Bo Svenson: Biography

Born in Sweden, Bo Svenson moved to the U.S. at the age of 17. Before settling upon an acting career, the husky Svenson attended UCLA, served in the Marines for six years, then worked as a hockey player, race-car driver and 3rd Degree Black Belt judo champ. His first regular TV work was on the 1968 western series Here Come the Brides, in which he was cast to type as Big Swede (though by this time, he had lost all vestiges of his Scandinavian accent). After an impressive movie debut in the little-seen Maury (1974), Svenson was second-billed as Alex Olsson, competitor-cum-partner of barnstorming aviator Robert Redford, in The Great Waldo Pepper (1973). When Joe Don Baker, star of the 1973 sleeper Walking Tall, passed on the opportunity to play Sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1975 sequel, Svenson inherited the role; he would portray Pusser in both Part 2: Walking Tall (1975) and The Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977), then repeated the assignment in the 1981 Walking Tall TV series. Perhaps someday, Bo Svenson will escape the sleazoid actioners in which he is usually starred, and receive a screen role worthy of his talents. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide