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Michael Nyqvist, who starred as investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the Swedish versions of _The  Girl with the Dragon Tattoo_ and its sequel and went on to appear in a number of

Hollywood films, died today of cancer. He was 56. His family confirmed the news to Swedish media. The actor also starred alongside Tom Cruise as lead villain Kurt Hendricks in 2011’s

_Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol_ and opposite Keanu Reeves as the leader of the Russian mob in _John Wick_ (2014). “Michael’s joy and passion were infectious to those who knew and

loved him,” his family said in a statement. “His charm and charisma were undeniable, and his love for the arts was felt by all who had the pleasure of working with him.” Nyqvist’s breakout

role came in 2000 in the film_ Together,_ directed by Lukas Moodysson. He went on to play the male lead in Swedish romantic comedy _The Guy in the Grave Next Door,_ directed by Kjell

Sundvall, and in 2004 starred as Daniel Daréus, a conductor and musician, in Kay Pollak-directed _As It Is in Heaven_, which received an Oscar nomination for best foreign film. WATCH ON

DEADLINE More recently Nyqvist appeared in the 2016 Sundance pic _Frank and Lola_, opposite Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots. On the small screen Nyqvist starred opposite Dominic Monaghan in

_100 Cod_e, the Swedish-U.S. series created and co-written by Bobby Moresco (_Crash, Million Dollar Baby, The Black Donnellys_). His final credited TV role was in miniseries _Madiba_

earlier this year.