''Leonardstatuetten'' (Leonard Statuette) is a prize awarded by the

Norwegian Comedy Writers' Association The Norwegian Comedy Writers' Association () is a trade union for writers of revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th ...

. The award is named after revue instructor, composer and director Einar Leonard Schanke (1927–1992), who was one of Norway's most important revue personalities. The prize is regarded the highest distinction in Norwegian

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

. Awarded from 1968 to 2013, the statuette was given to persons with a significant and lasting importance to Norway's entertainment industry. The statuette was again awarded in 2019, when

Eldar Vågan Eldar Vågan (born 30 August 1960) is best known as the songwriter and guitarist in Vazelina Bilopphøggers. Previously he was a guitarist in the rock band Baiage. Vågan has also developed his own solo musical career as well as being a published ...

was the recipient.

Prize winners

This is a list of prize winners: *1968 –

Arvid Nilssen Arvid Nilssen (25 December 1913 – 24 March 1976) was a Norwegian actor, revue artist and singer. He was regarded as one of the leading comedians in Norwegian revue. Biography Nilsen was born in Alvdal Municipality in Hedmark, Norway. He m ...

, actor *1969 –

Leif Juster Leif Juster (born Leif Normann Nilsen) (14 February 1910 – 25 November 1995) was a Norwegian comedian, singer and actor, arguably the most popular of his generation in Norway. Juster started out as a variety show performer, and for a period h ...

, actor *1970 – not awarded *1971 –

Kari Diesen Kari Diesen (née Heide-Steen; 24 June 1914 – 18 March 1987) was a Norwegian singer and revue actress. She worked for the revue theatre Chat Noir from 1937 to 1953, and for the Edderkoppen Theatre from 1954 to 1959. She participated in 24 ...

, actress *1972 –

Arve Opsahl Arve Opsahl (14 May 1921 – 29 April 2007) was a Norwegian movie and stage actor, singer and stand-up comedian. Opsahl began his career as a comedian in 1942, and played numerous roles both on stage and in more than forty movies. He was then ch ...

, actor *1973 –

Bias Bernhoft Tobias Brodtkorb "Bias" Bernhoft (13 October 1902 – 24 November 1986) was a Norwegian singer and revue writer. Early and personal life He was born at Voss in 1902 to the Holmenkolbanen director Tobias Bernhoft (1869–1937) and his wife M ...

, revue writer *1974 –

Jens Book-Jenssen Jens Peter Book-Jenssen (14 November 1910 – 28 March 1999) was a Norwegian singer of popular music, songwriter, revue artist and theatre director. From his stage debut in the early 1930s, his career included radio and television work, recording ...

, actor *1975 –

Carsten Byhring Carsten Byhring (8 December 1918 – 5 April 1990) was a Norwegian actor. He is probably best known for playing Kjell in the Olsen Gang movies. He is the brother of actor Svein Byhring. He died from cancer in Oslo at the age of 71, in 1990 ...

, actor *1976 –

Rolf Just Nilsen Rolf Just Nilsen (31 August 1931 – 9 May 1981) was a Norwegian singer and actor. He was particularly known for his voice imitations. He worked for the theatres Studioteatret, Chat Noir, Edderkoppen Theatre, Oslo Nye Teater and Det Norske Te ...

, actor *1977 –

Einar Schanke Einar Leonard Schanke (19 May 1927 – 23 February 1992) was a Norwegian composer, pianist, revue writer, theatre director and theatrical producer. He wrote revues for the Edderkoppen Theatre, and later for Chat Noir, where he was also directo ...

, instructor and composer *1978 –

Rolv Wesenlund Rolv Helge Wesenlund (17 September 1936 – 18 August 2013) was a Norway, Norwegian comedian, singer, clarinetist, writer and actor. Biography Wesenlund was most known for having portrayed the title character in the musical Bør Børson Jr. (m ...

, actor *1979 –

Otto Nielsen Otto Nielsen (19 June 1909 – 9 October 1982) was a Norwegian songwriter, revue writer, cabaret singer and radio personality. He participated in Norwegian cultural life for five decades, starting from the 1930s, and played an important role behi ...

, revue writer *1980 –

Arild Feldborg Arild Feldborg (18 April 1912 – 26 October 1987) was a Norwegian playwright, revue writer, script writer, humorist and broadcasting person. Personal life Feldborg was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, as the son of wholesaler Henry Theobald ...

, revue writer *1981 –

Alfred Næss Karl Alfred Ingvald Næss (26 April 1877 – 6 July 1955) was a Norwegian speed skater. He set the men's world record for 500 meter speed skating on 5 February 1893 at 49.4 seconds in Hamar, Norway. He then broke his own world record 21 days lat ...

, revue writer *1982 – Knut Solberg, scenographer *1983 –

Elsa Lystad Elsa Lystad (9 July 1930 – 26 December 2023) was a Norwegian film and stage actress. She was a recipient of the Leonard Statuette, the King's Medal of Merit, the Amanda Honorary Award, and Gullruten. Career Lystad made her stage debut in 195 ...

, actress *1984 – Harald Heide-Steen Jr., actor *1985 –

Arild Haga Arild Haga (8 April 1913 – 22 February 1985) was a Norwegian revue writer. He was born in 1913. He wrote revues for the stages Chat Noir, Scala and Edderkoppen, and also composed revue music. Among his songs were "Byen med det store hjertet ...

, revue writer *1986 –

Elisabeth Granneman Elisabeth Granneman (born Inger Elisabeth Fauk; 11 May 1930 – 28 March 1992) was a Norwegian singer, songwriter, children's writer and actress. Biography Granneman was born as Inger Elisabeth Fauk in Bergen, Norway to Karl O. Fauk (1909 ...

, actress *1987 –

Sølvi Wang Sølvi Valborg Wang (28 August 1929 – 31 May 2011) was a Norwegian singer, actress and comedian. Wang was born in Bærum, Akershus, to the jazz musician Yngvar Wang and the singer Marie Gulbrandsen. Already at an early age, she sang wit ...

, actress *1988 – not awarded *1989 – not awarded *1990 –

Yngvar Numme Yngvar Numme (1 October 1944 – 25 November 2023) was a Norwegian singer, actor, revue writer and director. He was particularly known for his central role in the show group Dizzie Tunes for about forty years, one of the most successful ensemble ...

, actor *1991 –

Grethe Kausland Grethe Kausland ( Nilsen; 3 July 1947 – 16 November 2007) was a Norwegian singer, performer and actress. As a child star she was one of Norway's most popular singers (her debut single “Teddyen min” from 1955, sold more than 100,000 re ...

, actress *1992 – not awarded *1993 –

Dizzie Tunes Dizzie Tunes was a Norwegian musical show group from the city of Skien. Dizzie Tunes was one of the most successful in Norwegian show business. Biography The group was founded as the dance band ''Rex Band'' in 1959, was named ''Dizzie Tunes'' ...

Tor Erik Gunstrøm Tor, TOR or ToR may refer to: Places * Toronto, Canada ** Toronto Raptors * Tor, Pallars, a village in Spain * Tor, former name of Sloviansk, Ukraine, a city * Mount Tor, Tasmania, Australia, an extinct volcano * Tor Bay, Devon, England * Tor ...

, Svein-Helge Høgberg, Einar Idland,

Øyvind Klingberg Øyvind or Oyvind may refer to: *Øyvind Aasland (born 1967), Norwegian darts player * Øyvind Alapnes (born 1976), Norwegian football referee * Jon Øyvind Andersen (born 1965), Norwegian black metal guitarist * Carl Øyvind Apeland (born 1964), N ...

, actors *1994 –

Bjørn Sand Bjørn Hjalmar Sand (19 September 1928 – 18 December 2024) was a Norwegian revue writer and actor. Life and career Sand was born in Oslo on 19 September 1928, and was half brother of Rolf Sand. He married Unni Bernhoft in 1955, was son-in- ...

, revue writer *1995 –

Erik Diesen Erik Tangevald Diesen (8 October 1922 – 13 September 1999) was a Norwegian revue writer and radio and television personality. Personal life Born in Kristiania on 8 October 1922, Diesen was a son of Thorstein Diesen, Jr. (1894–1962) and ...

, revue writer *1996 – not awarded *1997 –

Øystein Sunde Øystein Olaf Sunde (born 24 January 1947) is a Norwegian folk singer and guitarist. He is known for his high-speed guitar and banjo style and his satirical lyrics. Although often regarded as a comedian, Sunde is a versatile guitarist who has p ...

, artist/composer/text writer *1998 –

Hege Schøyen Hege Schøyen (born 22 May 1957, in Oslo) is a Norwegian singer, actor and comedian. She has played at the Oslo revue theatre Chat Noir and at Nationaltheatret. She was television presenter for the youth program series ''Midt i smørøyet'' at th ...

and

Øivind Blunck Øivind Blunck (28 December 1950) is a Norwegian comedian and actor.Øivind Blunck
in Arthur Arntzen Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...

, humorist and satirist *2000 –

Dag Frøland Dag Frøland (16 September 1945 – 26 January 2010) was a Norwegian comedian, revue artist and singer, who was best known for his countless impersonations and variety shows in Oslo during the 1970s and 1980s. Early life Frøland was born in ...

, actor *2001 – KLM (

Trond Kirkvaag Trond Georg Kirkvaag (21 June 1946 – 16 November 2007) was a Norwegian comedian, actor, impressionist, screenwriter, author, director and television host. During his 39 years at the Norwegian TV network, NRK, he produced numerous comedy ...

Knut Lystad Knut Ove Lystad (born 31 January 1946) is a Norwegian actor, singer, translator, screenwriter, comedian and occasional director, best known from the comedy trio KLM, alongside Trond Kirkvaag and Lars Mjøen. Career Lystad and Mjøen began the ...

Lars Mjøen Lars Lennart Heiberg Mjøen (born 13 November 1945) is a Norwegian comedian, actor, singer, screenwriter, director, editor and author. He is best known as a member of the comedy trio KLM, alongside Trond Kirkvaag and Knut Lystad. Career Mjøen ...

, actors) *2002 –

Odd Børretzen Odd Lunde Børretzen (21 November 1926 – 3 November 2012) was a Norwegians, Norwegian author, illustrator, translator, and one of the most significant text writers, folk singers and artists in Norway. Biography Børretzen was born in ...

, humorist and satirist *2003 –

Brit Elisabeth Haagensli Brit Elisabeth Haagensli (born 24 August 1953) is a Norwegian actress and singer, known from theatre and revue productions, television and several films. Haagensli grew up in Asker. Since 1981, she has used the most of her summers to do theatre ...

, actor *2004 – not awarded *2005 –

Andreas Diesen Andreas Diesen (born 20 November 1945) is a Norwegian television presenter and revue historian. In 2005 he was awarded the Leonard Statuette from the Norwegian Comedy Writers' Association. Having been assigned with NRK since 1965, he was awarde ...

, revue historian *2006 - not awarded *2007 -

Jon Skolmen Jon Skolmen (1 November 1940 – 28 March 2019) was a Norwegian actor and comedian who appeared in several Norwegian and Swedish films. He gained special recognition for his role as Ole Bramserud in ''Sällskapsresan'' (1980) opposite Lasse Åbe ...

, actor *2008 - Jakob Margido Esp, actor and humorist *2009 – not awarded *2010 – Rune Gokstad and

Øystein Bache Øystein Bache (born 23 September 1960 in Oslo) is a Norwegian comedian and actor.Øystein Bache
in Store norske leksikon

*2011 – not awarded *2012 –

Linn Skåber Linn Skåber (born 31 March 1970) is a Norwegian actress, singer, comedian, text writer and TV personality. She made her stage début on Oslo Nye Teater (''Centralteatret'') in 1997, playing the title role in Goldoni's comic opera '' Mirandol ...

*2013 –

Ingrid Bjørnov Ingrid Bjørnov (born 5 December 1963) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, keyboard player, composer and text writer. Her debut album ''Første Akt'' from 1980 with the duo Dollie (together with Benedicte Adrian) was awarded Spellemannprisen, a ...

* 2014 –

Ole Paus Ole Paus (1947–2023) was a Norwegian singer-songwriter and poet, widely regarded as one of the most innovative Norwegian musical figures of the 20th century and "Norway's most significant troubadour at the time of his death." Emerging during t ...

* 2015 –

Knut Nærum Knut Nærum (born 3 March 1961) is a Norwegian comedian, author, comics writer and TV entertainer. He is best known for being one of the permanent panelists in the Norwegian show '' Nytt på nytt'' ("News Anew"). On 23 April 2015, Nærum announc ...

(utdelt 2023)«Anne-Kat. Hærland og Knut Nærum fikk den høythengende prisen», ''Se og hør'' nr. 1, 2024, side 32–33. * 2016 –

Anne Marit Jacobsen Anne Marit Jacobsen (born 7 November 1946) is a Norwegian stage and film actress. Biography Jacobsen was born in Oslo to sculptor Thorbjørn Sigurd Jacobsen and opera singer Randi Heide Steen. She is the cousin of actress and singer Trulte Hei ...

* 2017 – Tore Ryen * 2018 –

Nils Vogt Nils Vogt may refer to: * Nils Vogt (comedian) (born 1948), Norwegian comedian * Nils Vogt (civil servant) (1926–2000), Norwegian civil servant and diplomat * Nils Collett Vogt (1864–1937), Norwegian poet * Nils Vogt (journalist) (1859–1927), ...

*2019 –

* 2020 –

Tom Sterri Tom or TOM may refer to: * Tom (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name. Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tom'' (1973 film), or ''The Bad Bunch'', a blaxploitation film * ''Tom'' (2002 film) ...

* 2021 –

Atle Antonsen Atle Antonsen (born 11 August 1969, in Lillehammer) is a Norwegian comedian and actor. Antonsen has participated in and contributed to several television and radio shows, including ''XL'' and ''XLTV'' (1998–99), '' Nissene på låven'' (20 ...

* 2022 – Trond Hanssen * 2023 –

Anne-Kat. Hærland Anne Katrine Hærland (born 27 March 1972) is a Norwegian satirical comedian mostly known for her regular appearances on the weekly news satire show ''Nytt på nytt''. She made her television debut in 1996 with the show ''Direkte lykke'', and the ...

* 2024 –

Tom Mathisen Tom Mathisen (born 14 August 1952) is a Norwegian comedian, actor, screenwriter and musician. He usually handles bass, guitar and vocals. He was in the comedy group Prima Vera from 1976 to 1983 along with Jahn Teigen and Herodes Falsk. Later he ...

Herodes Falsk Kim Bård Hansen (born 9 July 1954), better known by his stage name Herodes Falsk, is a Norwegian comedian, actor, author, and songwriter. Falsk is probably best known for his work with the musical comedy trio Prima Vera alongside Jahn Teigen and ...

References

{{Reflist Norwegian theatre awards Norwegian awards Awards established in 1968 1968 establishments in Norway