– We are devastated. Tommy was inalienable to us. Now we ask for peace in the grief, writes his brother Raymond Karlstad in another e-mail NRK.
Sandum was found dead in his home in Oslo on Tuesday, the channel is informed. The cause of death is not known.
He was best known for the role of “Proffen”, from the iconic duo Pelle and Proffen in the films “De blå ulvene” (1993), “Giftige løgner” (1992) and not least the classic “Døden på Oslo S” (1990). All based on the books by author Ingvar Ambjørnsen.
– Thank you for the trip, my friend, writes Håvard Bakke, who played “Pelle” on Facebook on Wednesday evening.
See more photos in the gallery below
ICONIC DUO: Håvard Bakke (tv) and Tommy Karlsen, also known as Pelle and Proffen in 1992.
DEATH IN OSLO S: Pelle and Proffen.
“LILYHAMMER”: Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, Fridtjov Såheim, Tommy Karlsen Sandum on the red carpet in 2014.
Author Ingvar Ambjørnsen offers his condolences to Sandum’s family.
– This is terribly painful, and a great fellow has left us far too soon, writes Ambjørnsen to VG in a message.
– Tommy was tailor-made for the role of “The Pro”, and I instantly recognized him “again” when I saw him on set for the first time, writes Ambjørnsen.
Ingvar Ambjørnsen in 2016. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB
Sandum also played Arne in the popular TV series “Lilyhammer” (2012–2014).
Steinar Sagen worked with Karlsen for a number of years on the series “Lilyhammer”. He describes Karlsen as “a core vessel”.
– Tommy was a guy you could trust. He was really pleasant, thoughtful and someone who was interested in what you had to say. A core vessel, quite simply. Tommy was a warm and nice guy, says Sagen to VG.
Sagen says that Karlsen listened to Sagen’s podcast “Radioresepsjonen”.
– He was a friend of the podcast, and we often talked about him, concludes Sagen.
Steinar Sagen, Tommy Karlsen Sandum and Trond Fausa Aurvåg together in 2013. Photo: Berit Roald / NTB
Fridtjov Såheim, who also stars in “Lilyhammer”, tells VG that he reminisces about a good time during the filming of the series.
– He became a kind of friend, and we had a bit to do with each other in our spare time as well.
Såheim describes the death as “terribly sad”.
– He was a core person, responsive and a humble type.
– He was a very, very kind man, he adds.
Actor, director and screenwriter Fridtjov Såheim together with Tommy Karlsen Sandum in 2013 in New York. Photo: Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images
In 2019, VG interviewed Sandum about life after the success of Pelle og Proffen, a role he hijacked when he was only 14 years old.
– It was an adventure and a small piece of Norwegian film history that I got to take part in. I was very aware that I would probably never experience anything like this again, Sandum told VG at the time.
“Døden på Oslo S” was staged as a musical at the disused Økern center in Oslo last year, and many new audiences opened their eyes to the classic.
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