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Lorene Yarnell Jansson was born on 21 March 1944 in Inglewood, California, USA. She was an actress, known for La Folle Histoire de l'espace (1987), Le retour des Mystères de l'Ouest (1979) and Bye Bye Birdie (1963). She was married to Bjorn Jansson, Robert Shields and John R. Hartmann. She died on 29 July 2010 in Sandefjord, Norway.

Anna-Lisa was born on 30 March 1933 in Oslo, Norway. She was an actress, known for The Search for the Evil One (1967), Black Saddle (1959) and Ben Casey (1961). She died on 21 March 2018 in Oslo, Norway.

Julie Ege was born on 12 November 1943 in Sandnes, Norway. She was an actress, known for Au service secret de Sa Majesté (1969), Les décimales du futur (1973) and Not Now Darling (1973). She was married to Alf Kruger-Monsen and Erland Skatten. She died on 29 April 2008 in Oslo, Norway.

The daughter of a fur wholesaler in Norway, Sonja Henie received her first pair of ice skates when she was six. At 14 she was the Norwegian Skating Champion. At 15 she would win the Olympic gold medal in Skating, a feat she would repeat in 1932 and 1936. In 1936 she would turn professional and tour with her own ice show. She was signed by 20th Century-Fox and debuted in Tourbillon blanc (1936), in which she played an ice skater. The picture was very successful, Sonja continued to make a series of light comedies throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s. More a testament to her skating skills and physical appearance than her acting prowess, the films were nevertheless profitable and her popularity soared. Her films' success garnered financial success for the Hollywood Ice Revues that she produced and starred every year. Her movie career wound down during the mid-'40s, but she continued skating until she retired in 1960. An astute businesswoman and due to marrying shipping magnate Niels Onstad ("the Onassis of Norway") in 1956, Sonja was one of the ten wealthiest women in the world when she died of leukemia in 1969.

Jon Skolmen was born on 1 November 1940 in Oslo, Norway. He was an actor and writer, known for Den ofrivillige golfaren (1991), Sällskapsresan (1980) and Fortuna (1993). He was married to Kirsti Elisabeth Halvorsen. He died on 28 March 2019 in Oslo, Norway.

Edvard Hagerup Grieg (Greig) was born on on June 15, 1843, in Bergen, Norway. His father, named Alexander Greig (originally McGregor), was English consul of Scottish origin. His mother, named Gesine Hagerup, was an educated pianist. Grieg grew up among three sisters and an elder brother. He began piano studies with his mother at the age of six. His mother's brother-in-law, a famous violinist Ole Bull, recommended Grieg to study at the Leipzig Conservatory. From 1858-1862 he studied music in Leipzig under the tutelage of Ignaz Moscheles and graduated with honors. From 1863-1866 Grieg lived in Copenhagen, where he continued his music studies with 'Niels W. Gade'. He made progress towards Scandinavian folk music while being an apprentice of Rikard Nordraak. Soon Grieg emancipated himself from the German romantic tradition and grew towards the development of his original style. Grieg's harmonies became unorthodox, rich, and challenging for a public conditioned to classic compositions of Mozart and Haydn. During the winter of 1865-1866 he was in Rome, where he performed his music and earned a European reputation.

His love of the Norwegian folk culture and traditional melodies became evident in his compositions written after 1866, the year Grieg returned to Norway. He settled in Christiania (Oslo) and established himself as a music teacher and concert performer. At the same time Grieg became the founder of a concert society "Eutherpe" with a choir and a symphony orchestra. His collection of "Lyrical Pieces" for piano made him a fine reputation among musicians. Grieg was called the "Chopin of the North" by Hans Bulow. In 1867 Grieg married his cousin Nina Hagerup, and their only child died being only one year old. His famous Piano Concerto in A minor was completed in 1868 and performed in Copenhagen. With a letter of recommendation from Franz Liszt, Grieg received a state stipend for his studies in Italy and spent a winter of 1869-1870 in Rome. There Grieg performed his music and had meetings with Franz Liszt and other European musicians. His collaboration with Norwegian writer Bjornson also began in Rome. During the 1870's Grieg and Bjornson made several dramatic compositions together. In 1876 Grieg was asked by Henrik Ibsen to write the incidental music to "Peer Gynt", a play about the Norwegian folk hero. Later Grieg made two "Peer Gynt" Suites for concert performances, which scored international success.

In 1872 Grieg was made a member of the Royal Music Society in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1874 Grieg was awarded the state annual grant of 1600 kronen from the Norwegian Storthing. He quit teaching and returned to his hometown of Bergen. There he chose a natural environment for his work. Grieg composed much of his music among the picturesque landscape of forest, mountains, and sea at the Hardanger fjord. There he had a cottage with a Steinway baby grand piano. Grieg's admiration with serenity and beauty of the Norwegian landscapes was the essential part of his music. Grieg wrote music of a distinguished lyrical quality and emotional depth, which he expressed through refined melody lines and sophisticated harmonic changes. His symphonic "Norwegian dances" and "Norwegian peasant dances" allude to Scandinavian folk melodies. The "Peer Gynt" suites and such pieces as "Solvejg's Song" and "Ein Schwan" are characterized with power for creating pictures in the listener's mind, which made them suitable for many film scores.

From 1878-1880 Grieg and his wife Nina, a professional singer, went on a two-year journey. Grieg performed in many cities of Europe. He was giving performances of his Piano Concerto in London during the 1880s and 1890s. Grieg died on September 4, 1907, in Bergen, Norway, and was laid to rest in a mountain cave at his countryside estate in Troldhaugen, Norway. His wife Nina lived to the age of 90 and made Grieg's villa in Troldhaugen into a museum. A concert hall was built nearby to house the annual festivals of Grieg's music.

Geir Vegar Hoel was born on 15 November 1973 in Stord, Norway. He was an actor and director, known for Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead (2014), Dead Snow (2009) and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013). He died on 8 November 2021 in Stavanger, Norway.

Keiko, a Genus Orca whale, was born in 1976 and captured off the coast of Iceland in 1979. He was sold to the marine park industry, and in 1985 he arrived to Reino Aventura in Mexico City where and lived a normal life for a captive whale until 1993. In that year, he was cast as "Willy" in the movie "Free Willy," capturing the hearts of millions of children and adults worldwide. Afterwards, Life magazine made an article where it showed of the horrible conditions in in which he lived in Reino Aventura so an international pledge was started, and enough money was raised to have him sent to the Oregon Coast Aquarium; before being airlifted back to Iceland in 1998 to prepare him for a return to the wild.

He was trained to survive in the wild and released in July of 2002, but he longed for human contact. He swam 870 miles; eventually ending up in Helsa, Norway in September of 2002, where local residents played with him often; so much so that animal protection authorities banned anyone from approaching him. He was looked after by whale keepers for the last year of life, suddenly coming down with pneumonia on December 10, 2003. He died a day later.

Henrik Ibsen was born on March 20th in Stockmannsgerden in Skien, Norway. His mother was Marichen and his father was Knud, a merchant. On 1835 his father gave up his business and the family moved to Venstop, a farm in Gjerpen. In 1843 he confirmed in Gjerpen church and left home in order to apprentice to Jens Aarup Reinmann, chemist. Three years later his first son was born by Else Sophie Jesdatter. On 1849 he wrote Catiline which was published a year later. On September 26, 1850 the first Ibsen staging in history took place; the one-act The Burial Mound was performed at Cristiania Theater. Two years later he started directing productions at Det norske Theater in Bergen. From 1853 to 1877 he wrote the plays St. John's night, Lady Inger, The feast at Solhoug, Olaf Liliekrans, The Vikings at Helgeland, Love's comedy, The pretenders, Brand, Peer Gynt, The League of Youth, Emperor and Galilean and Pillars of Society and the poems Life on the Upland, Terje Vigen and Balloon letter to a Swedish lady. Meanwhile he married Suzannah Thoresen in 1858 and his second son Sigurg was born a year later. In 1878 he moved to Rome where he lived for seven years. There he started writing the circle of his 11 last plays that made him classic; A Doll's House (1879), Ghosts (1881), An Enemy of the people (1882), The Wild Duck (1884), Rosmersholm (1886), The Lady from the Sea (1888), Hedda Gabler (1890), The Master Builder (1892), Little Ejolf (1894) John Gabriel Borkman (1896) and his last one When We Dead Awaken (1898). The same year large-scale celebrations took place in Christiania, Copenhagen and Stockholm for his 70th birthday. Two years later he had his first stroke. On May 23rd 1906 he died.

Ingvar Ambjørnsen was born on 20 May 1956 in Larvik, Norway. He was a writer, known for Døden på Oslo S (1990), Hevn (Revenge) (2015) and Elling (2001). He was married to Gabriele Haefs. He died on 19 July 2025 in Tønsberg, Norway.

Tommy Karlsen was born on 9 June 1975 in Baerum, Norway. He was an actor, known for Døden på Oslo S (1990), Lilyhammer (2012) and De blå ulvene (1993). He was married to Birte Nordahl. He died on 6 February 2024 in Oslo, Norway.

Rolv Wesenlund was born on 17 September 1936 in Horten, Norway. He was an actor and writer, known for Fleksnes fataliteter (1972), Den siste Fleksnes (1974) and Bør Børson Jr. (1974). He was married to Ruth. He died on 18 August 2013 in Norway.

Ivo Caprino was born on 17 February 1920 in Oslo, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Ugler i mosen (1959), Grand Prix Pignon-sur-Roc (1975) and Gutten som kappåt med trollet (1967). He was married to Liv Bredal. He died on 8 February 2001 in Snarøya, Oslo, Norway.

Jørgen Langhelle was born on 18 August 1965 in Sandnes, Norway. He was an actor, known for The Thing (2011), Dina (2002) and Arn, chevalier du temple (2007). He died on 3 August 2021 in Nesodden, Norway.

Arve Opsahl was born on 14 May 1921 in Oslo, Norway. He was an actor and writer, known for Olsen-banden og Dynamitt-Harry går amok (1973), Smuglere (1968) and Olsenbanden - Operasjon Egon (1969). He was married to Mary Opsahl and Liv Wiise. He died on 29 April 2007 in Oslo, Norway.

Tancred Ibsen was born on 11 July 1893 in Gausdal, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Venner (1960), Yak le harponneur (1939) and Op med hodet! (1933). He was married to Lillebil Ibsen. He died on 4 December 1978 in Oslo, Norway.

Lalla Carlsen was born on 17 August 1889 in Svelvik, Norway. She was an actress, known for Kvinnens plass (1956), Ung frue forsvunnet (1953) and Den glade enke i Trangvik (1927). She was married to Carsten Carlsen. She died on 23 March 1967 in Oslo, Norway.

Charismatic and very popular Norwegian stage and screen actor, also a gifted fiddler. Educated at a military academy in Bergen, his only connection with theater was as an extra at the local stage: Den Nationale Scene. But with a growing interest for the art of theater, he got an engagement at The Norwegian Theater in 1920 and, from 1931, he was engaged at The National Theater, both in Oslo.

He became one of Norway's finest character actors, at his best, as "Peer Gynt", (Henrik Ibsen) and as "James Tyrone" (Eugene O'Neill).

In Norway, he became a big movie star with his leading roles in films like: Fant (1937), Gjest Baardsen (1939), Tørres Snørtevold (1940) and Trysil-Knut (1942), among others.

As an individual, he was an ordinary and likeable fellow, often visiting his homewards in Bryggja, Nordfjord, where he was a true local hero!

Euronymous (Øystein Aarseth) was a Norwegian guitarist. He gained fame as a founding figure of Norwegian black metal scene, as a founding member of the long-running metal band "Mayhem", and as the owner of both the record label Deathlike Silence Productions and the record shop Helvete. He named himself after the Underworld spirit Eurynomos from Greek mythology. In 1993, Euronymous was murdered by his former band-mate Varg Vikernes.

In 1968, Euronymous was born in the Surnadal Municipality, a primarily agricultural settlement located in the Møre og Romsdal county of Western Norway. During the 1980s, he was a member he communist youth group Rød Ungdom. He left because he reportedly disagreed with the group's humanist beliefs. He later self-identified as a fascist, though he typically avoided including political messages in his music.

In 1984, Euronymous started his professional musical career at age 16. He co-founded the band Mayhem with Necrobutcher (Jørn Stubberud) and Kjetil Manheim. In 1986, he recorded the demo "Metalion in the Park" in collaboration with Metalion (Jon Kristiansen).In 1988, Mayhem recruited two new members, the singer Dead (Per Ohlin) and the drummer Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg). By 1991, Euronymous, Dead, and Hellhammer were sharing a forest house located near Kråkstad. Euronymous and Dead reportedly got on each other's nerves, and Euronymous intentionally disturbed Dead's sleep.

In April 1991, Dead committed suicide and Euronymous was the first person to discover the body in their shared home. Euronymous had the idea to use the suicide in a controversial publicity campaign to foster Mayhem's "evil" image, including the publication of photos of the corpse. At the same time, Euronymous adopted a satanic stage persona and started behaving aggressively in real life. This behavior alienated Euronymous from a number of friends, who started avoiding him. Following a number of resignations, Mayhem was left with only two members. Occultus (Stian Johanssen) briefly served as Mayhem's new lead singer. He resigned in protest when he received threats from Euronymous.

In May-June 1991, Euronymous opened his record shop Helvete (Norwegian for "hell") in Oslo. He decorated the shop with medieval weapons, posters of bands and picture discs. Euronymous lived in another area of the same rented building as the shop, while Varg Virgeness and Samoth/Tomas Haugen served at times as his new housemates. The shop's basement served as a meeting place for Norwegian black metal musicians from various bands. Euronymous soon started the independent record label called Deathlike Silence Productions, which was based at Helvete. He produced records for the Norwegian bands Mayhem and Burzum, and for the Swedish bands Merciless and Abruptum.

In the early 1990s, Euronymous helped promote a number of younger bands, such as Emperor and Enslaved. He tried to serve as a mentor to Varg Vikernes, who was five years younger than him. He invited Vikernes to play bass with Mayhem and offered to release his music through his record label. Their friendship reportedly soon turned to rivalry. In August 1993, Vikerness stabbed Euronumous to death during a physical fight between them. Vikerness claimed that he acted in self-defense, and that Euronymous had started the fight by kicking him in the chest. They were reputedly arguing over money, as Euronymous owed Vikernes a large sum of royalty payments. Vikerness was imprisoned for Euronymous' murder, but was released from prison on parole in 2009.

Per Ohlin was born on 16 January 1969 in Sweden. He was an actor, known for Lords of Chaos (2018) and Candlemass: Bewitched (1988). He died on 8 April 1991 in Norway.

Norwegian novelist Knut Hamsun was born to a poor family and sent to live with an uncle, a commercial fisherman. He grew up without any formal schooling. Hamsun left Norway for the U.S. twice: once in 1882, and again in 1886. Each time he stayed in the U.S. for two years, holding various jobs including farmhand and Chicago streetcar conductor. He was often poverty-stricken. His first novel "Hunger" is autobiographical and about poverty, alienation, and desperation, and, innovatively: consciousness and intense inner states. He returned to Norway and wrote several more novels, all well-received, original, and successful. He won the Nobel Prize in 1920 for "Growth of the Soil," but gradually became reclusive due to his need to write combined with and his cranky temperament. Norwegians were dismayed when in the 1930's he expressed his support for Hitler. Although he claimed his sentiments were more anti-British than pro-German, he spoke in favor of National Socialism and was vilified in Norway. His rocky relations with his children and second wife are the subject of Hamsun (1996). In 1948, he was briefly imprisoned, and his assets were seized by the state. He died penniless in 1952. Hamsun was rehabilitated posthumously, and is again considered one of the great modern Scandinavian novelists.

Rustam Louis Foss was an actor, known for Essential Killing (2010), Lilyhammer (2012) and Skyggene av byen - Pilot (2015). He died on 9 November 2021 in Norway.

Svend Wam was born on 5 May 1946 in Son, Norway. He was a director and writer, known for Lakki (1992), Desperate bekjentskaper (1998) and Liv og død (1980). He died on 7 May 2017 in Vestby, Norway.

Rasmus Breistein made his mark in the annals of Norwegian cinema history in more ways than one. Most importantly he played a huge part in the period 1920-1930, that later was known as "the national breakthrough for Norwegian films." Until 1920, ironically the only dramatization of Norwegian literature was made by Swedish and Danish filmmakers, a trend that shifted when Breistein made his debut as a feature filmmaker and screenwriter with 1920's "Fante-Anne", based on a story by Norwegian writer Kristofer Janson. Historians would later claim that "Fante-Anne" marked the true beginning for the serious and dedicated Norwegian film-industry.

It was in the 1920s that the Norwegian film industry started to get a self-awareness that would also lead to a wave of respected stage actors finally taking a leap into the art of moving pictures, and thereby helping to improve the productions. It was considered quite a historical feat when Breistein got his "Fante-Anne" cast with professional stage actors from Det Norske Teatret (until then Norwegian theaters had actually forbidden it's actors to work in the film industry!). The days when theatres looked down upon the new media was over, and Breistein helped play a part by directing som of the best Norwegian movies of the decade (a total of five feature films until 1930), and even challenging and finally weakening the powerful Swedish film industry's grip on the Norwegian public.

After the invention of sound Breistein would seal his reputation as a popular director with classical box-office hits such as "Ungen" (1938) and "Trysil-Knut" (1942). His documentary features "Jorden rundt på to timer" (1949) and "Tirich Mir til topps" (1952) are considered classics in the history of Norwegian documentary filmmaking. "Jorden rundt på to timer" was also the first Norwegian feature in color. The latter, "Tirich Mir til topps" (also in color) was shot on location in Pakistan, and would prove to be the last production from Breistein, who subsequently retired from the industry all-together. He lived on for another 24 years, earning much admiration and respect from his colleagues, before passing away in 1976 at the age of 86.

Mats Steen was born in 1989. He was a writer, known for Ibelin: La vie remarquable d'un gamer (2024). He died on 18 November 2014 in Norway.