Rolf Kirkvaag

Rolf Kirkvaag (September 20, 1920 - Oslo, January 24, 2003) was a Norwegian journalist, and a radio- and TV personality. He worked for NRK, the Norwegian state broadcasting network, between 1947 and 1959, and 1969 and 1990. From 1972 to 1985 he was entertainment director.no icon cite web | url = http://www.nrk.no/programmer/radio/norgesglasset/1.895785 | title = Rolf Kirkvaag - Norges første kjendis | publisher = Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation | author = Per Kristian Johansen | date = 2004-11-02 | accessdate = 2007-11-18]

Already a popular public persona, his fame grew enormously after an incident in 1956. Kirkvaag was among the passengers on a Braathens SAFE plane that crashed by Hommelfjell. Two people were dead and ten still alive. Kirkvaag - with a broken bone in his foot - and another passenger had to walk 18 km (11 miles) for help. The incident made Kirkvaag a national hero, and he has later been referred to as 'Norway's first celebrity'.

Among the shows he hosted were the children's show "Titten Tei" and the radio quiz show "20 spørsmål" (20 Questions). He was also a commentator for numerous sporting events, like the 1952 Winter Olympics.no icon cite web | url = http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/2003/01/25/359752.html | title = Sjonkel Rolf er død | publisher = Dagbladet | author = Siw Grindaker | date = 2003-01-25 | accessdate = 2007-11-18] Rolf Kirkvaag's son, Trond Kirkvaag was a well-known television comedian.

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