Jonas Gardell is one of the most famous writer and entertainers in Sweden. He is also one of the most famous gay persons in Sweden, and was for a long time with his boyfriend Mark Levengood (TV and radio personality) THE GAY COUPLE. Everyone knew about them.
I started to like Jonas Gardell for his witty reports in the Swedish radio program Spanarna, and his shows om the tellie, especially Jonas får hemligt besök. My favorite episode is when Marit Paulson (writer and former EU-politician) starts to talk about the hazard of meat with Ricky Brooche (Swedish sportsman). I am always laughing out laud when I see that discussion.
His novels are very different from his comical work. They are often very dark. But in the silience it is still possible to hear a cynical laughter. One of my favorite books is Fru Björks öden och äventyr. This book really shows the magic Jonas Gardell can produce with his words. On the outside it is a quite dull story about an old lady that gets tired of being used, and decides to do something about it. It also shows the extend of what people can do for love.
He has also written screenplays and theatre. I have lots of favorites in his theatre-work, but one of the most powerful preformances I have ever seen of a play of his is Cheek to Cheek, with Ernst-Hugo Järegård and Lena Nyman. One of the last performances of Järegård who dies shortly after, where he plays a formerly famed singer. An other really important quality film he wrote is Pensionat Oskar (eng. title: Like It Never Was Before), which is about middle-aged married man who falls in love with a younger guy on a family vacation.
Jonas Gardell's openess when it comes to his sexuality has meant very much for many young glbtq-people showing in small Swedish communities that there are people like them. That they are not alone. He stands up for the people who does not have that much. One of his many messages with his artistry is that it is OK to be ugly and unattractive and afraid.