Bjarni Thorsson

Bjarni was born to a middle class family in Reykjavik, Iceland. He was accepted into New York University Tisch School of the Arts without finishing high school. He also studied with Lee Strasberg in New York. He left NYU to attend The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He graduated from AADA in 1995 being accepted into the Academy Company. Bjarni is the only child of one of Iceland's most famous family therapist Mrs. Hrefna Olafsdottir. His father is Thor Sveinsson a ceramic artist. Bjarni has four half brothers and sisters. He speaks Icelandic, English and Swedish and is a lifelong supporter of Manchester United Football Club. He started working as a DJ at a professional radio station Stjarnan FM 102.2 when he was 15 years old, not having a drivers license. Bjarni has one son, Haukur Bjarnson born January 6th 2004, from a previous relationship. Bjarni quickly established himself as an actor, director, writer and producer in Scandinavia and Europe and has since he started out professional in 1996 produced and/or directed more than 24 theatrical productions in 8 countries with over 1,500,000 tickets sold. Bjarni has created/written/produced and directed 5 major television shows in three countries. His television and theatrical productions have been nominated for 13 major theatrical and television awards. His first producing effort was "Standing on my Knees" by John Olive, which had its premiere at the West Beth Theatre in New York (Off-Broadway) in 1995. Bjarni is well known in Iceland after playing and producing "Defending the Caveman" a one man show about the differences between men and women in 1998. His first written stage play "The Dad" premiered in January 2007. A one man comedy about fatherhood starring Bjarni himself. The production became a critical and box office success. "The Dad" has been sold to many countries around the world. A film version is in the works.