Ólafur Darri Ólafsson is a powerful Icelandic-American actor, screenwriter, and producer celebrated for his imposing physical presence and intense, nuanced performances.
Through standout roles in Trapped, The Deep, Severance, and international hits like The Meg and Fantastic Beasts, he has brought raw authenticity and depth to characters across drama, thriller, and fantasy genres, earning acclaim from Iceland to Hollywood.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
- Stage Name: Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
- Born: March 3, 1973
- Age: 53 years old
- Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Nationality: Icelandic and American
- Ethnicity: Icelandic
- Occupation: Actor, Screenwriter, Producer
- Height: 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
- Religion: N/A
- Parents: Mr. Ólafsson and Mrs. Ólafsson
- Siblings: Unknown
- Spouse: Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir
- Children: Two daughters
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $6 million USD
Early Life and Education
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson was born on March 3, 1973, in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, to Icelandic parents. He was brought up by his parents, Mr. Ólafsson and Mrs. Ólafsson, with his mother working as a nurse.
The family moved back to Iceland when he was four years old, where he grew up in a supportive environment that nurtured his artistic interests. He attended The Icelandic Drama School (Leiklistarskóli Íslands), graduating with a BA in Acting after three years of rigorous training from 1994 to 1998.
This early relocation and dedicated theatrical education laid the foundation for his commanding stage and screen presence in the Icelandic and international entertainment scenes.
Career
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson began his professional path in Icelandic theatre after drama school, quickly establishing himself as a versatile stage actor. He gained early recognition in Icelandic cinema with acclaimed roles in Children (2006) and The Deep (2012), the latter earning him widespread praise and awards.
He broke into global audiences with the hit series Trapped (2015–), playing the brooding detective Andri Ólafsson, which became an international sensation.
His Hollywood career expanded with memorable supporting roles in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), The BFG (2016) as the Maidmasher, The Meg (2018) as The Wall, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), and voice work in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) as Ragnar the Rock.
Ólafur has since delivered strong performances in Operation Napoleon (2023), Beautiful Beings (2022), and recurring roles in Severance Season 2 (2025) as Mr Drummond, Somebody Somewhere, and Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue (2025).
Upcoming projects include Blood on Snow (2026, post-production), How to Train Your Dragon live-action (2027) as Drago, the series God of War as Thor, Reykjavik Fusion, and the film Dark Ocean alongside Baltasar Kormákur.
Based primarily in Iceland while working internationally, he also writes, produces, and co-founded theatre initiatives, showcasing his dedication to storytelling rooted in Nordic resilience and versatility across languages and genres.
Social Media
- Instagram: @olafurdarriolafsson
Personal Life
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, 53, is currently married to Icelandic dancer and choreographer Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir. They have been in a long-term relationship and share two daughters born around 2010 and later. No other past relationships are publicly documented.
He keeps family life relatively private while balancing demanding international filming schedules with time at home in Iceland. His height is 193 cm (6 ft 4 in).
Net Worth
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson’s net worth is estimated at $6 million USD. His income primarily comes from acting roles in Icelandic and international films and series, voice work, producing and screenwriting credits, and theatre contributions accumulated over his decades-long career.
Filmography
- God of War (upcoming series) as Thor
- How to Train Your Dragon (2027) as Drago
- Blood on Snow (2026, post-production)
- Severance Season 2 (2025) as Mr Drummond
- Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue (2025)
- Operation Napoleon (2023) as Einar
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) as Skender
- The Meg (2018) as The Wall
- The BFG (2016) as Maidmasher
- Trapped (2015–) as Andri Ólafsson
- The Deep (2012)
- Children (2006)