Rolf Kirkvaag
Encyclopedia
Rolf Kirkvaag was a Norwegian
journalist, and a radio- and TV personality. He worked for NRK, the Norwegian state broadcasting network, between 1947 and 1959, and 1969 and 1990. From 1972 to 1985 he was entertainment director.
Already a popular public persona, his fame grew enormously after an incident in 1956. Kirkvaag was among the passengers on a Braathens SAFE plane that crashed by Hommelfjell, the Hummelfjell Accident
. Two people were dead and ten still alive. Kirkvaag - with a broken bone in his foot - and another passenger had to walk 18 km (11.2 mi) for help. The incident made Kirkvaag a national hero, and he has since been referred to as 'Norway's first celebrity'.
Among the shows he hosted were the children's show Titten Tei
and the radio quiz show 20 spørsmål (20 Questions). He was also a commentator for numerous sporting events, like the 1952 Winter Olympics
. Rolf Kirkvaag's son, Trond Kirkvaag
, was a well-known television comedian. Trond, who died in 2007, wrote a controversial biography of his father shortly before his own death. Here he described Rolf's darker side, and alleged that he had been an emotionally distant and occasionally violent father.
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...
journalist, and a radio- and TV personality. He worked for NRK, the Norwegian state broadcasting network, between 1947 and 1959, and 1969 and 1990. From 1972 to 1985 he was entertainment director.
Already a popular public persona, his fame grew enormously after an incident in 1956. Kirkvaag was among the passengers on a Braathens SAFE plane that crashed by Hommelfjell, the Hummelfjell Accident
Hummelfjell Accident
The Hummelfjell Accident occurred on 7 November 1956 at 9:50, when a de Havilland Heron crashed into the mountain Hummelfjell in Tolga, Norway. The Braathens SAFE aircraft was on route from Trondheim Airport, Værnes to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. The accident was caused by the aircraft losing altitude...
. Two people were dead and ten still alive. Kirkvaag - with a broken bone in his foot - and another passenger had to walk 18 km (11.2 mi) for help. The incident made Kirkvaag a national hero, and he has since been referred to as 'Norway's first celebrity'.
Among the shows he hosted were the children's show Titten Tei
Titten Tei
Titten Tei was a children's television character that first appeared on television in Norwegian fall 1971. The show aired on NRK on Saturdays.Titten Tei, full name Titten Tei André von Drei, is a puppet made by Karel Hlavaty and brought to life by puppeteer Birgit Strøm. Titten Tei appeared...
and the radio quiz show 20 spørsmål (20 Questions). He was also a commentator for numerous sporting events, like the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
. Rolf Kirkvaag's son, Trond Kirkvaag
Trond Kirkvaag
“”Trond Georg Kirkvaag 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 television series. After his death he was widely hailed by his colleagues as possibly the...
, was a well-known television comedian. Trond, who died in 2007, wrote a controversial biography of his father shortly before his own death. Here he described Rolf's darker side, and alleged that he had been an emotionally distant and occasionally violent father.