1979 in Norway explained

Events in the year 1979 in Norway.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Olav V
• Prime Minister – Odvar Nordli (Labour Party)

Events

• Municipal and county elections are held throughout the country.
• Bryggen and the Urnes stave church are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.
• The death penalty is abolished for all crimes.^[1]
• 18 September – A fire in Vålerenga Church, which was later made into a song that became the club hymn for Vålerenga.

Popular culture

Music

See main article: 1979 in Norwegian music.

Film

• March – the planet Hoth scenes from the Hollywood film "The Empire Strikes Back" were filmed in the Hardangerjøkulen glacier.

Television

• 1 December – During an episode of Jul i Skomakergata on NRK, Sandmännchen premieres on Norwegian television for the first time.

Literature

• Åge Rønning, writer and journalist, is awarded the Riksmål Society Literature Prize.
• Nils Johan Rud, novelist, short story writer and magazine editor, is awarded the Dobloug Prize for Swedish and Norwegian fiction.
• Bjørg Vik, writer, playwright and journalist, is awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature for the short stories En håndfull lengsel.

Notable births

January

• 1 January – Anders Danielsen Lie, actor
• 4 January – Audun Ellingsen, jazz musician
• 5 January – Håvard Klemetsen, Nordic combined skier
• 7 January – Andreas Hauger, footballer
• 8 January – John Anders Bjørkøy, footballer
• 11 January – Kari Mette Johansen, handball player.^[2]
• 12 January – Åsa Elvik, politician
• 13 January – Einar Kalsæg, footballer
• 16 January – Espen Isaksen, footballer
• 20 January – Marte Reenaas, ski orienteering competitor
• 21 January – Thomas Berling, footballer
• 22 January – Ailo Gaup, motocross rider
• 22 January – Svein Oddvar Moen, footballer
• 23 January – Jarl Espen Ygranes, ice hockey player
• 24 January – Anita Auglend, singer

February

• 2 February – Olav Råstad, footballer
• 10 February – Johan Harstad, author
• 11 February – Joachim Sørum, footballer
• 13 February – Anders Behring Breivik, far-right domestic terrorist

March

• 1 March – Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen, chess player.^[3]
• 6 March – Aksel Magdahl, sailor
• 11 March
  • Roger Hjelmstadstuen, snowboarder
  • Morten Tandberg, football manager
• 13 March
  • Børge Lund, handball player.^[4]
  • Espen Olsen, footballer
• 15 March – Ola Berger, ski mountaineer anc cross-country skier
• 17 March – Tuva Moflag, politician.^[5]
• 20 March – Liv Kjersti Bergman, biathlete
• 23 March – Jostein Hasselgård, singer

April

• 2 April – Stian Westerhus, guitarist
• 5 April – Jørgen Tengesdal, footballer
• 8 April – Rune Stordal, speed skater
• 9 April – André Jørgensen, handball player
• 10 April – Kai Risholt, footballer
• 10 April – Roger Risholt, footballer
• 12 April – Thomas Dybdahl, musician
• 12 April – Lars Granaas, footballer
• 17 April – Hanne Hukkelberg, singer-songwriter
• 20 April – Stian Barsnes-Simonsen, actor
• 20 April – Kenneth Kapstad, musician
• 23 April – Saera Khan, politician.^[6]
• 24 April – Tor Henning Hamre, footballer
• 25 April – Nils-Torolv Simonsen, rower
• 25 April – Martin Sjølie, pianist, songwriter and record producer

May

• 1 May – Lars Berger, biathlete.^[7]
• 2 May – Oddrun Brakstad Orset, ski mountaineer
• 4 May – Morten Kolseth, footballer
• 6 May – Jan Erik Mikalsen, composer
• 7 May – Henrik Bjørnstad, golf player
• 8 May
  • Marius Erlandsen, auto racing driver
  • Alf Wilhelm Lundberg, jazz musician
  • Ole Johan Singsdal, footballer
  • Ole Morten Vågan, jazz musician
• 10 May – Isabel Blanco, handball player.^[8]
• 14 May – Bård Nesteng, archer.^[9]
• 16 May – Hermund Nygård, jazz musician
• 20 May – Torgeir Micaelsen, politician.^[10]
• 21 May – Svein-Erik Edvartsen, footballer
• 22 May – Christer-André Cederberg, music producer
• 23 May – Øyulf Hjertenes, journalist, newspaper editor and media executive.^[11]
• 26 May – Joachim Hansen, mixed martial artist
• 29 May – Ella Gjømle Berg, cross-country skier.^[12]

June

• 8 June – Jacob Norenberg, sprint canoer.^[13]
• 13 June – Nila Håkedal, beach volleyball player.^[14]
• 21 June – Henning Braaten, skateboarder
• 23 June – Susanna Wallumrød, singer
• 25 June – Haddy N'jie, singer, songwriter, writer and journalist
• 26 June – Mathias Eick, jazz musician

July

• 3 July – Erik Lund, rugby union footballer
• 4 July – Lene Westgaard, political scientist
• 17 July – Lars Rørbakken, strongman
• 21 July – Ingrid Tørlen, beach volleyball player.^[15]
• 24 July – Heidi Skjerve, jazz musician
• 26 July – Bodil Ryste, ski mountaineer and cross-country skier

August

• 3 August – Maria Haukaas Mittet, singer
• 4 August –
  • Torgeir Ruud Ramsli, footballer
  • Mona Solheim, taekwondo practitioner.^[16]
  • Nina Solheim, taekwondo practitioner
• 8 August – Ellinor Jåma, politician
• 9 August – Tore Ruud Hofstad, cross-country skier
• 10 August – Ove Alexander Billington, jazz pianist and composer
• 11 August – Christer George, footballer
• 22 August – Henriette Løvar, curler
• 24 August – Katja Nyberg, handball player
• 27 August – Erik Watndal, sport shooter.^[17]
• 31 August – Camilla Huse, footballer

September

• 3 September – Stian Eckhoff, biathlete.^[18]
• 5 September – Kjersti Beck, handball goalkeeper
• 5 September – John Carew, footballer
• 11 September – Kenneth Høie, footballer
• 13 September – Linda Grubben, biathlete
• 15 September
  • Mahmoud Farahmand, politician.^[19]
  • Atle Gulbrandsen, racing driver and television announcer
• 22 September – Alex Valencia, footballer
• 23 September – Lisa Loven Kongsli, actress
• 24 September – Stine Hofgaard Nilsen, alpine skier

October

• 2 October – Kjetil Strand, handball player
• 5 October – Lisa Wiik, snowboarder
• 8 October – Wilhelm Brenna, ski jumper
• 9 October – Veronika Flåt, actress
• 10 October – Espen Søgård, footballer
• 14 October – Marcus Paus, composer
• 19 October
  • Ingunn Ringvold, roots singer, musician and songwriter
  • Magne Sturød, footballer
• 24 October – Lise Birgitte Fredriksen, sailor
• 27 October – Tom Hugo, musician

November

• 1 November – Tommy Knarvik, footballer
• 2 November – Nina Ellen Ødegård, actress
• 8 November – Erling Sande, politician
• 10 November – Ragnvald Soma, footballer
• 30 November – Ellen Blom, ski mountaineer

December

• 3 December – Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold, writer
• 6 December – Tommy Wirkola, film director, producer and screenwriter
• 10 December – Tora Augestad, musician
• 14 December – Øystein Runde, comics writer and comics artist
• 18 December
  • Tone Hatteland Lima, cyclist
  • Øyvind Storflor, footballer
• 20 December
  • Espen Johnsen, footballer
  • Benedikte Shetelig Kruse, singer and actor
• 27 December – Hanne Sørvaag, musician
• 28 December – Daniel Forfang, ski jumper

Full date missing

• Dolk (artist), graffiti artist
• Morten Morland, cartoonist
• Robert Post, singer-songwriter
• Einar Selvik, musician
• Stein Urheim, jazz musician

Notable deaths

• 7 January – Thoralf Hagen, rower and Olympic bronze medallist (b.1887)
• 28 January – Elling Enger, composer, organist, and choir conductor (b.1905)
• 4 February – Hans Martin Gulbrandsen, canoeist (b.1914)
• 15 February – Karl Henry Karlsen, politician (b.1893)
• 7 March – Klaus Egge, composer and music critic (b.1906)
• 3 April – Dagfinn Zwilgmeyer, psalmist (b. 1900).^[20]
• 6 April – Finn Øen, politician (b.1902)
• 17 April – Trygve Olsen, politician (b.1921)
• 26 April – Trygve Stokstad, boxer (b.1902)
• 7 May – Erik Brofoss, economist, politician and Minister (b.1908)
• 8 June – Magnar Isaksen, international soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist (b.1910).^[21]
• 5 July – Rolf Holmberg, soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist (b.1914)
• 10 July – Harald Færstad, gymnast and Olympic silver medallist (b.1889)
• 15 July – Haakon Sløgedal, politician (b.1901)
• 28 July – Steffen Ingebriktsen Toppe, politician (b.1902)
• 6 August – Olav Hordvik, politician (b.1901)
• 24 August – Bernt Evensen, speed skater, Olympic gold medallist and racing cyclist (b.1905)
• 22 September – Tore Segelcke, actress (b.1901)
• 30 September – Johan Johannesen, track and field athlete (b.1898)
• 16 October – Johan Borgen, author, journalist and critic (b.1902)
• 16 October – Olav Svalastog, politician (b.1896)
• 14 December – Otto Monsen, track and field athlete (b.1887)

Full date unknown

• Emil Boyson, poet, author, and translator (b.1897)
• Anders Frihagen, politician and Minister (b.1892)
• Gunnar Emil Garfors, poet (b.1900)
• Jørgen Holmboe, meteorologist (b.1902)
• Rolf Østbye, businessperson (b.1898)
• Rolf Ingvar Semmingsen, civil servant (b.1908)
• Ole Siem, naval officer, businessman, and politician (born 1882).^{[22] [23]}
• Nils Thomas, sailor and Olympic silver medallist (b.1889)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Countries That Have Abolished the Death Penalty Since 1976 . May 7, 2023 . Death Penalty Information Center.
2. no . Kari Mette Johansen . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/kari-mette-johansen-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235750/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/kari-mette-johansen-1.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . 6 October 2016.
3. Web site: Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen . sjakknytt.no . 6 April 2023.
4. Web site: Børge Lund. eurohandball.com . 19 May 2019.
5. Web site: Moflag, Tuva . stortinget.no . Norwegian . 5 August 2019 .
6. Web site: Khan, Saera (1979–) . Stortinget . 6 October 2016 .
7. no . Lars Berger . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/lars-berger-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417191800/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/lars-berger-1.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . 6 October 2016.
8. Web site: Isabel Blanco. eurohandball.com. 5 August 2019. 5 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190805160153/http://www.eurohandball.com/ec/cl/women/2014-15/player/505680/Isabel%2BBlanco. dead.
9. Web site: Bård Nesteng . olympedia.org . 6 April 2023.
10. Web site: Micaelsen, Torgeir (1979–) . Stortinget . 6 October 2016 .
11. Encyclopedia: Øyulf Hjertenes . Olav . Garvik . Olav Garvik . . Bolstad . Erik . Norsk nettleksikon . Oslo . Norwegian . 6 April 2023.
12. no . Ella Gjømle . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gj/ella-gjomle-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418033845/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gj/ella-gjomle-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . 5 August 2019.
13. no . Jacob Norenberg . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/jacob-norenberg-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418034152/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/jacob-norenberg-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . 6 October 2016.
14. no . Nila Håkedal . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/nila-hakedal-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417184751/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/nila-hakedal-1.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . 6 October 2016.
15. no . Ingrid Tørlen . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/ingrid-torlen-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418034151/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/ingrid-torlen-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . 6 October 2016.
16. Web site: Solheim, Mona . taekwondodata.com. 5 August 2019.
17. no . Erik Watndal . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wa/erik-watndal-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418034157/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wa/erik-watndal-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . 7 October 2016.
18. no . Stian Eckhoff . https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ec/stian-eckhoff-1.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417191232/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ec/stian-eckhoff-1.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . 6 October 2016.
19. Web site: Farahmand, Mahmoud (1979-) . stortinget.no . no . 5 October 2021.
20. Encyclopedia: Dagfinn Zwilgmeyer . Norsk biografisk leksikon. Hallgeir . Elstad . Helle, Knut. Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo . Norwegian . 25 January 2013.
21. Web site: Magnar Isaksen . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418002220/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/is/magnar-isaksen-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . Sports Reference LLC . SR/Olympic Sports . 11 November 2012.
22. Encyclopedia: 1973. Siem, Ole . Hvem er hvem?. Steenstrup, Bjørn. Aschehoug. Oslo. 501 . Norwegian. 27 September 2024.
23. Encyclopedia: Martin Siem . Norsk biografisk leksikon. Ole M . Hoemsnes . Helle, Knut . Knut Helle . Kunnskapsforlaget . Oslo . Norwegian . 27 September 2024.