# Knut Wigert

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{{Short description|Norwegian actor (1916–2006)}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Knut Wigert
| image         = KnutWigert-OB.F06541b.jpg
| alt           = 
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = Knut Kirsebom
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1916|10|3|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [Skien](/source/Skien_Municipality), Norway
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2006|6|14|1916|10|3|df=y}}
| death_place   = [Oslo](/source/Oslo)
| other_names   = 
| parents       = 
| spouse        = [Sofie Helene Wigert](/source/Sofie_Helene_Wigert) (second wife)
| children      = 
| relatives     = [Sonja Wigert](/source/Sonja_Wigert) (sister)<br>[Arthur Nordlie](/source/Arthur_Nordlie) (father-in-law)
| occupation    = Actor 
| years_active  = 
| known_for     =  
| notable_works = 
| awards        = [Fritt Ord Honorart Award](/source/Fritt_Ord_Award) (1996)
}}
'''Knut Kirsebom Wigert''' (3 October 1916 &ndash; 14 June 2006) was a Norwegian actor, known for his many [Ibsen](/source/Henrik_Ibsen) roles and the establishment of an [Ibsen museum](/source/Ibsen_Museum_(Oslo)) in [Oslo](/source/Oslo).

==Personal life==
Knut Hansen was born in [Skien](/source/Skien_Municipality) as a son of Major Sigvald Hansen (1881–1954) and his wife Carmen Franciska Christina Kirsebom (1887–1951), and a younger brother of [Sonja Wigert](/source/Sonja_Wigert). He changed his last name to Wigert in 1935.<ref name=nbl>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Knut Wigert |encyclopedia=[Norsk biografisk leksikon](/source/Norsk_biografisk_leksikon)|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|editor=Helle, Knut|editor-link=Knut Helle|first=Thoralf  |last=Berg |url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Knut_Wigert/utdypning |language=Norwegian |accessdate=15 July 2009}}</ref>

Wigert was married to Eva Nordlie from 1942 to 1946. In January 1950 he married ship-owner [Sofie Helene Huitfeldt](/source/Sofie_Helene_Wigert), née Olsen. The marriage lasted until her death in September 1989.<ref name=nbl/> They resided in Bærum.<ref name=hvem>{{cite encyclopedia|year=1973|title=Wigert, Knut|encyclopedia=[Hvem er hvem?](/source/Hvem_er_hvem%3F)|editor=Steenstrup, Bjørn|publisher=Aschehoug|location=Oslo|url=https://runeberg.org/hvemerhvem/1973/0591.html|page=591|language=Norwegian|access-date=13 April 2014}}</ref> He was a son-in-law of ship-owner Rudolf Olsen, and the family inherited large properties including the manor Dirhue at [Tjøme](/source/Tj%C3%B8me). Wigert lost this to his step-children in an out-of-court settlement in 1993.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stebarn overtar ferieparadiset|work=Dagens Næringsliv|author=Strømmen, Karl|date=10 June 1993|page=13|language=Norwegian}}</ref>

In 1991 he married for the third time, to journalist Vera Dietrichson Burkoff (1929–2007).<ref name=nbl/> In his later life he lived at [Madserud](/source/Madserud) in Oslo.<ref name=ntb>{{cite news|title=Knut Wigert 85 år 3. oktober|agency=Norwegian News Agency|date=12 September 2001|language=Norwegian}}</ref> He died in June 2006 in Oslo.<ref name=nbl/>

==Career==

===Actor===
Wigert finished school when graduating [Oslo Commerce School](/source/Oslo_Commerce_School) in 1936.<ref name=ntb/> He made his stage début at [Centralteatret](/source/Centralteatret) in 1937, and started acting for the [National Theatre](/source/Nationaltheatret) in Oslo from 1938.<ref name=nbl/><ref name=n50>{{cite book |title=Nationaltheatret gjennom femti år |first=Anton |last=Rønneberg |author-link=Anton Rønneberg |year=1949 |pages=342, 364–366  |publisher=Gyldendal |location=Oslo |language=Norwegian }}</ref> He played "the pilot" in an adaptation of [Karel Čapek](/source/Karel_%C4%8Capek)'s anti-Nazi play ''[Matka](/source/The_Mother_(%C4%8Capek_play))'' (The Mother), which had dress rehearsal on 8 April 1940 and never premièred due to the German invasion of Norway the following day.<ref name=n50/> Among his roles were "Hugo" in a 1950 adaptation of [Jean-Paul Sartre](/source/Jean-Paul_Sartre)'s ''[Dirty Hands](/source/Dirty_Hands)'', and "Brick" in a 1956 adaptation of [Tennessee Williams](/source/Tennessee_Williams)'s ''[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof](/source/Cat_on_a_Hot_Tin_Roof)''.<ref name=n75>{{cite book |title=Nationaltheatret 1949-1974 |first=Anton |last=Rønneberg |year=1974 |pages=46–47, 98 |publisher=Gyldendal |location=Oslo |language=Norwegian }}</ref> He played a long series of Ibsen characters, such as "Hertug Skule" (from ''[The Pretenders](/source/The_Pretenders_(play))''), "Peer" (from ''[Peer Gynt](/source/Peer_Gynt)''), "Rosmer" (from ''[Rosmersholm](/source/Rosmersholm)''), "Brack" (from ''[Hedda Gabler](/source/Hedda_Gabler)''), "Helmer" (from ''[A Doll's House](/source/A_Doll's_House))'', "Rubek" (from ''[When We Dead Awaken](/source/When_We_Dead_Awaken)''), "Solness" (from ''[The Master Builder](/source/The_Master_Builder)''), "Borkman" (from ''[John Gabriel Borkman](/source/John_Gabriel_Borkman)'') and "Julian" (from ''[Emperor and Galilean](/source/Emperor_and_Galilean)'').<ref name=nbl/> A bust of Wigert, sculptured by [Joseph Grimeland](/source/Joseph_Grimeland), was unveiled at the National Theatre in 1998.<ref name=nbl/><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Joseph Grimeland |encyclopedia=[Norsk biografisk leksikon](/source/Norsk_biografisk_leksikon)|first=Jarle |last=Strømodden |authorlink= |editor=Helle, Knut |editor-link=Knut Helle |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo |url=http://nbl.snl.no/Joseph_Grimeland |language=Norwegian |accessdate=13 April 2014}}</ref>

He made his film début in 1940, in the film ''[Tante Pose](/source/Tante_Pose_(film))'', acted in the 1946 film ''[Englandsfarere](/source/Englandsfarere)'', and played the role "Fridtjof Nansen" in ''[Bare et liv](/source/Bare_et_liv_%E2%80%93_Historien_om_Fridtjof_Nansen)'' from 1968.<ref name=nbl/>

===Second World War===
During the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II), Wigert was a member of the [Norwegian Independent Company 1](/source/Norwegian_Independent_Company_1), recruited by former actor and leader of the group [Martin Linge](/source/Martin_Linge).<ref name=landflyktig/> He participated in the [Operation Archery](/source/Operation_Archery) raid at [Måløy](/source/M%C3%A5l%C3%B8y) in 'December 1941, and later graduated as a lieutenant from the [Royal Military College, Sandhurst](/source/Royal_Military_College%2C_Sandhurst) in 1943.<ref name=nbl/> He published the book ''Landflyktig'' in 1945, describing his travel via Stockholm, Moscow, Istanbul, Cairo and South Africa to England, and later service in [the army](/source/Norwegian_Armed_Forces_in_exile).<ref name=landflyktig>{{cite book|title=Landflyktig|first=Knut |last=Wigert |year=1945 |pages=1–126 |publisher=John Griegs Forlag |location=Oslo |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

He was decorated with the [Defence Medal 1940–1945](/source/Defence_Medal_1940%E2%80%931945), the [Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal](/source/Haakon_VII_70th_Anniversary_Medal) and the [1939–45 Star](/source/1939%E2%80%9345_Star) as well as the [King's Medal of Merit in gold](/source/King's_Medal_of_Merit).<ref name=hvem/>

===Organizing career===
Wigert chaired the [Riksmål Society](/source/Riksm%C3%A5lsforbundet) from 1974 to 1983.<ref name=snl>{{cite encyclopedia|year=|title=Knut Wigert |first=Sven Erik Løken|last=Larsen|encyclopedia=[Store norske leksikon](/source/Store_norske_leksikon)|editor=|publisher=|location=|url=http://www.snl.no/Knut_Wigert|language=Norwegian|accessdate=15 July 2009}}</ref> He was also a supervisory council member of the National Theatre and board member of the companies [Tinfos Papirfabrik](/source/Tinfos_Papirfabrik) and Olsen Daughter.<ref name=hvem/>

He was decorated as a Commander of the [Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav](/source/Royal_Norwegian_Order_of_St._Olav) in 1988 for his contributions to Norwegian theatre. He received the city of [Oslo](/source/Oslo)'s cultural prize in 1992 for his initiative and efforts which resulted in the establishment of a Henrik Ibsen museum in Oslo. He received the [Fritt Ord Honorary Award](/source/Fritt_Ord_Honorary_Award) in 1996.<ref name=nbl/><ref name=snl/>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1940|| ''[Tante Pose](/source/Tante_Pose_(film))'' || Paul Waage, stud. med. ||
|-
|1940|| ''[Tørres Snørtevold](/source/T%C3%B8rres_Sn%C3%B8rtevold)'' || Løytnanten ||
|-
|1946|| ''[Englandsfarere](/source/Englandsfarere)'' || Harald Silju ||
|-
|1948|| ''[Trollfossen](/source/Trollfossen)'' || Borg, ingeniør ||
|-
|1955|| ''[The Summer Wind Blows](/source/The_Summer_Wind_Blows)'' || 'Romeo' i radio extract || Voice
|-
|1968|| ''[Just a life – the story of Fridtjof Nansen](/source/Just_a_life_%E2%80%93_the_story_of_Fridtjof_Nansen)'' || Fridtjof Nansen ||
|-
|1974|| ''[Ransom](/source/Ransom_(1974_film))'' || Polson ||
|-
|1978|| ''[Autumn Sonata](/source/Autumn_Sonata)'' || Professor || Uncredited
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-culture}}
{{succession box |title=Leader of the [Riksmål Society](/source/Riksm%C3%A5lsforbundet) |before=[Aksel Lydersen](/source/Aksel_Lydersen) |after=[Jan Willoch](/source/Jan_Willoch) |years=1974&ndash;1983}}
{{s-end}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0927732|name=Knut Wigert}}
* {{Find a Grave}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wigert, Knut}}
Category:1916 births
Category:2006 deaths
Category:People from Skien Municipality
Category:Norwegian male stage actors
Category:Norwegian male film actors
Category:Norwegian Special Operations Executive personnel
Category:Norwegian World War II memoirists
Category:Recipients of the King's Medal of Merit in gold
Category:Members of the Norwegian Academy
Category:Norwegian Army personnel of World War II
Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Knut Wigert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_Wigert) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_Wigert?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.