Sæmi Rokk, Icelandic dancer and police officer, dies aged 90

Actor, former police officer, dancer and bodyguard Sæmi Rokk Pálsson died on Saturday morning, aged 90, mbl.is reports.

Born Sæmundur Pálsson, he grew up in Reykjavík and was born on July 31, 1936. In 2018, he received permission to change his name and officially adopted the nickname Sæmi Rokk. His wife, Ásgerður Ásgeirsdóttir, died in 2022. They had four children, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sæmi first became widely known for his dancing during the rock era. He and dance partner Didda, whose full name was Jónína Karlsdóttir, were stars of their time. Stories also circulated that his rock-and-roll dance steps could ease tense situations when he arrived as a police officer.

He appeared in the Stuðmenn film Með allt á hreinu as Óliver Tvist, a character who said he danced the twist to forget.

Sæmi worked for much of his police career in Seltjarnarnes. He was remembered as a positive, warm and responsible man who often arrived an hour early to help ensure children got safely to school. He was also held up as a role model at the police academy.

In 1972, he served as bodyguard to chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer during Fischer’s match against Boris Spassky at Laugardalshöll, a hall where the match was held. The two became close friends.