Stefan Karl Stefansson was a renowned Icelandic film and stage actor/comedian, best known for his iconic role as Robbie Rotten in the popular TV program Lazy Town, which airs worldwide in over 103 countries across five continents on prominent networks such as BBC, CBBC, CBS, Discovery Kids, Disney, RUV-Icelandic TV, and Nick Jr.
Born in 1975 in the village of Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, Stefan Karl grew up in a non-biz working-class family. After graduating from drama school, he joined the National Theatre of Iceland, where he quickly gained recognition as one of the most individual and versatile actors of his generation.
As a lead comedic actor with the NT, Stefan Karl was invited to play the leading role in the original theatre production of Lazy Town, which he created and brought to life as Robbie Rotten. When the play was adapted into a television series, he was the obvious choice for the same role, due to his significant contribution to its extraordinary success.
Stefan Karl's portrayal of Robbie Rotten earned him numerous prestigious awards and nominations, including an EMIL Award, EDDA Award, Emmy Award nominations, and two BAFTA Award nominations in the United Kingdom. He also received the "Thorbjorn Egner Award" for an Outstanding Stage Performance and won the 2006 BAFTA Award for the episode "Robbie's Greatest Misses."
As a star player on repertoire at the National Theatre, Stefan Karl excelled in a variety of classical and contemporary starring and character parts, including the title role in Rostand's romantic tragedy Cyrano De Bergerac, Cosmo Brown in Singin' in the Rain, Lloyd Douglas in Noises Off, and Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream.
Stefan Karl was also a talented singer and musician, and he founded the nonprofit organization Rainbow Children in Iceland, which aims to raise awareness and funds to combat child bullying. He was a keen aviation enthusiast, a licensed skipper for fishing boats, and a featured singer and vocal impressionist with the popular rock'n roll band Studmenn.
Stefan Karl was married to renowned actress and novelist Steinunn Olína, and they had three daughters and one son. He passed away on August 21, 2018, after a battle with Bile Duct Cancer, but his legacy lives on through his iconic role as Robbie Rotten and his contributions to the world of entertainment.
