Preben Lerdorff Rye was a prolific actor in Danish cinema during the mid-to-late 20th century. After varied educations in physical labor jobs, Rye debuted at Odenste Teater in 1938 and later got admitted to Det Kgl. Teater as a student in 1940, where he later became an actor, and was performing on stage up until 1961. Rye then took a brief break from the stage and acting and went on to live as a "civilian", until 1973, where he took up acting full time again, both in film and in theaters.