Magnús Scheving facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Magnús Scheving
Magnús at FRESH 2011
Born	Magnús Örn Eyjólfsson Scheving (1964-11-10) 10 November 1964 (age 60) Borgarnes, Iceland
Alma mater	University of Iceland
Occupation	Writer, TV producer, actor, athlete, entrepreneur
Spouse(s)	Ragnheiður Melsteð ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 2014)​ Hrefna Björk Sverrisdóttir ​ (m. 2020)​

Magnús Scheving (born November 10, 1964) is an Icelandic writer, TV producer, actor, and former athlete. He is famous for creating and starring in the children's TV show LazyTown. In the show, he played the super-active character Sportacus.

Magnús has always been passionate about health and fitness. He wanted to inspire kids to be active and eat well. This dream led him to create the world of LazyTown, which became a huge hit with children everywhere.

Magnús Scheving: The Creator of LazyTown

Early Life and Big Dreams

Magnús Scheving was born in 1964 in Borgarnes, a small town in Iceland. When he was 15, he started his first job as a messenger.

As a young man, Magnús first thought about becoming an athletics teacher. Later, he studied architecture. But he changed his mind again and learned carpentry. His knowledge of both architecture and carpentry helped him build his own house. He said he "physically...[laid] every brick and roof tile."

In his twenties, Magnús made a fun bet with a friend. They each chose a sport the other knew nothing about. They had three years to become good at it. Magnús chose snooker for his friend. His friend chose aerobics for Magnús. Magnús worked hard and became a national champion in aerobics! His friend also became a national champion in snooker.

From Athlete to TV Star

Becoming a Champion

Magnús was a very successful athlete. In 1992, he became the Icelandic champion in aerobic gymnastics. He won the Scandinavian championship in 1993. He was also the European champion twice, in 1994 and 1995. In 1994, he was even voted Athlete of the Year in Iceland.

Besides sports, Magnús became a popular speaker. He traveled the world, giving talks about staying healthy. From 1991 to 1993, he hosted a TV show in Iceland. Parents would call in and ask him questions about raising healthy children.

The Idea Behind LazyTown

In 1995, Magnús wrote a children's book called Áfram Latibær. This was the very first story in the LazyTown world. He noticed that there weren't many good role models for kids about healthy living. He wanted to change that.

He thought, "There was no entertainment brand dedicated to kids' health in the world." His book was about a sports elf who taught people how to eat well and exercise.

The book became a stage play that toured Iceland from 1996 to 1997. It was very popular! A second play was made, which introduced the character Robbie Rotten.

The World of LazyTown

Magnús as Sportacus

The success of the plays led to the TV show LazyTown. Nickelodeon ordered the show in 2003. The first episode aired on August 16, 2004.

Magnús is the creator and co-founder of LazyTown Entertainment. This company makes books, videos, games, and sports gear. All of these things help kids learn about fitness and healthy living. In the show LazyTown, Magnús played the hero, Sportacus. He played this role from 2004 to 2014.

In 2006, Magnús received a special Lifetime Achievement Award. The President of Iceland gave him this award for creating the LazyTown series.

In 2011, a company called Turner Broadcasting bought LazyTown Entertainment. Magnús continued to play Sportacus for a few more years. In 2014, he announced he would no longer play Sportacus in the TV series. He also stepped down as the CEO of LazyTown Entertainment.

Future Plans for LazyTown

On May 16, 2024, it was announced that Magnús Scheving made a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. He agreed to buy back the company and the rights to the LazyTown brand. This means he will once again own the LazyTown world!

In 2021, Magnús announced plans to build a LazyTown theme park. It will be in his hometown of Borgarnes, Iceland, which inspired the show. The park will have indoor and outdoor areas. It will teach visitors about the show's history and the town of Borgarnes. The park is expected to open by 2024.

April 1st Hoax

On April 1, 2022, Magnús was part of a funny April Fools' Day prank. He appeared in an Instagram post by Icelandic athlete Björgvin K. Guðmundsson. The post joked about a new LazyTown movie and TV series. It showed pictures of them signing contracts. But it was all a joke for April Fools' Day!

Other Cool Projects

Acting in Movies

In 2010, Magnús acted in the Jackie Chan movie The Spy Next Door. He played a Russian villain in the film. This was his first and only movie role.

Inspiring Others

In November 2022, Magnús spoke at the World Business Forum in New York City. He talked about "great ideas" and creativity. Later that week, he spoke in Bogotá, Colombia. There, he talked about how teams can work together to achieve great things.

Magnús's Roles on Screen

Behind the Scenes: Production Work

Magnús was involved in many parts of creating LazyTown. Here's a look at his work behind the scenes:

Awards and Recognitions

Magnús Scheving has received several awards for his work:

• PROTOS Award from Universidad de Panamericana in Mexico City.
• BAFTA International Children's Award in 2006 for LazyTown.
• Edda Award in 2006 from the Icelandic Film and Television Academy for LazyTown.

Personal Life

Magnús Scheving has four children. He was married to Ragnheiður Melsteð for 24 years. In 2020, he married Hrefna Björk Sverrisdóttir. They welcomed a son in December 2022.

See also

In Spanish: Magnús Scheving para niños