Biography
Who is Joel Kinnaman?
Early life and background
Charles Joel Nordström Kinnaman was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 25, 1979. He grew up in his home country as a dual citizen of Sweden and the United States. His father, Steve, was an American who had moved to Sweden, while his mother, Bitte, worked as a therapist. Because of his parents' backgrounds, Joel learned to speak both English and Swedish during his childhood.
He attended Södra Latin school in Stockholm. During his youth, he also spent time as an exchange student in Del Valle, Texas. After finishing his secondary education, Joel decided to travel extensively. He worked various jobs, including time as a roof-sweeper and a factory worker in Norway, to fund his trips across Southeast Asia and South America.
Acting career beginnings
Joel Kinnaman started acting as a child in the Swedish soap opera Storstad in 1990. He appeared in 22 episodes before taking a break from the industry. He returned to acting in 2002 while attending drama school. He trained at the Malmö Theatre Academy, graduating in 2007. Following his studies, he performed at the Gothenburg City Theatre and gained notice for playing Raskolnikov in a stage version of Crime and Punishment.
His film career took off in 2009 and 2010. He appeared in the film In Your Veins and starred in the Johan Falk crime series. His breakout role came in the 2010 film Easy Money, which brought him significant attention in Sweden and internationally. This role earned him a Guldbagge Award for Best Actor. Seeking to expand his work, he hired an American agent to help him find roles in the United States.
International film and television success
After moving into international projects, Joel Kinnaman appeared in the 2011 film The Darkest Hour. He gained a major television role as Detective Stephen Holder in the AMC series The Killing, which ran from 2011 to 2014. In 2014, he played the title character in the RoboCop remake. He later joined the DC Comics universe, playing Rick Flag in the 2016 film Suicide Squad and its 2021 sequel, The Suicide Squad.
His television work continued with significant roles on major streaming platforms. He played Governor Will Conway in House of Cards and the lead character Takeshi Kovacs in Altered Carbon for Netflix. From 2019 to 2026, he starred as astronaut Ed Baldwin in the Apple TV+ science fiction series For All Mankind. He also appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series Hanna and several thriller films like The Informer and The Secrets We Keep.
Personal life and relationships
Joel Kinnaman was previously married to tattoo artist Cleo Wattenström from 2015 until 2018. He began dating Swedish-Australian model Kelly Gale in 2019. The couple announced their engagement in 2021 and were married during an intimate ceremony at the 2024 Burning Man Festival in Nevada. Joel has five sisters, including actress Melinda Kinnaman.
In 2021, Joel became involved in a legal matter regarding a former relationship with Gabriella Magnusson. He obtained a temporary restraining order after alleging extortion, which Magnusson denied. Magnusson also accused him of negligent rape. A Swedish Prosecution Authority investigation concluded in 2022 that no crime could be proven, and the case was closed.
Birthday and age
Joel Kinnaman was born on November 25, 1979, which makes Joel 46 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Joel shares the date with 22 other famous people.
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