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The son of a Swedish Actor-Comedian, Producer, Director and Musician; music and the arts were a natural part of Yan Birch's life, surrounding him throughout his early childhood. He learned to play the flute and trumpet at a tender age, and his passion for acting led him to the stage as a young child, appearing in several plays, including "Miss Julie", by August Strindberg.

Yan's early television career in Sweden included two successful youth programs "Barnjournalen", a popular weekly kid's show, and "Unga Tvaan", at that time Sweden's MTV equivalent. Yan also had a band and released several successful recordings which received much radio airplay.

Graduating with a BA in Mechanical Engineering and a degree in Mathematics, Yan completed his studies from the technical college Teknikum in Vaxjo, Sweden.

At this point in his life, Yan decided to have a dramatic "Life Learning Experience." He traveled the world and lived in almost every country before making the big Hollywood move to live out his dream. He took nothing with him but the determination to "Experience" people from all over the world so that he would be well prepared for Hollywood and whatever was to come his way.

With talent, experience, unending support from his family, and maybe a little genetic determination to perform, Yan swiftly obtained acting parts in music videos and commercials, working with people like Billy Idol, David Fincher, Mark Rezyka and Mickey Rourke before landing his first American feature roles in Slumber Party Massacre III (1990), and The Runestone (1991). From these, he was flown to Italy where he landed a starring role in the feature film "Scrondo" and several other Italian television shows.

In 1991, Yan got a major part in Wes Craven's cult horror film The People Under the Stairs (1991), as "The Stairmaster." While his love for the fun of working on Horror and Science Fiction films took him on a road through the underground, his acting ability landed him the steadier roles in two popular network daytime soaps Santa Barbara (1984) and The Young and the Restless (1973). Yan capitalized on his Swedish good looks, and his menacing appearance, playing both a sensitive health club owner and a mobster, while working to better his craft in this different media.

After working on a few more Indy films like Cyber Bandits (1995) together with Grace Jones, Alexandra Paul, Martin Kemp and Adam Ant, helmed by Erik Fleming and Sucker (1998) written and directed by Hans Rodionoff, in 1999 Yan received a phone call from Chuck Russell and was offered the role of the "Guardian Angel" in Paramount's Bless the Child (2000). Directed by Chuck Russell and starring Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Christina Ricci and Rufus Sewell. Since then, Yan has appeared in several more independent films including Essence of Echoes (2002) and Ghost Rock (2003). Yan also has a recurring role on Spelling television's hit series Charmed (1998) on WB, as "Kane" - the head of the Warlocks.

Yan has also starred in a multitude of television commercials during the years working with Directors such as Mark Pellington, David LaChapelle, Jake Scott, Ralf Schmerberg, Pierre Winther, Albert Watson, 'Regis Roinsard' , Paul Minor and Paul Hunter.

Yan has incorporated his love of the arts with his business and deciding to expand his professional career, Yan also dove into producing. At the start of the year 1996 he produced "Mega Man" for Fox Television. He is the co-owner of the film production company Pure Entertainment together with his partner Victoria Tarazi. Yan produced and line produced the feature film documentary "Gone Soul Fishin" for MTV. He also produced and line produced the feature film Essence of Echoes (2002) (in which he also starred as the main villain). Yan continues to produce and develop a multitude of other projects with his company Pure Entertainment.

Yan continues to expand his professional career while soaking up life's experiences like a sponge. His range and ability as an Actor and Producer continue to grow as he applies himself, and all that he is, to his roles and projects. Embracing every challenge with his eternal positive energy, inner peace, and great style, he has certainly come a long way since his first days on the stage in Sweden.

Ola Forssmed was born on 6 September 1973 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. He is an actor, known for Rederiet (1992), Stall-Erik och Snapphanarna and Hem till Midgård (2003).

Christian Quadflieg was born on 11 April 1945 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. He was an actor and director, known for The Country Doctor (1987), Die unfreiwilligen Reisen des Moritz August Benjowski (1975) and Liebes Leben (1990). He was married to Renate Reger. He died on 16 July 2023 in Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Henrik Larsson was born on 10 June 1977 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. He is an actor and producer, known for The Way of the Brave (2016), The Biker and The Dread.

Henric Holmberg was born on 4 January 1946 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. He is an actor and writer, known for Sven Klangs kvintett (1976), The Flight of the Eagle (1982) and Babels hus (1981).

Jonas Jonasson was born on 6 July 1971 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. He is a writer, known for The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2013), The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden and The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

Ulla-Britt Söderlund was born on 12 August 1943 in Växjö, Sweden. She was a costume designer, known for Barry Lyndon (1975). She died on 21 July 1985 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Pär Lagerkvist was born on 23 May 1891 in Vaxjö, Sweden. He was a writer, known for The Dwarf, Barabbas (1961) and Ombyte av tåg: En allvarlig komedi (1943). He was married to Elaine Luella Hallberg and Karen Sorensen. He died on 11 July 1974 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Hans Åke Gabrielsson was born on 19 April 1948 in Växjö, Småland, Sweden. He is a writer and director, known for The Jonsson Gang's Greatest Robbery (1995), Jönssonligan & den svarta diamanten (1992) and Min frus förste älskare (2006).

Eric Gustafson was born on 27 May 1897 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Lärarinna på vift (1941), En melodi om våren (1943) and Två hjärtan och en skuta (1932). He died on 9 April 1981 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Annelie Cau Tomasdotter was born on 17 July 1987 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. She is a production manager, known for Videoman (2018), Försvunna människor (2022) and Maze (2017).

Suzanne Hovinder was born on 25 June 1944 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. She is an actress, known for Freddy klarar biffen (1968), The Lustful Vicar (1970) and Sensuous Sorceress (1970).

Gry Forssell was born on 16 February 1973 in Vaxjö, Sweden. She is an actress and writer, known for Byhåla (1991), Cirkus Skrot (1983) and Byhåla 2 - Tillbaka till Fårrden (1992). She has been married to Alexander Kossek since 2007. They have two children.

Hans Lönnerheden was born on June 3, 1951 in Växjö, Småland, Sweden. He is known for his work on the Oscar nominated film Ondskan (2003) a.k.a. EVIL, Let the right one in (2008), Men who hates women (2009) and Melancholia (2011). He has been married to Anita since November 6, 1975. They have three children.

Lisbet Gabrielsson was born on 2 February 1944 in Växjö, Småland, Sweden. She is a producer and director, known for Ljusår (2008), TV-övervakning (1971) and Dockpojken (1993).

Poa Strömberg was born on 8 January 1960 in Växjö, Småland, Sweden. Poa is a producer and executive, known for Let the Right One In (2008), Show Me Love (1998) and Eagles (2019).

Matteus Blad (born June 10, 1987, in Växjö, Sweden) is a Swedish-Finnish actor, musician, and artist based in Helsinki. Trained at Stockholm Operastudio, Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium in Aarhus, and Vadstena Folkhögskola, he is known for combining speech and song in his performances, often focusing on social issues and human dignity.

Blad's debut album "Det tystade barnet" (2022) features original songs and monologues addressing themes like poverty and the value of human life. In 2023, he released "Bellman", where he was the first since Bellman himself to perform two epistles with their original melodies, which had previously been unknown.

Annelie Wemstad was born on 22 May 1957 in Växjö, Sweden. She is a production designer and art director, known for Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997), The House of the Spirits (1993) and Äkta människor (2012).

Emelia Sallhag was born on 15 December 1992 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. She is an actress, known for John Bauer and the Mountain King (2017), Regnmannen (2025) and Studenternas undergång (2020).

Agnes von Krusenstjerna was born on 9 October 1894 in Växjö, Sweden. She was a writer, known for Loving Couples (1964) and Stulet nyår (1978). She was married to David Sprengel. She died on 10 March 1940 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden.

From 1982 to 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles (three at the French Open, three at the Australian Open, and one at the US Open), and one Grand Slam men's doubles title (at Wimbledon). His breakthrough came suddenly and unexpectedly (even in Sweden) when he won the 1982 French Open. This occurred more or less simultaneously with countryman Björn Borg's decision to quit tennis.

In 1988, Wilander won three of the four Grand Slam singles events and finished that year ranked World No. 1. Although he never won the singles title at Wimbledon, Wilander twice won the Australian Open when that tournament was still played on grass courts. This makes Wilander one of only six men (along with Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic) to have won Grand Slam singles titles on grass courts, hard courts, and clay courts. He, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the only men in tennis history to have won at least two Grand Slam singles titles on each of the three surfaces (2 Australian when it was played on grass, 1 Australian and 1 US on hard, and 3 French on clay).

Wilander won his fourth Grand Slam singles title at the age of 20, the youngest man in history to have achieved that feat. He also won eight Grand Prix Super Series titles (1983-88), the precursors to the current ATP World Tour Masters 1000. He won 33 singles titles and seven doubles titles during his career. He was also a driving force behind Sweden's run of seven consecutive Davis Cup finals in the 1980s.

In 2002, Wilander was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Ann-Marie Wiman was born on 6 June 1921 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. She was an actress and composer, known for Wild Strawberries (1957), Supé för två (1947) and Foreign Intrigue (1951). She was married to Börje Nyberg. She died on 22 September 2016 in Halmstad, Sweden.

Nicklas Estberg was born on 31 December 1975 in Växjö, Kronobergs län, Sweden. Nicklas is an editor and director, known for Hotet från yttre rymden (2013), Stinger (2005) and Världens starkaste Bella (2016).

Hans-Peter Edh was born on 28 June 1951 in Växjö, Sweden. He is an actor, known for En mor till salu (2010), Wallander (2005) and The Killing (2007).

Was the hero of the Swedish team during FIFA World Cup 1994 after he saved two penalties in the shoot-out against Romania in the quarter-finals. He took Sweden to the semi-finals where they lost to Brazil, won the consolation game (the meaningless third place play-off) against Bulgaria. Today, Thomas Ravelli lives in Gothenburg, Sweden.