Alfred Maurstad

Biography

Charismatic and very popular Norwegian stage and screen actor, also a gifted fiddler. Educated at a military academy in Bergen, his only connection with theater was as an extra at the local stage: Den Nationale Scene. But with a growing interest for the art of theater, he got an engagement at The Norwegian Theater in 1920 and, from 1931, he was engaged at The National Theater, both in Oslo. He became one of Norway's finest character actors, at his best, as "Peer Gynt", (Henrik Ibsen) and as "James Tyrone" (Eugene O'Neill). In Norway, he became a big movie star with his leading roles in films like: Fant (1937), Gjest Baardsen (1939), Tørres Snørtevold (1940) and Trysil-Knut (1942), among others. As an individual, he was an ordinary and likeable fellow, often visiting his homewards in Bryggja, Nordfjord, where he was a true local hero!