Dag Frøland
Encyclopedia
Dag Frøland was a Norwegian
comedian
, revue artist
and singer, who was best known for his countless impersonation
s and variety shows in Oslo
during the 1970s and 1980s.
in 1945, and grew up in Fredrikstad
, living with his grandfather after his parents' divorce. During his childhood he also lived for some time in Aurdal
and Oslo
. His radio debut happened in 1952 at the age of seven, and four years later he released his first record. During his early teens he became an active writer, and at the age of 14 began writing for Aftenposten
. After finishing school he began studying medicine
, but soon dropped out to focus on a career in entertainment.
classic, and in the following years continued to produce hit singles. In the early 70s he became the director of theatre Chat Noir
in Oslo, and soon became a known face to the audiences, with his countless, spot-on impersonations of Norwegian celebrities and comic musical numbers, and in 1979, he began a decade-long run of annual revues on Chat Noir, drawing full houses on every show. In 1987, Frøland suddenly withdrew from the spotlight, due to stress and being overworked. In later interviews he described himself as having a complete physical and mental breakdown at the point, being completely burned out. After his withdrawal, Frøland disappeared completely from the spotlight for almost twenty years, with the exception of a single album release in 1996. In 2005, he was honoured with The King's Medal of Merit in Gold, but he refused to accept it as he felt that "rating humans in such a way was wrong". The same year a DVD compilation of his best known numbers was released. The year after he once again entered the stage after a nineteen year absence, doing local shows in Ullensaker
and his hometown of Fredrikstad
.
Frøland was regarded as "one of the nicest in Norwegian show business", and he was friends with many other artists throughout Norway. His public persona was to a large extent molded on the English gentleman
as personified by Noël Coward
whom Frøland admired greatly from an early age, and as a 19 year old he also met this idol at the Savoy Hotel
in London
. He was also an admirer and influenced by the Swedish revue artist Karl Gerhard
. One of his best friends was veteran comedian Leif Juster
, whom he also impersonated very frequently. He was also particularly close to Andreas Diesen, whom he knew from childhood.
On January 26, 2010, Frøland died in his home on the famed Bygdøy allé in Oslo, aged 64.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, revue artist
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
and singer, who was best known for his countless impersonation
Impersonator
An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for someone to be an impersonator, some common ones being as follows:...
s and variety shows in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
during the 1970s and 1980s.
Early life
Frøland was born in VoldaVolda
Volda is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Volda. The municipality is located about south of the city of Ålesund.-General information:...
in 1945, and grew up in Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
, living with his grandfather after his parents' divorce. During his childhood he also lived for some time in Aurdal
Aurdal
Aurdal is a village in Nord-Aurdal municipality, Norway. It is located between Bagn and Fagernes along the European route E16. Its population is 718. In recent years, there has been a cultural revolution in Aurdal..-References:...
and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. His radio debut happened in 1952 at the age of seven, and four years later he released his first record. During his early teens he became an active writer, and at the age of 14 began writing for Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
. After finishing school he began studying medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, but soon dropped out to focus on a career in entertainment.
Career
In 1967 he recorded Du skal få en dag i mårå, an Alf PrøysenAlf Prøysen
Alf Prøysen , was a writer and musician from Norway. He was born at Rudshøgda in Ringsaker. Prøysen was one of the most important Norwegian cultural personalities in the second half of the twentieth century, and he made significant contributions to literature, music, TV and radio.His childhood was...
classic, and in the following years continued to produce hit singles. In the early 70s he became the director of theatre Chat Noir
Chat Noir
Chat Noir is a cabaret and revue theatre in Oslo, Norway. It was established in 1912 by Bokken Lasson. The current director is Tom Sterri.-Establishment:...
in Oslo, and soon became a known face to the audiences, with his countless, spot-on impersonations of Norwegian celebrities and comic musical numbers, and in 1979, he began a decade-long run of annual revues on Chat Noir, drawing full houses on every show. In 1987, Frøland suddenly withdrew from the spotlight, due to stress and being overworked. In later interviews he described himself as having a complete physical and mental breakdown at the point, being completely burned out. After his withdrawal, Frøland disappeared completely from the spotlight for almost twenty years, with the exception of a single album release in 1996. In 2005, he was honoured with The King's Medal of Merit in Gold, but he refused to accept it as he felt that "rating humans in such a way was wrong". The same year a DVD compilation of his best known numbers was released. The year after he once again entered the stage after a nineteen year absence, doing local shows in Ullensaker
Ullensaker
Ullensaker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jessheim. It has a population of approximately 30,000 inhabitants...
and his hometown of Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
.
Personal life and death
In 1968, Frøland married Jorunn Ragnhild Bye, and they divorced in 1984. Frøland had two sons, one of whom, Ebbe, died on New Year's Eve 2000. This was one reason why he retired from public life.Frøland was regarded as "one of the nicest in Norwegian show business", and he was friends with many other artists throughout Norway. His public persona was to a large extent molded on the English gentleman
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
as personified by Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
whom Frøland admired greatly from an early age, and as a 19 year old he also met this idol at the Savoy Hotel
Savoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was also an admirer and influenced by the Swedish revue artist Karl Gerhard
Karl Gerhard
Karl Gerhard was a Swedish revue-writer and performer. Many of Karl Gerhard’s plays and songs are politically to the left, and during the 1930s and World War II, they contained clear anti-fascist statements....
. One of his best friends was veteran comedian Leif Juster
Leif Juster
Leif Juster 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 he ran the theater Edderkoppen...
, whom he also impersonated very frequently. He was also particularly close to Andreas Diesen, whom he knew from childhood.
On January 26, 2010, Frøland died in his home on the famed Bygdøy allé in Oslo, aged 64.