling made the popular Danish TV series "Huset På Christianshavn", which also became the basis for a movie: "Ballade på Christianshavn (1971)". In 1970 Balling produced the very popular Danish TV epic "Matador". More than fifty percent of Denmark's population watched "Matador" in those days. "Matador" was about life in a smaller city in Denmark in the 30s and 40s. Balling was always known for his warm style, when he portrayed humans. Throughout his life, he received many prizes. He was 80 years old when he died the 19th of November 2005.

Filmography

71 credits across 4 departments.

YearTitleRoleType
2005Skide godt, Balling!Film
1998The Olsen Gang's Last TrickAssociate ProducerFilm
1988Murder in ParadiseWriterFilm
1986Murder in the DarkWriterFilm
1984In the Middle of the NightDirectorFilm
1984In the Middle of the NightWriterFilm
1981The Olsen Gang Jumps the FenceDirectorFilm
1981The Olsen Gang Long GoneDirectorFilm
1981The Olsen Gang Long GoneWriterFilm
1979The Olsen Gang Never SurrendersDirectorFilm
1979The Olsen Gang Never SurrendersWriterFilm
1978The Olsen Gang Goes to WarDirectorFilm
1978The Olsen Gang and Data-Harry Blows Up The World BankWriterFilm
1977The Olsen Gang Outta SightDirectorFilm
1977The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry On The TrailWriterFilm
1977The Olsen Gang Outta SightWriterFilm
1976The Olsen Gang Sees RedDirectorFilm
1976The Olsen Gang For Full MusicWriterFilm
1976The Moelleby affairWriterFilm
1976Kassen stemmerWriterFilm
1975The Olsen Gang on the TrackDirectorFilm
1975The Last Exploits of the Olsen GangWriterFilm
1974The Last Exploits of the Olsen GangDirectorFilm
1974The Olsen Gang meets The King and the JackalWriterFilm
1974The Last Exploits of the Olsen GangWriterFilm
1973The Olsen Gang Runs AmokDirectorFilm
1973The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-Harry Goes WildWriterFilm
1973The Olsen Gang Runs AmokWriterFilm
1972The Olsen Gang's Big ScoreDirectorFilm
1972The Olsen Gang Takes the GoldWriterFilm
1971Our Home Is Our CastleDirectorFilm
1971The Olsen Gang in JutlandDirectorFilm
1971Our Home Is Our CastleWriterFilm
1970Revolution My A..DirectorFilm
1970The Olsen Gang and Dynamite-HarryWriterFilm
1970Revolution My A..WriterFilm
1969The Olsen Gang in a FixDirectorFilm
1968Det var en lørdag aftenDirectorFilm
1968The Olsen GangDirectorFilm
1968Det var en lørdag aftenWriterFilm
1967MarthaDirectorFilm
1967Jeg er sgu min egenDirectorFilm
1967MarthaWriterFilm
1966Relax FreddyDirectorFilm
1966Relax FreddyWriterFilm
1965LandmandslivDirectorFilm
1965Strike First FreddyDirectorFilm
1965LandmandslivWriterFilm
1965Strike First FreddyWriterFilm
1964Death Comes at High NoonDirectorFilm
1964Summer in TyrolDirectorFilm
1964Death Comes at High NoonWriterFilm
1964Summer in TyrolWriterFilm
1963Hvis lille pige er du?DirectorFilm
1963Hvis lille pige er du?WriterFilm
1962Den kære familieDirectorFilm
1962The Girl GogoDirectorFilm
1961Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumørDirectorFilm
1961Poeten og Lillemor i forårshumørWriterFilm
1960The Poet and Lillemor and LotteDirectorFilm
1960The Poet and Lillemor and LotteWriterFilm
1960Forelsket i KøbenhavnProducerFilm
19586-Day RaceProducerFilm
1956KispusDirectorFilm
1956QivitoqDirectorFilm
1956KispusWriterFilm
1956KispusProducerFilm
1955På tro og loveWriterFilm
1955På tro og loveProducerFilm
1953Adam and EveDirectorFilm
1953Adam and EveWriterFilm

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