Kari Diesen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kari Diesen
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Diesen in 1960
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| Born |
Kari Heide-Steen
24 June 1914 Kristiania, Norway
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| Died | 18 March 1987 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Occupation | singer and revue actress |
| Spouse(s) | Ernst Diesen |
| Children | Andreas Diesen |
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| Awards |
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Kari Diesen (born Kari Heide-Steen, June 24, 1914 – March 18, 1987) was a famous Norwegian singer and actress. She was known for her funny performances in revues, which are like musical comedy shows. Kari worked at popular theaters like Chat Noir and the Edderkoppen Theatre. She also acted in many films and sang popular songs, including her well-known version of "Hovedøen".
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About Kari Diesen's Family
Kari Heide-Steen was born in Kristiania, which is now Oslo, Norway. Her parents were Harald Steen and Signe Heide Steen. They were both involved in the arts.
Kari came from a very talented family. Her brother, Harald Heide Steen, was also an actor. Her nephew, Harald Heide-Steen Jr., followed in their footsteps and became an actor too.
Kari's sister, Randi Heide Steen, was a well-known opera singer. Randi's daughter, Anne Marit Jacobsen, also became a famous actress.
Kari Diesen was married to Ernst Diesen, who was an actor and theater director. Together, they had a son named Andreas Diesen. Andreas grew up to be a writer and director for NRK, Norway's public broadcaster.
Kari Diesen's Career Highlights
Kari Diesen started her career as a young ballerina. She performed for Ernst Rolf, a famous Swedish revue artist. Soon after, she joined Victor Bernau's revue in 1930. There, she sang a song called "Det er forbudt for barn under 16 år" (It is forbidden for children under 16).
Breakthrough and Theater Work
Kari became very popular in 1935 with her performance in the revue Hela'n går at the Scala Theatre. From 1937 to 1953, she was a key performer at Chat Noir, a famous revue theater in Oslo.
After that, she moved to the Edderkoppen Theatre, where she worked from 1954 to 1959. Later, she became a freelance artist. This meant she worked on many different projects. She often appeared on radio and television, entertaining audiences across Norway.
Popular Songs and Monologues
Kari Diesen was known for her unique singing style. Some of her popular songs included "Tykk og dum og deilig" (Thick and Stupid and Lovely) and "Halvveis" (Halfway).
She was also a master of monologues, which are funny speeches performed by one person. Two of her most famous monologues were "Mannfolk" (Men) and "Uteliggerne" (The Homeless). These were written by Bias Bernhoft and Bjørn Sand.
Recording Success
Kari Diesen made her first record in 1938. She sang two duets with Jens Book-Jenssen, another popular Norwegian singer. The songs were "Oh – Mama – 6/8" and "En bitteliten pike i et stort hotell" (A Tiny Girl in a Big Hotel).
Her song "Hovedøen" from 1957 became a huge hit. It was so popular that it sold over 50,000 copies!
Film Roles and Recognition
Kari Diesen's first film role was very early in her life, at just six years old, in a movie called Kaksen på Øverland. She appeared in 24 films between 1941 and 1985. Most of her roles were smaller parts, but she always made them memorable.
Her big breakthrough in a main film role came in the comedy Støv på hjernen (Dust on the Brain) in 1959. She also starred in its sequels, Sønner av Norge (Sons of Norway) from 1961 and Sønner av Norge kjøper bil (Sons of Norway Buy a Car) from 1962.
Kari also had small roles in other films like Himmel og helvete (Heaven and Hell) from 1969 and Ice Age from 1975. Many times, she played "herself" in films because she was already a well-known celebrity.
Awards and Comeback
In 1971, Kari Diesen was honored with the Leonard Statuette. This is a special award given to Norwegian revue artists.
After her husband passed away in 1970, Kari took a break from public life. However, she made a wonderful comeback in 1980. She appeared in a television show celebrating Leif Juster, another famous Norwegian entertainer. This appearance brought her back into the spotlight.
After her comeback, she recorded a new album called Det hender så mangt– (Many Things Happen–). She also received the Spellemannprisen Honorary Award, which is one of Norway's most important music awards.
