Thorbjørn Egner
Also recorded as Thorbjoern Egner
Thorbjørn Egner

Oslo Museum: accession number OB.F13341 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1912
- Died
- 1990
- Nationality
- Norway
- Occupation
- writer · illustrator · translator · composer · screenwriter · songwriter · children's writer · draftsperson · poet
In this article
Key facts
• Name — Thorbjørn Egner • Born — 1912 12 12 • Birthplace — Oslo, Norway • Died — 1990 12 24 • Place of death — Oslo, Norway • Occupation — Artist, author, songwriter, playwright, musician, illustrator and translator • Genre — Children's literature, play, novels, songs, drawing • Education — Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry • Illustration — Karius and Baktus designed by Thorbjørn Egner Thorbjørn Egner (12 December 1912 – 24 December 1990) was a Norwegian playwright, songwriter and illustrator known principally for his books, plays and musicals for children. He is principally associated with his narratives for children including Karius og Baktus (1949) and Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by (1955).[1]
Biography
He grew up in the working-class neighbourhood Kampen in Oslo, Norway. His parents were Magnus Egner (1872–1952) and Anna Hansen (1874–1957). He was trained as an artist at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry under Eivind Nielsen and Per Krohg 1933–34.[2] • Illustration — Thorbjørn Egner in the early 1960s He started his career in advertising. Over a seven year period, he was employed as a designer and decorator at the advertising firm Høydahl Ohme A/S. His breakthrough was on the nationally broadcast children's radio show Barnetimen for de minste in the beginning of the 1950s. Egner is particularly known for his books Karius og Baktus (1949), Thorbjørn Egners lesebøker (1950–1972), Klatremus og de andre dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen (1953) and Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by (1955, translated in 1976). The latter two were made into successful musicals. He also illustrated his own books.[3] Thorbjørn Egner received the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1972 and Cappelenprisen in 1979. He also awarded the Spellemannprisen in 1975 for Ole Brumm og vennene hans, in 1977 for the album Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by and in 1982 for Beste Egnerviser, a collection of his songs.[4][5]
Personal life
In 1937, Thorbjørn Egner married Annie Eliassen (born in 1912 in Oslo). They had four children together. Egner died in the afternoon of Christmas Eve 1990 of a heart attack. He was buried at Ullern Church (Ullern kirkegård) in Oslo.[6] He is the great-grandfather of ski jumper Halvor Egner Granerud.[7]
Albums
• Kardemommeviser (1955) • Doktor Dyregod (1955) • Karius og Baktus (1957) • Ole Brumm (Winnie the Pooh) og vennene hans (stories 1-4, 1974; stories 5-8, 1975; stories 9-11, 1976) • Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by (1975) • De seksten beste Egnerviser (issued 1982; recorded 1953–1982) • Hakkebakkeskogen (2012)
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1912
Thorbjørn Egner was born on 12 December 1912.
1990
Thorbjørn Egner died on 24 December 1990.
Books
• Gamle hus i Vågå (1943) • Gamle hus i Rauland (1945)
Children's books
• Barneboka (1940, with Sigurd Winsnes) • Malermester Klattiklatt dypper kosten - og tar fatt (1940) • Truls og Kari: en liten bok for store og små (1941) • Truls og Kari kommer til den store byen (1942) • Ola-Ola som alle dyra var så glad i (1942) • Småfolk (1942) • Jumbo som dro ut i verden (1943) • Klattiklatt i hjemmefronten (1945) • Hesten, kua og de andre (1945) • Da Per var ku (1946) • Karius og Baktus (1949) • Tretten viser fra barnetimen (songbook, 1951) • Nye viser fra barnetimen (songbook, 1952) • Klatremus og de andre dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen (1953) • Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by (1955) • Tommy og elefanten (1958) • 4 Verden er stor (1972)[8]
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Thorbjørn Egner, revision 1372322253 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Films
• Karius og Baktus (1955, puppet film, directed by Ivo Caprino) • Klatremus i knipe (1955, puppet film, directed by Ivo Caprino) • Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by (1988, directed by Bente Erichsen) • Dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen (2016, puppet film, directed by Rasmus A. Sivertsen)
Other sources
• Christopher Hals Gylseth (2000) Thorbjørn Egner. Tigergutt kan alt! (Schibsted) • Erle M. Stokke, Astrid Hagen Krog (1999) Thorbjørn Egner, Forfatterskapslesning i skolen (Biblioteksentralen)

Bildet er hentet fra Arkivverket. Portrett av Thorbjørn Egner. Foto tatt i forbindelse med reportasje om Barnetimen for de minste i Billedbladet NÅ i 1952. NÅ nr. 23
Arne F. Køpke · National Archives of Norway (Riksarkivet)

Bildet er hentet fra Arkivverket. Portrett av Thorbjørn Egner. Foto tatt i forbindelse med reportasje om Barnetimen for de minste i Billedbladet NÅ i 1952. NÅ nr. 23
Arne F. Køpke · National Archives of Norway (Riksarkivet)
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Sofie Arneberg. Thorbjørn Egner (Store norske leksikon)
- 2.Sonja Hagemann. Thorbjørn Egner. Norsk kunstnerleksikon.
- 3.Ivar Mauritz-Hansen. Rasmus Høydahl-Ohme. Norsk biografisk leksikon.
- 4.Vidar Iversen. Cappelenprisen. Store norske leksikon.
- 5.Jon Vidar Bergan. Spellemannprisen. Store norske leksikon.
- 6.Karin Beate Vold. Thorbjørn Egner (Norsk biografisk leksikon)
- 7.Mangelrød, Nils Christian. Hoppukedebutanten er Thorbjørn Egners oldebarn. NRK. 2015-12-29.
- 8.Vega. Egner, Thorbjørn. Norsk pop & rock-leksikon. 2005.
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Thorbjørn Egner received Spellemann Award for children's record of the year, Bokkunstprisen, Cappelen Prize, Oslo City Culture Award, Peer Gynt Literary Award and Order of St. Recorded with the occupation screenwriter. Recorded as writer, illustrator, translator and composer.
Recognition and collections
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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