[1] Eklund was born at Östervåla in Uppsala County, Sweden.

He began playing amateur theater in Gävle.

During his career he was director of several theaters: Blancheteatern 1917–1926, Comediteatern 1923–1938, Konserthusteatern 1926–1927, Skansenteatern 1934–1940, Oscarsteatern 1938–1941 and Lisebergsteatern in Gothenburg 1947–1956.

He was married to actress and theatre director Alice Eklund (1896–1983), daughter of actress Anna Hofman-Uddgren (1868–1947) and screenwriter Karl Gustaf Uddgren (1865–1927).

He was the father of actor Nils Eklund (born 1927).