Swedish actor, Michael Nyqvist dies aged 56

Actor Michael Nyqvist, who starred in the film adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, has died aged 56.

Nyqvist played journalist Mikael Blomkvist in that film and its sequels, which formed the trilogy.

According to a family statement, the Swedish actor died on Tuesday after suffering from lung cancer for a year, .

The family added Nyqvist’s love of the arts was “felt by all who had the pleasure of working with him”

“Michael’s joy and passion were infectious to those who knew and loved him,His charm and charisma were undeniable.”

The popular Swedish actor and writer began his training at the Malmö Theatre Academy in Sweden.

He was best known for his role in Dragon Tattoo (2009), starring as the investigative reporter who teams up with feisty computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, played by Noomi Rapace.

Nyqvist played the villain alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol and starred as Viggo Tarasov in John Wick with Keanu Reeves.

He went on to star in the 2015 film Colonia, opposite Daniel Brühl and Emma Watson.

Nyqvist also wrote an acclaimed memoir, Just After Dreaming, published in 2010, about his earliest childhood memories following adoption and how he later traced his biological parents.

Nyqvist is survived by his wife, Catharina Ehrnrooth, and their children, Ellen and Arthur.