Biography

During the filming of "Olsenbandens siste stikk" (1999), he suffered enormous pain in one of his legs. He still chose to go through with the film as he had the starring role. After filming he was admitted to hospital where the leg had to be amputated as a result of complications from gangrene.

His name in the "Olsenbanden-films" was by his comrades "Egon", but he called himself "Herr Olsen" towards the others he met in the 14 films. His famous expression in the "Olsen-banden"-films was: "Jeg har en plan!".

He have played a lot of comic folk-theater traveling around Norway and Sweden. Best known in Sweden for his performance in the sketch "Pikene fra Lisboa"(Girls from Lisboa).

In Norway he is known for his participants with Leif Juster, Kari Diesen and Ernst Diesen in folk-theater and of course in "Olsen-banden" with co-players: Sverre Holm, Carsten Byhring, Aud Schønemann and later on Harald Heide Steen Jr.

As a remark Leif Juster did not want to cast Arve earlier because of his "screaming voice".

He started out with driving buses and being a light-boy to later starring in the lead roles in film and theater.

He's most known for playing comic roles.

He's one of Norways best known actors. Had his debut on stage in 1942. His movie debut was in "Hjem går vi ikke" from 1955.

He's best known for his role as "Egon Olsen" in the famous film-series about "Olsenbanden" (1969-1999). He's is also very known for the role as "Henry" in the sitcom "Mot i Brøstet" (1993-1997).