Esben Dalgaard (born 1976) is a Danish actor, author and public speaker, trained at the Odense Theatre Acting School and the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York. He is known for TV series such as The Chestnut Man, Bedrag and 1864, spent several years as a permanent member of the Royal Danish Theatre ensemble, and reached the final of Vild med dans in 2018. When his melanoma returned as incurable in 2021, he began speaking openly about the experience - as a touring speaker, as host of the DR podcast series Inden vi dør and as co-author of the book Mærket (2023), written with his wife Charlotte.
Esben Dalgaard visited Hobro in January 2026 with the lecture 'Hello Cancer - Welcome' at Nytårskuren Mariagerfjord.
Esben Dalgaard opened Sankt Lukas Hospice's LIVSMOD evenings on 23 September 2025 with a lecture about living with cancer as a constant companion.
In November 2024, Esben Dalgaard received both the Life & Death Prize and the Cancer Society's Honorary Prize for his work in highlighting taboo subjects about illness and death.
DR published the podcast series Before We Die with Esben Dalgaard as host, in which he converses with 15 terminally ill Danes.
The book Marked was released as a Mofibo Original audiobook in November 2023 and in paperback by Forlaget Frydenlund in February 2024.
Actor and author Esben Dalgaard shares his experiences with illness, hope, and love in a lecture about death and living meaningfully.
Actor Esben Dalgaard shares his personal journey with cancer and explores how we can talk about death - with humor and candor.
Actor and author Esben Dalgaard gives a lecture exploring death and whether it's possible to befriend it.
Actor Esben Dalgaard shares his personal story about cancer, family challenges, and his journey through acting in this intimate lecture at Skive Library.
Esben Dalgaard explores how Danes can become better at discussing death, drawing on his own experiences with serious illness and insights gathered from around the world.
Esben Dalgaard explores death and conversation through his own illness, a DR podcast and TV series, featuring perspectives from experts and people facing life's end.
