Espen Skjønberg
Skjønberg in 1988
Born
Espen Skjønberg

(1924-04-07)7 April 1924
Oslo, Norway
Died26 August 2022(2022-08-26) (aged 98)
OccupationActor
Years active1937–2022
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1959; died 2010)​
Parents

Espen Henrik Skjønberg (7 April 1924 – 26 August 2022) was a Norwegian actor of stage, screen, and television.

Career

Skjønberg made his first movie appearances as a child in the 1932 film En glad gutt[1] and in the 1937 Norwegian classic Fant,[2] in which his mother also appeared. His stage debut came reciting poetry at the Norwegian theatre Chat Noir in 1945. He joined the Norwegian National Theatre in 1946 and became one of its most prominent figures, appearing in 64 different roles in the next 60 years. As late as 2006 he co-starred with Toralv Maurstad (who also appeared in Fant) in an adaptation of Waiting for Godot.

Skjønberg's first starring role in films was in 1951's Vi vil skilles. Throughout the years he has acted alongside Tom Courtenay, Nigel Hawthorne, Susannah York, Edward Woodward, Gérard Depardieu, and co-starred with Hollywood veterans Cliff Robertson and Robert Mitchum in the 1995 movie Pakten. In England, he was particularly associated with the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and appeared there many times.

He also found popularity with new generations heading the cast of Familiesagaen De Syv Søstre (1996–2000), one of Norway's first major soap operas. In the show Skjønberg co-starred with his real-life wife, actress Mona Hofland. He was also popular as the old mountain gnome Erke in the widely successful children's series Jul i Blåfjell (1999).

Skjønberg received several awards throughout his career. Most notably the Norwegian Arts Council's Honorary Award in 1989, the Norwegian film award Amanda for best actor in 1994 (for the World War II drama The Last Lieutenant) and its Honorary Award in 2004. In 2008 he also won an Amanda for his supporting role in the movie O' Horten. He has also received the British Theatre Association's Drama Award and was made a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav by the King of Norway.[3]

Personal life and death

Skjønberg was born in Oslo on 7 April 1924, to actress Henny Skjønberg and actor Eugen Skjønberg.[2] His older brother, Pål Skjønberg, was also a successful actor and stage instructor.[4] He was married to actress Mona Hofland from 1959[2] until her death in 2010.[1]

Skjønberg died on 26 August 2022, at the age of 98.[5][6]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1937 Fant Fantebarn #2
1939 De vergeløse Schoolboy
1951 Dei svarte hestane Ola Nordbø
The Stranger Bokselgeren
1952 Vi vil skilles Ola Berg
Andrine og Kjell
1953 Ung frue forsvunnet Einar Møller, pharmacist
Skøytekongen Høye, journalist
1954 Kasserer Jensen Svensen
Portrettet Nilsen, pharmacist
1955 Arthurs forbrytelse Arthur Sellman
1956 Roser til Monica Egil Ek, pianist
1957 Stevnemøte med glemte år
1961 Hans Nielsen Hauge Mikkel Nielsen Hauge
1970 One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Tiurin
1971 Gråt elskede mann
1972 Motforestilling
1973 Knut Formos siste jakt Presten
1976 Vårnatt Hjalmar
1979 Blood of the Railroad Workers Spelol
Heritage Jon Skaug
1981 The Witch Hunt Kristoffer Klomber
1982 Krypskyttere Tandberg
1984 On the Threshold Kalle
1989 A Handful of Time Old Martin
1990 Twice Upon a Time Smykkehandleren
Wayfarers Knoff
Svampe Trym
1991 The Polar Bear King Fortelleren voice
1993 The Last Lieutenant Thor Espedal Amanda for Best Actor
1994 Dreamplay Faren
Trollsyn Fortelleren voice
1995 Waiting for Sunset Carl Berner
1996 Syndig sommer
1999 Sofies verden Leonardo da Vinci
Frozen Heart Nansen voice
2001 Guggen: The Big Cheese voice
2002 I Am Dina Merchant 2
2004 My Jealous Barber Bents father
2007 O' Horten Trygve Sissener Amanda for Best Supporting Actor
2008 Fiin aargang
I et speil i en gåte Grandfather

Television

Year Programme or series Role Notes
1962 Prosessen Josef K
1969 Faderen Captain
Taxi TV mini-series
1970 Vildanden Gregers Werle
1981 Medmenneske Didrik Dale TV mini-series
1985 Kong Lear TV mini-series
1988 Codename: Kyril Michaelov
1994 Vestavind Algot Engan
Seier'n er vå Bestefar
1996 Familiesagaen de syv søstre Haakon (unknown episodes)
1999 Jul i Blåfjell Erke
2000 Sofies verden Leonardi Da Vinci TV mini-series
2004–2005 Seks som oss Prest 3 episodes
2007 Berlinerpoplene Tormod Neshov TV mini-series
2009 Casper och den förbjudna filmen Himself

Selected theatre performances

References

  • "Skjønberg, Espen". Aschehoug og Gyldendals Store Norske Leksikon (2 ed.). 1988.
  1. 1 2 3 Grønneberg, Anders (23 September 2017). "Var så syk at jeg ikke husker noe". Dagbladet (in Norwegian).
  2. 1 2 3 Larsen, Svend Erik Løken. "Espen Skjønberg". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Espen Skjønberg – Norsk biografisk leksikon". Nbl.snl.no. Archived from the original on 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  4. ↑ Brodal, Svein Erik. "Pål Skjønberg". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "Skuespiller Espen Skjønberg er død". NRK. August 27, 2022. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Espen Skjønberg er død, 98 år gammel". 27 August 2022.
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