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Leif G.W. Persson picture

Leif G.W. Persson

Acting
Known For

80 Years Old

Leif G.W. Persson, born on March 12, 1945, in Stockholm, is a Swedish criminologist and author, best known for his crime novels and media appearances. He grew up in Gärdet, Stockholm, and later moved to Valhallavägen. After graduating from Norra Real, he studied at Stockholm University from 1965 and earned his Ph.D. in sociology in 1980, focusing on statistical measurement problems in criminology. In 1982, he became an associate professor and, in 1991, a professor of criminology specializing in police methods. Between 1967 and 1977, he worked as an expert for the National Police Board. He was involved in revealing that National Police Commissioner Carl Persson had sent a memo to Prime Minister Olof Palme about Justice Minister Lennart Geijer’s involvement with prostitutes, which became the "Geijeraffären." As a result, Persson lost his job at the National Police Board. His experiences inspired his debut novel, Grisfesten. He taught at Stockholm University and was a full professor in criminology from 1991 to 2012. He also served as an expert for the Ministry of Justice, focusing on smuggling crimes. He supported journalist Per Lindeberg in research that led to the 1999 book Döden är en man, about the 1984 styckmordet i Solna. Persson also created an offender profile for the case. In 2007, he was criticized for not publishing academic research or supervising doctoral students, though he argued that his work had been presented in reports and investigations. In 2008, he announced his resignation from the National Police Board, criticizing the appointment of Bengt Svenson as Rikspolischef. Despite initial resistance, he was later asked to stay on. Persson co-created the TV show Grabbarna på Fagerhult with Jan Guillou and published related cookbooks like Grabbarnas Kokbok. From 1998 to 2010, he appeared as a criminology expert on Efterlyst. He briefly left the show in 2006 but returned the following season. In 2010, he left Efterlyst to co-host Veckans brott on SVT with Camilla Kvartoft. His crime novels, often referred to as En roman om ett brott, feature characters like Evert Bäckström, Bo Jarnebring, and Lars Martin Johansson. In 2012, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to his books about Evert Bäckström, including Linda – som i Lindamordet and Den som dödar draken. After CBS rejected the pilot, Fox produced Backstrom in 2015, starring Rainn Wilson as a Portland, Oregon, detective. Persson was married to Birgitta Liedstrand (1968–1980), Margareta Jönsson (1987–2002), and since 2003 to Kim Olsson. He lives in Solna and rents a hunting estate near Gnesta. He had his first son at 20, followed by three daughters, including author Malin Persson Giolito.

Born

Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden on 12th March 1945

All Credits

Skavlan Image
Skavlan
Self - Guest
Hellenius Hörna Image
Hellenius Hörna
Self - Guest
Renées brygga Image
Renées brygga
Himself
Jorden runt på 6 steg Image
Jorden runt på 6 steg
Vänligen: Lars Lerin Image
Vänligen: Lars Lerin
Self
Kulturplatz Image
Kulturplatz
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På jakt med Lotta och Leif Image
På jakt med Lotta och Leif
Self
Profitörerna Image
Profitörerna
Police investigator
Veckans brott Image
Veckans brott
Himself
Veckans brott Image
Veckans brott
Stenbeck Image
Stenbeck
Self
Veckan med Camilla och Leif GW Image
Veckan med Camilla och Leif GW
Self
Astrid Image
Astrid
Self
Ulf Lundell - friheten och ensamheten Image
Ulf Lundell - friheten och ensamheten
Self
Den överlägsne journalisten Image
Den överlägsne journalisten
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Boston Tea Party Image
Boston Tea Party
GW:s mord Image
GW:s mord
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The Helicopter Robbery Image
The Helicopter Robbery
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Silbersky Image
Silbersky
Self
Grabbarna på Fagerhult Image
Grabbarna på Fagerhult
Self
The Kings Inner Circle Image
The Kings Inner Circle
Self
Documents from the Inside: The Swedish Dismemberment Murder Image
Documents from the Inside: The Swedish Dismemberment Murder
Self (archive footage)
Engelska mord Image
Engelska mord
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Läckbergs Image
Läckbergs
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Sommarmord Image
Sommarmord
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En smak på livet Image
En smak på livet
Self
Kvällspressen Image
Kvällspressen
Kriminologen
The Perfect Patient Image
The Perfect Patient
Leif G.W. Persson (voice)
Brottsjournalen Image
Brottsjournalen
Self
Leif GW about Image
Leif GW about
Self
Leif GW Persson om Mordutredningen Image
Leif GW Persson om Mordutredningen
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Breaking News med Filip och Fredrik Image
Breaking News med Filip och Fredrik
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Leif GW Persson - Min klassresa Image
Leif GW Persson - Min klassresa
Self
Inspector Späck Image
Inspector Späck
Leif G.W. Persson
Astrid Image
Astrid
Self
Bordellaffären från Makten och sanningen Image
Bordellaffären från Makten och sanningen
Self
Sjöwall & Wahlöö - Berättelsen om ett brott Image
Sjöwall & Wahlöö - Berättelsen om ett brott
Self
GW berättar - Göring i Sverige Image
GW berättar - Göring i Sverige
Self
Sven Melander - Ta hand om er och glöm inte att skratta Image
Sven Melander - Ta hand om er och glöm inte att skratta
Self
Revolver-Harry - enligt Leif GW Persson Image
Revolver-Harry - enligt Leif GW Persson
Self
Palmemördaren Image
Palmemördaren
Self (archive footage)
Leif GW om: Blattarna som byggde Sverige Image
Leif GW om: Blattarna som byggde Sverige
Self
Ebbe - The Movie: Mannen, Myten, Affären Image
Ebbe - The Movie: Mannen, Myten, Affären
Self
Thomas Quick Image
Thomas Quick
Self
Leif GW och vargen Image
Leif GW och vargen
Self
Dubbelsvindlarna Image
Dubbelsvindlarna
Eliasson
Leif GW: Fallet Tove Image
Leif GW: Fallet Tove
Self
Mordet på Olof Palme Image
Mordet på Olof Palme
Self
Leif GW - nyhetsspecial om Madsen Image
Leif GW - nyhetsspecial om Madsen
Self
Helénmannen: Ulf Olsson Image
Helénmannen: Ulf Olsson
Self
Historiska brott Image
Historiska brott
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Malou möter Leif GW Persson Image
Malou möter Leif GW Persson
Self
Thomas Quick: Seriemördare eller mytoman? Image
Thomas Quick: Seriemördare eller mytoman?
Self
Bordellaffären Image
Bordellaffären
Self