For many, he is known for his breakthrough role as the stubborn northernmost "Stora Norrland" in the TV series "Somewhere in Sweden", where he played, among others, Janne "Loffe" Carlsson, Olle Björling and Per Ragnar. The series aired in SVT 1973–1974 and is about a group of conscripted soldiers in Sweden during the Second World War.
Jan Nygren was born in 1934 in Hamra in Dalarna and began his acting career in 1956 at Axel Witzansky's theater school. Over the years he has starred in over 80 films and television series. He was a hard-working voice actor and made, among other things, Karlsson's voice in "The World's Best Karlsson" from 1974.
He was married to the late dancer and TV producer Berit Nygren.
Jan Nygren turned 85.