Marcel's parents Horace Engdahl and Ebba Witt-Brattström are both famous academic personalities in Sweden.
The actor's father Horace Engdahl is a member of the Swedish Academy. He was appointed as a member in 1997 and will hold the position throughout his lifetime. In addition, he also served as the permanent secretary at the Academy for a decade, from June 1, 1999, to June 1, 2009.
As the permanent secretary, Horace's role was to act as the spokesperson of the Academy. His annual duty included announcing the Nobel Prize in Literature winner. As a Swedish historian and critic, Horace has published his works since 1982.
Similarly, Marcel's mother Ebba is also a well-known scholar from Sweden. She specializes in Comparative Literature and currently serves as a professor and head of the department of literature at Södertörn University near Stockholm.
Ebba has published over 20 works as a writer, translated three, and served as an editor in her career. She has also received Moa Prize, Lotten von Kræmer's Award, Ivar Lo-Johansson's Personal Prize, Elin Wägner Society Prize, and Mårbacka Prize in 1991, 2004, 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively.
Horace and Ebba were married for 25 years between 1989 and 2014. The couple gave birth to three sons, including Marcel, in their 25 years of union.
Likewise, Ebba also has a son from her previous marriage to Ola Holmgren from 1977 to 1982.
