Trivia

Has been in virtually every Arnold Schwarzenegger movie to date, after arriving in the US in the early 1980s. He has acted in many of the films (including an uncredited performance in Predator (1987) as the Russian General), and has also done many of the stunts and provided training for the actors in most of Schwarzenegger's films.

He got into acting by contacting his old bodybuilder friend, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Pursued his award-winning role as Tigris in Gladiator (2000) for over a year, and beat Lou Ferrigno for the part.

His favorite role of his own in an Arnold Schwarzenegger film is 'Nikolai' in Red Heat (1988).

Won the "Strongest Man in the World"-contest, by power-lifting a massive 544 lbs (247 kilo - 1981).

Speaks four languages: Danish, English, German and Swedish.

Black belt in Karate.

(2006 -) Resides half of the year in Santa Monica, California, and the other half of the year in the small town of Ringsted, Denmark.

Served in the Danish army, where he was sergeant and a weapon's mechanic.

Met his future wife Anniqa Forss in the 1970's when she married his friend, Danish boxing champion Hans Jørgen Jacobsen. She was a Swedish blonde, best known as a snake-charmer and pop singer. They started falling in love in 1980 while returning home from the first Miss Olympia in Pennsylvania, where she was a contestant and he was a judge. They got married in 1982 and moved permanently to the U.S. in April, 1985.

He is the actor who has appeared in most Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, with a total of 15 and counting (March 2005).

Is a licensed mechanic and during the cold war worked at the DEW Line radar station DYE-3 in Greenland, while it was used by the U.S. Army to look for attacking Soviet planes carrying nuclear bombs.

Gave the 40-pound hammer he wielded in Conan the Barbarian (1982) to the film's director John Milius.

Ranked #82 in the "Top 100 Stars at the Box Office of the 1980s" list.

Held the world record in power-lifting (1985 - 242.5 kilo).

Was a body building judge in the 1980s.

Is in three films based on the writings of Robert E. Howard - Conan the Barbarian (1982), Conan the Destroyer (1984), and Kull the Conqueror (1997). He also did uncredited stunt work in Red Sonja (1985).

Has stated that of all the films he has been in, he has only seen Gladiator (2000) and Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe (1990).

When he was a young adult, he weighed only 180 lbs (82 kilo), but then he began working out to become much stronger, and at 24 years old, Sven had bulked up to 320 lbs (145 kilo).

He's writing a book about his life; Stærk man i Hollywood (Strong Man in Hollywood), expected to be published in the fall of 2007. (May 2007)

Co-Owner and Manager at Artista Group.

Frequently plays Russian characters (Pas på ryggen, professor! (1977), Predator (1987), Red Heat (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Eraser (1996), Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998), Route 666 (2001) and so on).

As of 15th of November 2013 Married to Birgitta Sunding aka Queen B who is an Actress, Co-Owner of Artista Group where she handles Management, PR, Castings amongst many other things. Birgitta is also CEO and Producer at RubioRex Production. The Couple resides in Santa Monica with their two dogs Jackie and Sampson.

Is in two films based on Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels - The Hunt for Red October (1990) and The Sum of All Fears (2002).

Is the founder of various federations, including The Danish Bodybuilding Federation. He also started and co-founded the monthly "Cigar Night at Schatzi on Main" with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Has made four movies together with Jesse Ventura (The Running Man (1987), Predator (1987), Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe (1990), and Batman & Robin (1997)).

Ranked #56 in the "Top 100 Stars at the Box Office of the 1990s" list.

Has two children: Michael and Martin, who both have children of their own.

Frequently has a small role in the films of John McTiernan.

Has made four movies together with Ralf Moeller (The Viking Sagas (1995), Batman & Robin (1997), The Bad Pack (1997), and Gladiator (2000)). The two are good friends in real life.

Has made six movies with Thomas Rosales Jr. (Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), Nowhere to Run (1993), Last Action Hero (1993), A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), and Foolish (1999)).

Shares the same birthday as fellow Gladiator (2000) co-star Spencer Treat Clark.

Was considered for the role of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV (1985) before Dolph Lundgren was cast.