Knut Thomassen (17 July 1921 – 20 January 2002) was a Norwegian actor and

theatre director A theatre director or stage director is a professional in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production such as a play, opera, dance, drama, musical theatre performance, etc. by unifying various endeavors a ...

Career

Thomassen made his stage debut at

Det Nye Teater Det Nye Teater was a theatre that opened in Oslo, Norway, in 1929, and operated independently until 1959, when it merged with Folketeatret to form Oslo Nye Teater. Its original purpose was to support contemporary Norwegian drama. History The ...

in Oslo in 1941. He served as theatre director of

Den Nationale Scene Den Nationale Scene () is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatres in Norway. History Opened under the name '' Det Norske Theater'' in 1850, the theatre has roots dating back to its ...

from 1967 to 1976. He was an active participant in organizational work, and chaired National and Scandinavian theatre associations for many years. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the

Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

in 1976, and received the Hedda Honorary Award in 1990.

Personal life

Thomassen was born in

Stavanger Stavanger, officially the Stavanger Municipality, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the third largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the ...

on 17 July 1921.

References

1921 births 2002 deaths Norwegian male stage actors Norwegian male film actors Norwegian male television actors Norwegian theatre directors 20th-century Norwegian male actors Male actors from Stavanger {{theat-bio-stub