This is a list of notable people from Norway.
Architecture
Art
Literature
Ingvar Ambjørnsen (1956–2025), writer Tryggve Andersen, novelist, poet Peter Christen Asbjørnsen (1812–1885), writer, folklorist Kjell Aukrust, author and illustrator Olav Aukrust, poet Ari Behn, author; ex-husband of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway André Bjerke, poet and author Jens Bjørneboe, author and poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, poet and author, Nobel Prize in Literature winner Ketil Bjørnstad, author, composer, musician Johan Bojer, novelist and dramatist Johan Borgen, author Christian Braunmann Tullin (1728–1765); businessman and poet Johan Nordahl Brun (1745–1816); author, poet, dramatist, politician Olaf Bull, poet Lars Saabye Christensen, author and poet Camilla Collett (1813–1895), writer, feminist Olav Duun, author Tom Egeland, author Peter Egge, author, journalist, playwright Thorbjørn Egner, playwright, songwriter and illustrator Anne Karin Elstad, author Kristian Elster, novelist, journalist, literary critic Sven Elvestad, journalist and author Carl Fredrik Engelstad, writer, playwright, journalist, translator Johan Falkberget, author Kjartan Fløgstad, author Jon Fosse, author, poet and playwright Jostein Gaarder, author Arne Garborg, author and poet Hulda Garborg, poet and author Inger Hagerup, author, playwright and poet Kjell Hallbing, author Knut Hamsun, author of Hunger, Nobel Prize in Literature winner Erik Fosnes Hansen, author and poet Jørgen Haugan, author and lecturer Olav H. Hauge, horticulturist, translator and poet Hans Herbjørnsrud, author Sigurd Hoel, author Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754), historian and playwright Henrik Ibsen, playwright and poet, author of A Doll's House Sigurd Ibsen, author and politician Roy Jacobsen, author Rolf Jacobsen, poet Alexander Kielland, author Jan Kjærstad, author Karl Ove Knausgård, novelist, author of My Struggle Thomas Krag, novelist, playwright Vilhelm Krag, poet Trude Brænne Larssen, author Henry Lawson, author Bernt Lie, novelist Jonas Lie, author Jørgen Moe, folklorist Lise Myhre, cartoonist Dagne Groven Myhren, literature researcher Jo Nesbø, author Christopher Nielsen, cartoonist Sigbjørn Obstfelder, writer and poet Alf Prøysen, author, poet, folk singer and entertainer Nini Roll Anker, novelist, playwright Margit Sandemo, author Aksel Sandemose, author Gabriel Scott, poet, novelist, playwright and children's writer Amalie Skram, writer, feminist Dag Solstad, author Marta Steinsvik, author Edvard Storm, poet, songwriter, educator Jens Tvedt, novelist, writer Sigrid Undset, author of Kristin Lavransdatter, Nobel Prize in Literature winner Halldis Moren Vesaas, poet and author Tarjei Vesaas, author and poet Jan Erik Vold, lyric poet Aasmund Olavsson Vinje, poet and author Herbjørg Wassmo, author Johan Sebastian Welhaven, poet Henrik Wergeland, poet Johan Herman Wessel, poet Peter Wessel Zapffe, writer and philosopher Knut Ødegård, author Finn Øglænd, author Frode Øverli, cartoonist
Music
Kyle Alessandro,singer-songwriter Morten Abel, musician (Mods, Peltz, The September When, Solo) Ivar F. Andresen, basso profundo opera singer Astrid S (real name Astrid Smeplass), singer-songwriter Savant, musician (edm, real name Aleksander Vinter) Svein Berge, musician (Röyksopp) Margaret Berger, singer-songwriter Jarle Bernhoft, singer-songwriter Geir Botnen, pianist Ole Bull, violinist, composer Thomas Dybdahl, singer-songwriter Euronymous (real name Øystein Aarseth), musician (Mayhem) Fenriz (real name Gylve Nagell), musician, metal guru (Darkthrone) Kirsten Flagstad, soprano Magne Furuholmen, keyboardist and songwriter (a-ha) Gaahl (real name Kristian Espedal), singer (Gorgoroth) Anja Garbarek, singer-songwriter Jan Garbarek, musician Håvard Gimse, classical pianist Ernst Glaser, violinist Gottfried von der Goltz, violinist, conductor Edvard Grieg, composer Eivind Groven, composer Sigmund Groven, harmonica virtuoso, composer Lona Gyldenkrone (1848–1934), opera singer Johan Halvorsen, composer Morten Harket, singer Björn Haugan, opera singer Dag-Are Haugan, electronic musician Ian Haugland, drummer (Europe) Kate Havnevik, singer-songwriter, composer, musician, pianist, guitarist, melodica player Hank von Helvete (real name Hans Erik Husby), singer (Turbonegro) Tone Groven Holmboe, composer Wilhelmine Holmboe-Schenström (1842–1939), opera singer Tom Hugo, singer Carl Høgset, conductor (Grex Vocalis) Ihsahn (real name Vegard Sverre Tveitan), musician (Emperor) Christian Ingebrigtsen singer-songwriter for A1 David Monrad Johansen, composer Deeyah Khan, singer, film director, music producer, composer, and human rights defender Roy Khan, singer (Kamelot) Olav Kielland, conductor, composer Henning Kraggerud, violinist Solveig Kringlebotn, soprano Trond Kverno, composer Girl in Red (Real name Marie Ulven Ringheim), singer, songwriter Sissel Kyrkjebø, singer Jørn Lande, singer Andy LaPlegua, DJ Marit Larsen, singer-songwriter Ronni Le Tekrø, musician and guitarist Sondre Lerche, singer-songwriter Herman Severin Løvenskiold, composer of La Sylphide ballet Rolf Løvland, musician (Secret Garden) Anni-Frid Lyngstad, lead singer (ABBA) Lene Marlin, singer-songwriter Tom Mathisen, humorist singer Maria Mena, singer-songwriter Egil Monn-Iversen, composer Truls Mørk, cellist Henny Mürer, choreographer and dancer Øyvind Mustaparta, musician (Dimmu Borgir) Wenche Myhre, singer Necrobutcher (real name Jørn Stubberud), musician (Mayhem) Lars Nedland, musician (Solefald) Joachim Nielsen a.k.a. Jokke, rock singer, poet Kurt Nilsen, pop singer (World Idol winner) Nocturno Culto (real name Ted Skjellum), musician (Darkthrone) Arne Nordheim, modernist composer Rikard Nordraak, composer John Norum, guitarist (Europe) Lene Nystrøm, pop singer (Aqua) Opaque (real name Morten Aasdahl Eliassen), rapper Tord Øverland-Knudsen, bassist (The Wombats) Erlend Øye, musician (Kings of Convenience) Ole Paus, singer-songwriter Alf Prøysen, author and musician Marion Raven, singer-songwriter Hans Rotmo, singer-songwriter Kari Rueslåtten, singer Alexander Rybak, singer, actor, violinist, pianist, composer (Eurovision song contest winner 2009) Terje Rypdal, guitarist, composer Gisle Saga, music producer, songwriter Samoth (real name Tomas Haugen), musician (Emperor) Knut Schreiner, musician (Turbonegro, Euroboys) Sigrid, singer-songwriter Berit Skjefte (1809–1899), langeleik performer Magna Lykseth-Skogman (1874–1948), Norwegian-born Swedish opera singer Gjendine Slålien (1871–1972), folk singer Njål Sparbo, singer Vibeke Stene, singer (ex-Tristania) Alexander Stenerud, singer-songwriter (Zuma) Øystein Sunde, singer, guitarist Johan Svendsen, composer Harald Sæverud, composer Tommy Tee (real name Tommy Flaaten), rapper, producer, DJ Jahn Teigen, singer Arve Tellefsen, violin virtuoso Stian Thoresen, singer (Dimmu Borgir) Geirr Tveitt, composer Varg Vikernes, musician (Burzum) and convicted murderer Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, songwriter and guitarist (a-ha) Alan Walker, DJ and producer Toki Wartooth, guitarist (Dethklok) Sigurd Wongraven, singer-guitarist (Satyricon) Erlend Øye, musician Aurora Aksnes, singer-songwriter
See also: Music of Norway
Painting and sculpture
Nils Aas, sculptor Betzy Akersloot-Berg, painter Peter Nicolai Arbo, painter Nikolai Astrup, painter Harriet Backer, painter Peder Balke, painter Brynjulf Bergslien, sculptor Andreas Bloch, painter Tupsy Clement, painter Hans Dahl, painter J.C. Dahl, painter Brit Dyrnes, ceramist Bjorn Egeli, painter Yngvild Fagerheim, ceramist Thomas Fearnley, painter Johannes Flintoe, painter Magne Furuholmen, painter, sculptor Åse Frøyshov, textile artist Rolf Groven, painter Hans Gude, painter Aasta Hansteen, painter Lars Hertervig, painter Thorolf Holmboe, painter Olaf Isaachsen, painter Theodor Kittelsen, painter Annelise Knudtzon, textile artist Christian Krohg, painter Oda Krohg, painter Edvard Munch, painter Odd Nerdrum, painter Wilhelm Peters, painter Eilif Peterssen, painter Børre Sæthre, artist Vebjørn Sand, painter Christiane Schreiber, painter Otto Sinding, painter Christian Skredsvig, painter Harald Sohlberg, painter Frits Thaulow, painter Adolph Tidemand, painter Gustav Vigeland, sculptor Erik Werenskiold, painter, illustrator
Film and comedy
Hauk Aabel, actor Atle Antonsen, comedian Ivo Caprino, animation film creator Lalla Carlsen, actress Espen Eckbo, comedian, actor Egil Eide, silent film actor and director Harald Eia, comedian, actor John Emblem, comedian, actor Laura Gundersen, actress Jonathan Haagensen, actor Gunnar Haugan (1925–2009), character actor Solveig Haugan (1901–1953), stage and movie actress Harald Heide-Steen Jr., comedian, actor Per Heimly, photographer, jester Henrik Holm, actor Ola Isene, opera singer Otto Jespersen, comedian Bård Tufte Johansen, comedian Kristoffer Joner, actor David Knudsen, actor Geir Ove Kvalheim, director Mette Lange-Nielsen, actress Natassia Malthe, model, actress Henny Moan, actress Lillian Müller, model, actress August Oddvar, stage actor Arve Opsahl, comedian, actor Iren Reppen, actress Tarjei Sandvik Moe, actor Kristopher Schau, comedian Aud Schønemann, actress Bjørn Sundquist, actor Rut Tellefsen, actress Gerd Thoreid, stand-up comedian and singer Liv Ullmann, actress, film director Ingerid Vardund, actress Line Verndal, actress Rolv Wesenlund, comedian, actor Ragna Wettergreen, actress Øystein Wiik, actor Viktoria Winge, actress Tommy Wirkola, film director Ylvis, comedy duo famous for their viral hit song and video "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)" Harald Zwart, film director
Exploration
Roald Amundsen (1872–1928), polar explorer, first to reach the South Pole and the first seaman to traverse the Northwest Passage Bernt Balchen (1899–1973), Norwegian-American polar aviation pioneer Samuel Balto, arctic explorer Carl Bock, government official, author, naturalist and explorer Finn Devold (1902–1987), arctic explorer Hallvard Devold, polar explorer Leif Erikson, world explorer Rune Gjeldnes, polar (solo) adventurer Tryggve Gran (1889–1980), aviator, made the first solo flight across the North Sea Tormod Granheim, climber and extreme skier, 1st ski descent Mount Everest North Face, 2006 Thor Heyerdahl (1914–2002), explorer and anthropologist, famous for his Kon-Tiki expedition Helge Ingstad (1899–2001), explorer, first to prove ca. 1000 AD Viking settlements in America Hjalmar Johansen (1867–1913), polar explorer Erling Kagge, polar solo adventurer, climber Carl Anton Larsen (1860–1924), Antarctic explorer and first person to ski in Antarctica on the Larsen Ice Shelf; considered the founder of the Antarctic whaling industry and the settlement at Grytviken, South Georgia Henry Larsen, Norwegian born Canadian Arctic seaman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; second to traverse Canada's Northwest Passage in the St. Roch Christian Leden (1882–1957), Greenland and Canada Lars Monsen, adventurer Jens Munk (1579–1628), explorer of the Northwest Passage Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930), Arctic explorer, scientist and international statesman Børge Ousland, polar solo adventurer Finn Rønne (1899–1980), Norwegian-American antarctic explorer Otto Sverdrup (1854–1930), Arctic explorer
Politics Peder A. Aarøe, former trade unionist Arne Aasheim, diplomat and civil servant Gunstein Anderson (1860–1926), school inspector and politician for the Labour Party Ingrid Aune, Mayor of Malvik (2015–2019) Anton Christian Bang, former Minister of Education and Church Affairs Kjell Magne Bondevik, former prime minister, author Rebekka Borsch, politician for the Liberal Party Per Borten, former prime minister, author Trygve Bratteli, former prime minister, author