Arthur Arntzen
- December 19, 2025
- 88 years
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About Arthur Arntzen
Arthur Arntzen, 88, Norwegian humorist and actor.
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Full Biography
|Arthur Andreas Arntzen (10 May 1937 – 19 December 2025) was a Norwegian journalist, humorist, actor and writer. He wrote several humorous books, and is particularly known as the stage character "Oluf Rallkattli". His awards include Spellemannprisen, the Leonard Statuette, and the Order of St. Olav.
Personal life
Arntzen was born in Tromsø on 10 May 1937. His parents were mine worker Petter Berg Arntzen and Olga Marie Moshaug. He was married to Randi Bangsund.
Career
Arntzen worked as a journalist from 1960, first for the newspaper Bladet Tromsø, then for Lofotposten (Tromsø office) from 1964 to 1968, and finally for the Tromsø office of Dagbladet from 1968 to 1989.
Arntzen is particularly known as "Oluf Rallkattli", a character he used for more than 50 years. In his teens, he frequented the cultural youth society Freidig in Tromsdalen, where the family lived at the time. Here, he started entertaining, playing the character "Oluf" in stage performances. He continued with these performances also after he had started working as a journalist. Arntzen was discovered by Håkon Karlsen, and Karlsen and Arntzen collaborated touring with stage performances between 1964 and 1979. From the 1980s, Arntzen regularly collaborated with Tore Skoglund [no] on stage. Asle Myrvoll [no] was also a regular collaborator, playing the character "Lars", son of Oluf.
He made his literary debut in 1967 with the humorous book Han Oluf. Further humor books, illustrated by Dagfinn Bakke, are Ho Emma (1968), Han Lars (1970), Rallkattlia (1973), Oluf R (1974), Super-Oluf (1976), Rapport fra Rallkattlia (1980), Den siste Oluf (1983), and Nye Oluf from 1987. Another book series with humorous short stories consists of the books Æ lyg ikkje from 1986, Æ sei ikkje meir (1989), Det svær æ på (1992), and Æ gjer mæ ikkje (1994).
In 1976, he wrote a biography of football player and coach Harald Berg. He wrote the autobiography Småkarer under frostmåne in 1990, a collaboration with Arvid Hanssen. In 1994, he wrote the art book Og langsomt kom lyset in collaboration with visual artist Kaare Espolin Johnson.
In 1989, the play Oluf was staged on Hålogaland Teater, based on his characters, where Arntzen himself played the principal character. The play was the most successful until then for Hålogaland Teater. It was eventually aired on television, and also earned him a Spellemannprisen award for 1991. In 1996, he toured Norway with the performance Den fordømte nordlendingen. This was also adapted for television, and the material was made into a book in 1998.
In 1994, he was appointed professor II in humour at the University of Tromsø. He was awarded the Leonard Statuette for 1999, and was decorated Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 2000.
Arntzen died in Tromsø on 19 December 2025, at the age of 88.
Selected works
Source:
- Han Oluf (1967)
- Ho Emma (1968)
- Han Lars (1970)
- Rallkattlia (1972)
- Oluf R (1974)
- Dutte (1976)
- Æ lyg ikkje (1986)
- Æ sei ikkje meir (1989)
- Småkarer under frostmåne (with Arvid Hanssen; 1990)
- Det svær æ på (1992)
- Æ gjer mæ ikkje (1994)
- Og langsomt kom lyset (with Kaare Espolin Johnson; 1994)
- Dokker kan flire (1996)
- Den fordømte nordlending. Et historisk tilbakeblikk (with Dagfinn Bakke; 1998)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Arntzen_(writer)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Arthur Arntzen's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Arthur Arntzen born?
- A.Tromsøcorrect
- B.Bergen
- C.Oslo
- D.Trondheim
Arthur Arntzen was born in Tromsø on 10 May 1937.
Source: Personal life section
2.What was the occupation of Arthur Arntzen's father, Petter Berg Arntzen?
- A.Journalist
- B.Teacher
- C.Fisherman
- D.Mine workercorrect
Arthur Arntzen's parents were mine worker Petter Berg Arntzen and Olga Marie Moshaug.
Source: Personal life section
3.Which newspaper did Arthur Arntzen first work for starting in 1960?
- A.Aftenposten
- B.Lofotposten
- C.Dagbladet
- D.Bladet Tromsøcorrect
Arthur Arntzen worked as a journalist from 1960, first for the newspaper Bladet Tromsø.
Source: Career section
4.What is the name of the stage character that Arthur Arntzen is particularly known for?
- A.Oluf Rallkattlicorrect
- B.Petter Nord
- C.Lars Tromsø
- D.Arvid Hanssen
Arthur Arntzen is particularly known as the stage character Oluf Rallkattli.
Source: Biography introduction
5.Which individual discovered Arthur Arntzen early in his career?
- A.Tore Skoglund
- B.Håkon Karlsencorrect
- C.Dagfinn Bakke
- D.Asle Myrvoll
Arthur Arntzen was discovered by Håkon Karlsen, and they collaborated touring with stage performances.
Source: Career section
6.In what year did Arthur Arntzen make his literary debut with the book Han Oluf?
- A.1974
- B.1967correct
- C.1960
- D.1970
Arthur Arntzen made his literary debut in 1967 with the humorous book Han Oluf.
Source: Career section
7.Who played the character 'Lars', the son of Oluf, in stage performances with Arthur Arntzen?
- A.Asle Myrvollcorrect
- B.Kaare Espolin Johnson
- C.Petter Berg Arntzen
- D.Arvid Hanssen
Asle Myrvoll was a regular collaborator, playing the character Lars, son of Oluf.
Source: Career section
8.Which professional title was Arthur Arntzen appointed to at the University of Tromsø in 1994?
- A.Dean of Journalism
- B.Visiting Lecturer in Drama
- C.Professor of Literature
- D.Professor II in humourcorrect
In 1994, Arthur Arntzen was appointed professor II in humour at the University of Tromsø.
Source: Career section
9.Which visual artist collaborated with Arthur Arntzen on the 1994 art book Og langsomt kom lyset?
- A.Arvid Hanssen
- B.Kaare Espolin Johnsoncorrect
- C.Dagfinn Bakke
- D.Håkon Karlsen
Arthur Arntzen wrote the art book Og langsomt kom lyset in collaboration with visual artist Kaare Espolin Johnson.
Source: Career section
10.What award did Arthur Arntzen receive in 1999?
- A.Order of St. Olav
- B.Leonard Statuettecorrect
- C.Nobel Prize
- D.Spellemannprisen
Arthur Arntzen was awarded the Leonard Statuette for 1999.
Source: Career section
11.Arthur Arntzen was married to whom?
- A.Randi Bangsundcorrect
- B.Emma Rallkattli
- C.Greta Karlsen
- D.Olga Marie Moshaug
Arthur Arntzen was married to Randi Bangsund.
Source: Personal life section
12.On which theater was the play Oluf staged in 1989?
- A.Tromsø Theater
- B.Norwegian Drama House
- C.National Theatre
- D.Hålogaland Teatercorrect
In 1989, the play Oluf was staged on Hålogaland Teater, based on his characters.
Source: Career section
13.How old was Arthur Arntzen when he passed away in 2025?
- A.90
- B.82
- C.85
- D.88correct
Arthur Arntzen died in Tromsø on 19 December 2025, at the age of 88.
Source: Career section
14.Which sports figure did Arthur Arntzen write a biography about in 1976?
- A.Oluf Rallkattli
- B.Petter Berg Arntzen
- C.Harald Bergcorrect
- D.Asle Myrvoll
In 1976, Arthur Arntzen wrote a biography of football player and coach Harald Berg.
Source: Career section
15.In what year was Arthur Arntzen decorated Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav?
- A.2000correct
- B.1999
- C.1996
- D.1994
Arthur Arntzen was decorated Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 2000.
Source: Career section
16.What is the name of the autobiography Arthur Arntzen wrote in collaboration with Arvid Hanssen?
- A.Han Oluf
- B.Småkarer under frostmånecorrect
- C.Den fordømte nordlendingen
- D.Æ lyg ikkje
Arthur Arntzen wrote the autobiography Småkarer under frostmåne in 1990, a collaboration with Arvid Hanssen.
Source: Career section
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