Per Aabel

Norwegian actor, costume designer, dancer, choreographer, and stage instructor. He was the son of Hauk Aabel, a popular comedian and actor in Norwegian and Swedish silent films, and actress Svanhild Johannessen.

He got his education as an illustrator in Paris, and as a ballet dancer in London. He had his debut as a ballet dancer at the theatre Mayol in 1921 and after working as a dance teacher for several years he got his first job as an instructor at the National Theatre in 1926. Not until 1931 did he debut as an actor, at Det Nye Teater.

Aabel was head of Carl Johan Teatret from 1933 to 1938, and worked as an actor at Centralteatret from 1938 to 1940, and at the National Theatre from 1940 to 1972.

After he retired he worked freelance and was part of the National Theatre's 100 year anniversary celebrations in 1999, just a few weeks before he died. He was a frequent entertainer on television as a storyteller and is well remembered as an esteemed raconteur. A statue of him by sculptor Nina Emilie Sundbye placed outside of the stage entrance of the National Theatre was unveiled by Queen Sonja on 11 May 1999.

In 1976 he was awarded the Medal of St. Hallvard, the highest award of the city of Oslo. He was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1969, was promoted to Commander with Star in 1978, and was elevated once more in 1988 when he received the Grand Cross, which is almost exclusively only given to royals and heads of state.

Aabel died on 22 December 1999 in Oslo, Norway, at the age of 97. He was buried at state expense.