He is perhaps most famous for his roles in the comedies Repmånad (1979) and Göta kanal eller Vem drog ur proppen?

Carlsson is also well known for playing lead roles in several film adaptations of the Swedish writer Stig Claesson's books, such as Vem älskar Yngve Frej (1973), På palmblad och rosor (1976) and Henrietta (1983).

He was the 'Karlsson' of the Swedish jazz fusion/psychedelic rock duo Hansson & Karlsson that were active in the late 1960s, and performed together with musicians such as Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin and Jimi Hendrix.

Carlsson had daughter Sara with Ljungdahl, who was in a relationship and had two children with Peter Settman.

Among the funeral guests were Lill-Babs, Per Ragnar, Johan Hedenberg, Christian Lundqvist [sv], Bert-Åke Varg, and Joakim Nätterqvist.