1979 in Norway

Events in the year 1979 in Norway.

Incumbents

[List of Norway|Norwegian monarchs|Monarch] – Olav V
Prime Minister – Odvar Nordli

Events

Municipal and county elections are held throughout the country.
Bryggen and the Urnes stave church are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.
The death penalty is abolished for all crimes.
18 September – A fire in Vålerenga Church, which was later made into a song that became the club hymn for Vålerenga.
The Alta Controversy continues lead by the indigenous Sámi people, many Norwegians protest the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Alta River in Northern Norway. The protests included hunger strikes, an occupation of the parliament lawn, and other forms of civil disobedience.
The Troll gas field was proven, containing 1,300 billion cubic metres of gas, making it one of Norway's most significant energy discoveries.
The Statfjord A platform began production in 1979. At the time of its discovery in 1974, Statfjord was the largest oil discovery in the North Sea.
Labour removed Brundtland from the Government after the party's weak local elections in 1979, as it was considered necessary to let party leader Reiulf Steen join Nordli's Government. She then began serving in the Storting on finance and foreign affairs committees.

Popular culture

Film

March – the planet Hoth scenes from the Hollywood film "The Empire Strikes Back" were filmed in the Hardangerjøkulen glacier.

Television

1 December – During an episode of Jul i Skomakergata on NRK, Sandmännchen premieres on Norwegian television for the first time.

Literature

Åge Rønning, writer and journalist, is awarded the Riksmål Society Literature Prize.
Nils Johan Rud, novelist, short story writer and magazine editor, is awarded the Dobloug Prize for Swedish and Norwegian fiction.
Bjørg Vik, writer, playwright and journalist, is awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature for the short stories En håndfull lengsel.

Notable births

January

1 January – Anders Danielsen Lie, actor
4 January – Audun Ellingsen, jazz musician
5 January – Håvard Klemetsen, Nordic combined skier
7 January – Andreas Hauger, footballer
8 January – John Anders Bjørkøy, footballer
11 January – Kari Mette Johansen, handball player.
12 January – Åsa Elvik, politician
13 January – Einar Kalsæg, footballer
16 January – Espen Isaksen, footballer
20 January – Marte Reenaas, ski orienteering competitor
21 January – Thomas Berling, footballer
22 January – Ailo Gaup, motocross rider
22 January – Svein Oddvar Moen, footballer
23 January – Jarl Espen Ygranes, ice hockey player
24 January – Anita Auglend, singer

February

2 February – Olav Råstad, footballer
10 February – Johan Harstad, author
11 February – Joachim Sørum, footballer
13 February – Anders Behring Breivik, far-right domestic terrorist

March

1 March – Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen, chess player.
6 March – Aksel Magdahl, sailor
11 March
* Roger Hjelmstadstuen, snowboarder
* Morten Tandberg, football manager
13 March
* Børge Lund, handball player.
* Espen Olsen, footballer
15 March – Ola Berger, ski mountaineer anc cross-country skier
17 March – Tuva Moflag, politician.
20 March – Liv Kjersti Bergman, biathlete
23 March – Jostein Hasselgård, singer

April

2 April – Stian Westerhus, guitarist
5 April – Jørgen Tengesdal, footballer
8 April – Rune Stordal, speed skater
9 April – André Jørgensen, handball player
10 April – Kai Risholt, footballer
10 April – Roger Risholt, footballer
12 April – Thomas Dybdahl, musician
12 April – Lars Granaas, footballer
17 April – Hanne Hukkelberg, singer-songwriter
20 April – Stian Barsnes-Simonsen, actor
20 April – Kenneth Kapstad, musician
23 April – Saera Khan, politician.
24 April – Tor Henning Hamre, footballer
25 April – Nils-Torolv Simonsen, rower
25 April – Martin Sjølie, pianist, songwriter and record producer

May

1 May – Lars Berger, biathlete.
2 May – Oddrun Brakstad Orset, ski mountaineer
4 May – Morten Kolseth, footballer
6 May – Jan Erik Mikalsen, composer
7 May – Henrik Bjørnstad, golf player
8 May
* Marius Erlandsen, auto racing driver
* Alf Wilhelm Lundberg, jazz musician
* Ole Johan Singsdal, footballer
* Ole Morten Vågan, jazz musician
10 May – Isabel Blanco, handball player.
14 May – Bård Nesteng, archer.
16 May – Hermund Nygård, jazz musician
20 May – Torgeir Micaelsen, politician.
21 May – Svein-Erik Edvartsen, footballer
22 May – Christer-André Cederberg, music producer
23 May – Øyulf Hjertenes, journalist, newspaper editor and media executive.
26 May – Joachim Hansen, mixed martial artist
29 May – Ella Gjømle Berg, cross-country skier.

June

8 June – Jacob Norenberg, sprint canoer.
13 June – Nila Håkedal, beach volleyball player.
21 June – Henning Braaten, skateboarder
23 June – Susanna Wallumrød, singer
25 June – Haddy N'jie, singer, songwriter, writer and journalist
26 June – Mathias Eick, jazz musician

July

3 July – Erik Lund, rugby union footballer
4 July – Lene Westgaard, political scientist
17 July – Lars Rørbakken, strongman
21 July – Ingrid Tørlen, beach volleyball player.
24 July – Heidi Skjerve, jazz musician
26 July – Bodil Ryste, ski mountaineer and cross-country skier

August

3 August – Maria Haukaas Mittet, singer
4 August –
*Torgeir Ruud Ramsli, footballer
*Mona Solheim, taekwondo practitioner.
*Nina Solheim, taekwondo practitioner
8 August – Ellinor Jåma, politician
9 August – Tore Ruud Hofstad, cross-country skier
10 August – Ove Alexander Billington, jazz pianist and composer
11 August – Christer George, footballer
22 August – Henriette Løvar, curler
24 August – Katja Nyberg, handball player
27 August – Erik Watndal, sport shooter.
31 August – Camilla Huse, footballer

September

3 September – Stian Eckhoff, biathlete.
5 September – Kjersti Beck, handball goalkeeper
5 September – John Carew, footballer
11 September – Kenneth Høie, footballer
13 September – Linda Grubben, biathlete
15 September
* Mahmoud Farahmand, politician.
* Atle Gulbrandsen, racing driver and television announcer
22 September – Alex Valencia, footballer
23 September – Lisa Loven Kongsli, actress
24 September – Stine Hofgaard Nilsen, alpine skier

October

2 October – Kjetil Strand, handball player
5 October – Lisa Wiik, snowboarder
8 October – Wilhelm Brenna, ski jumper
9 October – Veronika Flåt, actress
10 October – Espen Søgård, footballer
14 October – Marcus Paus, composer
19 October
* Ingunn Ringvold, roots singer, musician and songwriter
* Magne Sturød, footballer
24 October – Lise Birgitte Fredriksen, sailor
27 October – Tom Hugo, musician

November

1 November – Tommy Knarvik, footballer
2 November – Nina Ellen Ødegård, actress
8 November – Erling Sande, politician
10 November – Ragnvald Soma, footballer
30 November – Ellen Blom, ski mountaineer

December

3 December – Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold, writer
6 December – Tommy Wirkola, film director, producer and screenwriter
10 December – Tora Augestad, musician
14 December – Øystein Runde, comics writer and comics artist
18 December
* Tone Hatteland Lima, cyclist
* Øyvind Storflor, footballer
20 December
* Espen Johnsen, footballer
* Benedikte Shetelig Kruse, singer and actor
27 December – Hanne Sørvaag, musician
28 December – Daniel Forfang, ski jumper

Full date missing

Dolk (artist), graffiti artist
Morten Morland, cartoonist
Robert Post, singer-songwriter
Einar Selvik, musician
Stein Urheim, jazz musician

Notable deaths

7 January – Thoralf Hagen, rower and Olympic bronze medallist
28 January – Elling Enger, composer, organist, and choir conductor
4 February – Hans Martin Gulbrandsen, canoeist
15 February – Karl Henry Karlsen, politician
7 March – Klaus Egge, composer and music critic
3 April – Dagfinn Zwilgmeyer, psalmist.
6 April – Finn Øen, politician
17 April – Trygve Olsen, politician
26 April – Trygve Stokstad, boxer
7 May – Øivind Bolstad, playwright and novelist.
7 May – Erik Brofoss, economist, politician and Minister
8 June – Magnar Isaksen, international soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist.
5 July – Rolf Holmberg, soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist
10 July – Harald Færstad, gymnast and Olympic silver medallist
15 July – Haakon Sløgedal, politician
28 July – Steffen Ingebriktsen Toppe, politician
6 August – Olav Hordvik, politician
24 August – Bernt Evensen, speed skater, Olympic gold medallist and racing cyclist
22 September – Tore Segelcke, actress
30 September – Johan Johannesen, track and field athlete
16 October – Johan Borgen, author, journalist and critic
16 October – Olav Svalastog, politician
14 December – Otto Monsen, track and field athlete

Full date unknown

Emil Boyson, poet, author, and translator
Anders Frihagen, politician and Minister
Gunnar Emil Garfors, poet
Jørgen Holmboe, meteorologist
Rolf Østbye, businessperson
Rolf Ingvar Semmingsen, civil servant
Ole Siem, naval officer, businessman, and politician.
Nils Thomas, sailor and Olympic silver medallist