1979 in Norway

← 1978 1977 1976 1979 in Norway → 1980 1981 1982
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	List of years in Norway

Events in the year 1979 in Norway.

Incumbents

• Monarch - Olav V
• Prime Minister - Odvar Nordli (Labour Party)

Events

Bryggen and the Urnes stave church are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

• Municipal and county elections are held throughout the country.
• Bryggen and the Urnes stave church are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

Popular culture

Film

Main article: Norwegian films of the 1970s § 1979

• March - the planet Hoth scenes from the Hollywood film "The Empire Strikes Back" were filmed in the Hardangerjøkulen glacier.

Television

• December 1 - During an episode of Jul i Skomakergata on NRK, Sandmännchen premieres on Norwegian television for the first time.

Literature

• Åge Rønning, writer and journalist, is awarded the Riksmål Society Literature Prize.
• Nils Johan Rud, novelist, short story writer and magazine editor, is awarded the Dobloug Prize for Swedish and Norwegian fiction.
• Bjørg Vik, writer, playwright and journalist, is awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature for the short stories En håndfull lengsel.

Notable births

• 12 January - Åsa Elvik, politician
• 12 April - Thomas Dybdahl, musician
• 2 May - Oddrun Brakstad Orset, ski mountaineer

Notable deaths

• 7 January - Thoralf Hagen, rower and Olympic bronze medallist (b.1887)
• 4 February - Hans Martin Gulbrandsen, canoeist (b.1914)
• 15 February - Karl Henry Karlsen, politician (b.1893)
• 7 March - Klaus Egge, composer and music critic (b.1906)
• 3 April – Dagfinn Zwilgmeyer, psalmist (b. 1900).
• 6 April - Finn Øen, politician (b.1902)
• 17 April - Trygve Olsen, politician (b.1921)
• 26 April - Trygve Stokstad, boxer (b.1902)
• 7 May - Erik Brofoss, economist, politician and Minister (b.1908)
• 8 June - Magnar Isaksen, international soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist (b.1910).
• 5 July - Rolf Holmberg, soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist (b.1914)
• 10 July - Harald Færstad, gymnast and Olympic silver medallist (b.1889)
• 15 July - Haakon Sløgedal, politician (b.1901)
• 28 July - Steffen Ingebriktsen Toppe, politician (b.1902)
• 6 August - Olav Hordvik, politician (b.1901)
• 24 August - Bernt Evensen, speed skater, Olympic gold medallist and racing cyclist (b.1905)
• 22 September - Tore Segelcke, actress (b.1901)
• 30 September - Johan Johannesen, track and field athlete (b.1898)
• 16 October - Johan Borgen, author, journalist and critic (b.1902)
• 16 October - Olav Svalastog, politician (b.1896)
• 14 December - Otto Monsen, track and field athlete (b.1887)

Full date unknown

• Emil Boyson, poet, author, and translator (b.1897)
• Anders Frihagen, politician and Minister (b.1892)
• Gunnar Emil Garfors, poet (b.1900)
• Jørgen Holmboe, meteorologist (b.1902)
• Rolf Østbye, businessperson (b.1898)
• Rolf Ingvar Semmingsen, civil servant (b.1908)
• Nils Thomas, sailor and Olympic silver medallist (b.1889)