Jonas Gardell & Mark Levengood
Jonas Gardell, born 2 November 1963 in Enebyberg, Stockholm County, is a Swedish novelist, playwright, screenwriter and comedian. In 2006, more than 20 years after his first novel was published, Gardell is one of Sweden's most famous stand-up comedians and probably the country's most well-known openly gay man. His husband since 1995 is the Finnish-Swedish-American writer and TV presenter Mark Levengood, with whom he has two children by surrogate mothers. JG performed his own play Tillfällig gäst i ditt liv (Temporary guest in your life) (2007) at the Scala Theater in Stockholm.
Gardell is the brother of religion scholar Mattias Gardell. He is in fact well known for his books and plays in all of Scandinavia and also published in Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
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.
In 2013 JG was elected "Homo Bi Trans Person of the Year" at the Swedish Gay Gala, notably for the book "Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar" ("Never Wipe Any Tears Without Gloves") - for this, he was a popular choice. His well deserved price was presented to him by none other than the Swedish Crown Princess, HRH Victoria, whom JG thanked with the words: "Victoria, you are our Crown Princess, but tonight I think you are also - also our little queen?" - this went down well with the Crown Princess, whom JG knows well. His husband, ML, every years hosts the immensely popular "Victoria Dagen" at the Swedish island of Öland, when the Swedes celebrate HRH Victoria's birthday at the 14. July.
Photo Credit: Maria Näsström. Jonas Gardell (right) with husband Mark Levengood at Stockholm Pride parade 2006. (Copyright 1.0 GENERIC LICENSE)
Jonas Gardell is a Swedish novelist, playwright, screenwriter and comedian. Gardell is one of Sweden's most famous stand-up comedians and probably the country's most well-known openly gay man. His husband since 1995 is the Finnish-Swedish-American writer and TV presenter Mark Levengood, with whom he has two children by surrogate mothers. JG performed his own play Tillfällig gäst i ditt liv (Temporary guest in your life) (2007) at the Scala Theater in Stockholm.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Gardell
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