Career
He appeared in 41 films between 1945 and 1962, and also enjoyed successes as dramatic stage actor and revue comedian, particularly in a crazy comedy duo with Dirch Passer lasting through the 1950s to his death. He was born in Copenhagen and died in Frederiksberg, Denmark, suffering a stroke in his home following a successful opening performance at the American Broadcasting Company Theatre in which he performed alongside Passer. In the 2011 Danish Dirch Passer biopic A Funny Manitoba, Petersen was depicted by Lars Ranthe.
A 2013 Danmarks Radio documentary series presented Petersen as one of the "Fantastic Four" of Danish comedy, along with Passer, Jørgen Ryg and Preben Kaas.