Odd Borg

Odd Carl Arthur Borg (May 26, 1931 – November 13, 1965) was a Norwegian actor. Initially a dramatic actor in theater, he later became one of the most popular comedic actors in Norway in the 1950s and 1960s, best known for his leading straight man characters who often became the unintentional comedic foil in everyday situations.

Borg died by suicide on November 13, 1965, aged 34.

Career Borg debuted in 1953, playing Vincent in a production of Dear Ruth at the Central Theater in Oslo, showcasing his dramatic capabilities. He soon became a popular staple at the theater, where he performed from 1953 to 1959, playing both dramatic and comedic roles, often the leading men or supporting straight men, but in his own words preferred the dramatic roles that gave him a chance to play interesting characters with deeper stories. After the closure of the Central Theater in 1959, Borg continued performing at the nearby National Theater, which took over most of its productions and actors, where he was given a permanent engagement that lasted from 1959 until his death. Although the film itself failed to become a hit, it became the springboard for Borg as a film actor, giving him the lead role in several films in the coming years, including the dramatic lead in Gylne ungdom (1956), often regarded as the Norwegian equivelant of Rebel Without a Cause (1955). As was common for many other popular actors at the time, Borg had a brief foray into music, recording the song "Jeg plystrer hvor jeg går" (I Whistle Where I Walk) in 1957, which sold moderately well in Norway. He also took part in musical numbers for several of the films he played in.

Borgs breakthrough came soon after with a string of hit comedies; Støv på hjernen (1959), Sønner av Norge (1961), and most famously Operasjon Løvsprett (1962). The first two films saw Borg establish his typical straight man character who served as the unintentional comedic foil in relatable everyday situations, while the latter film, which also reunited him with Knut Bohwim, saw Borg portray the pretentious shipping millionaire Riiber-Larsen Jr., again serving as the comedic foil. The films were all record-breaking at the time of their releases, with Operasjon Løvsprett remaining the second most seen film in cinemas in Norwegian history (behind Flåklypa Grand Prix).

Borg, somewhat unwillingly, continued playing these types of characters for the rest of his career; comedic foils drawing large crowds, unbeknown to whom the fact that the comedic roles Borg was loved for were causing him deep distress. Wanting to establish himself as a primarily dramatic actor, he felt he was no longer taken seriously because of his comedic roles, but he continued playing comedies nonetheless, something his then-wife Anne Borg later attributed to his "chronic and obsessive need to please others" and fear of rejection. The film came out on August 30, 1965, ten weeks before his death. His final on-screen appearance was a smaller role as a teacher in Stompa forelsker seg (1965), released on November 7, 1965, less than a week before his death.

On November 13, 1965, Borg performed in the premiere of the comedy play Hva skal vi gjøre? at the National Theater, in what was his final performance. In her memoir released nearly four decades later, his former wife Anne Borg recalled that he had called her just before the premiere, reluctant to take part in the play, calling it "blasphemous and disgusting" and expressing his desire to withdraw from the production. Borg relented, however, after she asked him to consider the other actors and directors, many of whom were their close friends.

Borg met the dancer Anne Nicolaisen in 1956, and they married in August 1957. Their first and only child, Jannicke, was born in 1958. Although the marriage was initially happy, Borg's personal problems eventually caused a rift, leading to their divorce in 1965. Borg remarried shortly before his death.

Despite his on-stage charisma, outgoing personality, and humorous presentation, Borg struggled heavily with his mental and physical health, especially in the later part of his career. He suffered from anxiety and was "extremely introverted and obsessive," His death happened late in the evening on a Saturday, and so some papers ran reviews of the play with no mention of his death because the news broke after the papers had been sent to the presses.

Borg was buried at Vestre gravlund in Oslo on November 18, 1965 , with the actors Frank Robert, Henki Kolstad, and Knut Bohwim among the pallbearers. At the time of his death and funeral, his two final films were still playing in cinemas.

Filmography

1955: Bedre enn sitt rykte 1956: Kvinnens plass 1956: Gylne ungdom 1956: Ektemann alene 1957: Peter van Heeren 1957: Selv om de er små 1959: 5 loddrett 1959: Støv på hjernen 1961: Line 1961: Sønner av Norge 1962: Operasjon løvsprett 1964: Operasjon sjøsprøyt 1964: Nydelige nelliker 1965: To på topp 1965: Stompa forelsker seg