Lennart Swahn
{{Short description|Swedish television presenter (1927–2008)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lennart Swahn
| image = Vision 86 - Babbel 1986c.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Swahn as host of Babbel (1986).
| birth_name = Olof Algot Lennart Svahn
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|4|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|8|27|1927|4|8|df=y}}
| death_place = Tyresö, Sweden
| nationality = Swedish
| occupation = Journalist, TV host
| years_active =
| partner = David Bonnier
| children =
}}
Olof Algot Lennart Svahn,{{cite book |title=Sveriges dödbok 1901–2013 |trans-title=Swedish death index 1901-2013 |edition=Version 6.0 |year=2014 |publisher=Sveriges släktforskarförbund |location=Solna |language=sv |isbn=9789187676642 |id={{LIBRIS|17007456}}}} later Olof Lennart Swahn{{cite book |title=Sveriges befolkning 1990 |year=2011 |publisher=Svensk arkivinformation (SVAR), Riksarkivet |location=Ramsele |language=sv |isbn=9789188366917 |id={{LIBRIS|12076919}}}} (8 April 1927 – 27 August 2008) was a Swedish journalist and radio and television personality.
Early life
Swahn was born on 8 April 1927 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Karl Algot Swahn (1900–1976), a salesman, and his wife Ellen Fryklund (1904–1999).{{cite book |editor1-last=Davidsson |editor1-first=Åke |date=1968 |title=Vem är vem?. 5, Norrland : supplement, register |trans-title=Who is Who?. 5, Norrland : supplements, directory |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |publisher=Vem är vem |language=sv |url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/norr68/0963.html |page=939}} He had a 15-year younger brother,{{cite web |url=http://www.realtid.se/lennart-swahn-ger-bonnier-miljonarv |publisher=Realtid.se |title=Lennart Swahn ger Bonnier miljonarv |first=Sara |last=Johansson |date=2008-12-11 |access-date=28 October 2016 |language=sv}} Eigil Svahn.{{cite web |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article11501820.ab |newspaper=Aftonbladet |title=Så dolde han sin sjukdom för alla |first=Staffan |last=Lindberg |first2=Rikard |last2=Ljungqvist |date=2008-09-02 |access-date=28 October 2016 |language=sv}} He graduated from Stockholms stads handelsgymnasium in 1947
Career
Swahn was a reporter for the Associated Press from 1948 to 1950 as well as for the newspaper Arbetaren and Sveriges Radio from 1950 to 1953. Swahn worked as a music critic for the newspaper Stockholms-Tidningen from 1953 to 1957 and studied at the University of Minnesota in the United States in 1955. He was a PR man for Svensk Filmindustri in 1957 and opera and ballet critic for the journal Scen och Salong from 1957 and culture reporter for Sveriges Radio from 1960.
Swahn was producer for Riksronden and På minuten and music and entertainment programs on radio and television.{{cite book |date=1984 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1985 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1985 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |language=sv |isbn=91-1-843222-0 |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1985/1059.html |page=1059}} When he in the early 1970s came to television and became the host of the cafe program Halvsju he became nationally famous.{{cite news |url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/lennart-swahn-fick-lida-i-onodan/ |newspaper=Expressen |title=Lennart Swahn fick lida i onödan |first=Tommy |last=Schönstedt |date=25 November 2009 |access-date=28 October 2016 |language=sv}} He was TV host for Riksronden, På minuten, Babbel, Halvsju, Gäster med gester (Give Us a Clue), Razzel and Blåsningen. He also presented New Year's concerts and the Nobel Banquet as well as Melodifestivalen 1986 together with Tommy Engstrand.
Personal life and death
Swahn was for many years living with David Bonnier (born 1933), the son of publisher Kaj Bonnier and Ulla (née Wetterlind).{{cite book |editor1-last=Davidsson |editor1-first=Åke |date=1968 |title=Vem är vem?. 5, Norrland : supplement, register |trans-title=Who is Who?. 5, Norrland : supplements, directory |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |publisher=Vem är vem |language=sv |url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/norr68/0560.html |page=536}} Swahn and Bonnier lived together in an apartment, each with a door and nameplate on Odengatan in Stockholm. Two weeks before his death Swahn changed his address to Bonnier's summer house in Tyresö, where he spent much of his final time. Swahn moved to Maria Regina Hospice in Nacka in March 2008 where he spent four months. In late July 2008, Swahn was admitted to Södersjukhuset in Stockholm. On 19 August 2008 he was transferred to the Handen Hospital where he died a week later. Swahn was buried at Tyresö Begravningsplats close to Tyresö Church.{{cite web |url=http://svenskagravar.se/gravsatt/24869703 |publisher=Svenskagravar.se |title=Swahn, Olof Lennart |access-date=28 October 2016 |language=sv}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Lennart Swahn}}
- {{IMDb name | nm0841445}}
- {{Sfdb name|68747}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swahn, Lennart}}
Category:Swedish television presenters
Category:Radio and television announcers
Category:Journalists from Stockholm
Category:Swedish LGBTQ broadcasters