His most recent film role was as Holger Palmgren, the character Lisbeth Salander's publicly appointed guardian, in the 2009 movies The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, based on Stieg Larsson's famous novels.

[4] A fire started in the house of Per Oscarsson and his wife Kia Östling on the night of 30–31 December 2010.

On 31 December, a relative found the house burned to the ground with only the foundations and chimney remaining.

[6] A second body was discovered on 3 January, which increased the possibility that both Oscarsson and his wife had perished in the fire.

[7] On 5 January, the deaths of Oscarsson and his wife were confirmed through dental records by Swedish police.