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Magnús Örn Eyjólfsson Scheving (; born 10 November 1964) is an Icelandic writer, television producer, entrepreneur, actor, and former athlete. He is best known as the creator of the children's television show '' LazyTown'', on which he served as a producer, director, and portrayed the character Sportacus. A two–time European champion in
In the 1990s, during his public speaking and aerobics career, Magnús noticed an absence in healthy lifestyle role models for children. In a 2019 talk, he recalled,
aerobic gymnastics
Aerobic gymnastics or sport aerobics is a competitive sport originating from traditional aerobics in which complex, high-intensity movement patterns and elements of varying difficulty are performed to music.
Nature of the game
The performanc ...
, he was named the Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year in 1994.
Early life and childhood
Magnús Scheving was born on 10 November 1964, to Þórveig Hjartardóttir and Eyjólfur Magnússon Scheving. He grew up in the small Icelandic town of Borgarnes. At 15 years old, he had his first job as a telephone exchange messenger for Borgarnes. His knowledge in both architecture and carpentry allowed him to build his own house later on, which he described as "physically... ayingevery brick and roof tile." In his twenties, he made a bet with a woodworking friend, Fjölnir Þorgeirsson, that either would master a sport of the other's choosing (that they knew nothing about) within three years. Magnús chosesnooker
Snooker (pronounced , ) is a cue sport played on a rectangular Billiard table#Snooker and English billiards tables, billiards table covered with a green cloth called baize, with six Billiard table#Pockets 2, pockets: one at each corner and ...
for Fjölnir, and Fjölnir chose aerobics for Magnús. Eventually, Magnús became a national champion in aerobics, and Fjölnir became a national champion in snooker. He has an older sister and a younger brother.
Early career and inspiration
In 1992, Magnús became the Icelandic Men's Individual Champion inaerobic gymnastics
Aerobic gymnastics or sport aerobics is a competitive sport originating from traditional aerobics in which complex, high-intensity movement patterns and elements of varying difficulty are performed to music.
Nature of the game
The performanc ...
. In 1993, he became the Scandinavian champion, and was the European champion twice in 1994 and 1995. He competed at the FIG '' Suzuki World Cup'' three times and won bronze in 1993, silver in 1994 and placed fifth in 1995. He was named the Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year in 1994.
In addition to his sports career, Magnús became a well-known and sought after public and motivational speaker around the world. In 1995, he published a children's book called ''Áfram Latibær'', the first recorded work in the LazyTown franchise. During this time, he was also running a carpentry
Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. C ...
business, which gave him the money to travel the world.
''LazyTown''
In the 1990s, during his public speaking and aerobics career, Magnús noticed an absence in healthy lifestyle role models for children. In a 2019 talk, he recalled,I realized, thirty years ago actually, there was no role model in health for kids. There wasPopeye Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by E. C. Segar, Elzie Crisler Segar. he published ''Áfram Latibær'', an Icelandic children's book which told a narrative story about a sports elf giving townsfolk tips on how to eat healthily and exercise. The book was adapted into a stage play of the same name directed by Baltasar Kormákur. The show toured Iceland from 1996–1997 and made ''LazyTown'' a household name across Iceland. It was shown to be immensely popular among children and so, a sequel was written, ''Glanni Glæpur Í Latabæ,'' which was the first time Robbie Rotten was introduced, played by Stefán Karl Stefánsson. '' LazyTown'' was commissioned by Nickelodeon in May 2003 and the first episode aired on Nick Jr. on 16 August 2004. Magnús is the creator and co-founder of LazyTown Entertainment. This company produces books, videos, games, and sporting goods to help promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle to children. He is also the creator of the show '' LazyTown'' ('' Latibær'' in Iceland), where he played Sportacus (known as Íþróttaálfurinn in Icelandic) from 2004 to 2014. In 2006, Magnús received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Icelandic Edda Award ceremonies for his work as founder and creator of the '' LazyTown'' franchise. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson,President of Iceland The president of Iceland () is the head of state of Iceland. The incumbent is Halla Tómasdóttir, who won the 2024 Icelandic presidential election, 2024 presidential election. The president is not involved in the running of the country, bu ..., presented the award to him. After LazyTown Entertainment was bought byTurner Broadcasting Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. was an American television and media conglomerate founded by Ted Turner in 1965. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it merged with Time Warner (later WarnerMedia) on October 10, 1996. As of April 2022, all of its ass ...in the summer of 2011, Magnús continued to play Sportacus. However, in 2014, he announced that he would be departing the role of Sportacus (after the end of the TV series), passing it on to Dýri Kristjánsson, who played Sportacus in all subsequent live shows. He also announced in 2014 that he would depart from his position as CEO of LazyTown Entertainment. On 16 May 2024, it was announced that Magnús Scheving had agreed to a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to purchase back the company and the rights to the ''LazyTown'' brand.
Theme park
In 2021, Magnús and entrepreneur Helga Halldórsdóttir announced their goal to build a ''LazyTown'' theme park in Magnús's hometown of Borgarnes, which inspired the series. They claimed the project has been ongoing since 2017. Magnús described the plans to create an "experience garden" with indoor and outdoor facilities, both pertaining to the production history and the history of Borgarnes. Borgarnes legislation supported this due to its ability to welcome tourists; 35 thousand visitors are expected in its first year, followed by 50 thousand in the next 4 years. The park was expected to open by 2024.
April 1st hoax
On 1 April 2022, Magnús appeared in Icelandic Crossfit athlete Björgvin K. Guðmundsson's facetious Instagram announcement, wherein a LazyTown "full length motion picture" and "brand new series" was announced. The photographs showed the pair signing contracts and shaking hands before large posters of LazyTown characters and memorabilia. Björgvin announced that he was quitting crossfit in pursuit of professional acting, being specifically trained in song and dance to portray Sportacus. Due to its posting date and Björgvin's continued career in crossfit, the announcement was anApril Fools' Day April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day (rarely called All Fools' Day) is an annual custom on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fool " at the recipient. ...hoax.
Other projects
In 2010, Magnús co-starred in the Jackie Chan film '' The Spy Next Door,'' in which he portrayed a Russian villain attempting to destroy the world's oil supplies. In November 2022, Magnús spoke at the World Business Forum in New York City on the topic of "great ideas" and creativity. Later that week, he spoke at the WBF in Bogotá, Colombia on November 9 or 10, on the topic of high performance teams. While in Colombia, Magnús encountered an enthusiastic Sportacus cosplayer.
ROK restaurant
Since mid-2016, along with his partner, Hrefna Björk Sverrisdóttir, he has owned and managed ROK restaurant, a "fine casual" Icelandic restaurant in Reykjavík. The restaurant offers Icelandic staples includingreindeer The reindeer or caribou (''Rangifer tarandus'') is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, taiga, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. It is the only re ...steak, local cheeses, and char. The menu has a "Green" section devoted to vegetarian options, and its dishes incorporates Scandinavian, Mediterranean and American elements. In 2017, food critic Ragnar Egilsson gave the food a mediocre review, claiming the restaurant's success was due to its proximity to Hallgrímskirkja, a tourist destination. In 2018, ROK was included in '' Iceland Monitor'''s list of the best happy hours in Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl .... As of 2019, the menu has expanded to include vegan options.
Legal issues
In 2025 the Icelandic Competition Authority formally opened an investigation into possible wrongdoing related to the circumvention of Icelandic laws by a restaurant employers' organization acronymized SVEIT. SVEIT had been accused by union Efling and others of founding a company union, Virðing. Shortly after its founding Virðing negotiated with SVEIT inferior terms than had already been negotiated by the far larger union Efling and the far larger employers' organization Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise. Thereafter the Labour Court ruled the inferior terms to be unlawful, explaining in its decision that the existing contract between Efling and CIE was legitimate and that Icelandic law forbade the negotiation of lesser terms of employment than those found in an existing contract. Magnús and his wife Hrefna are both subjects of the investigation, both through the couple's company Taste plc, as well as Hrefna's multi-year chairmanship of SVEIT. The investigation seeks to clarify whether the founding of Virðing and the ensuing negotiation with SVEIT of lesser employment terms were an illegal conspiracy by the restauranteurs. The couple have been ordered by the ICA to hand over correspondence with anyone connected to Virðing, as well as correspondence with anyone who has ever worked for SVEIT. The ICA confirmed to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the sort of lawbreaking being investigated may result in hefty fines and/or multi-year prison sentences when violations are adjudicated.
Filmography
Personal life
In 1989, Magnús married Ragnheiður Melsteð, with whom he lived for 24 years and co-founded the ''LazyTown'' production company. Magnús and Ragnheiður have a daughter and a son. The couple divorced in 2014. Their daughter, Sylvia Erla, is a singer who reached the semi-finals of the Söngvakeppnin in2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ..., but did not make it to the final. Magnús also has a daughter with his former partner, Halldóra Blöndall. In January 2017, Magnús got engaged to Hrefna Björk Sverrisdóttir in their restaurant ROK. The couple married in 2020. In December 2022, Hrefna announced the birth of their son on her Instagram page.
Production work
Awards and accolades
* PROTOS Award: Universidad de Panamericana in Mexico City *BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...International Children's Award (2006) for ''LazyTown'' in collaboration with Raymond P. Le Gué and Jonathan Judge * Edda Award (2006) by the Icelandic Film and Television Academy for ''LazyTown''
References
External links
* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Scheving, Magnus 1964 births Carpenters Living people Icelandic aerobic gymnasts Male aerobic gymnasts Icelandic television personalities Icelandic children's writers Icelandic people of Danish descent Icelandic people with family names Male actors from Reykjavík 20th-century Icelandic people Icelandic male television actors University of Iceland alumni