The popular actor, singer and painter was 79 years old. He fell asleep on Monday night with his family around him.
Updated less than 10 minutes ago
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The case is updated.
Geir Børresen fell asleep at Bærum hospital on Monday evening. The family’s spokesperson, lawyer Truls Haldorsen, confirms this to VG.
NRK mentioned the matter first.
Haldorsen tells VG that the 79-year-old actor had his family around him until the very end. He died after a short illness.
Børresen is survived by his wife Wenche, two children and grandchildren.
It was in May, Børresen told See and listen that he had contracted cancer of the intestines. He received the diagnosis in September 2021.
He was born in Oslo, but lived most of his life in Asker.
What is your best memory with Geir Børresen? Send a final greeting here.
– He has shaped children’s TV for decades
Børresen is a well-known personality from children’s TV. Many remember him well for his role in the TV series “Tre-fire-fem”, where he was dressed as the dog Labbetuss. He also played Max Mekker in the series “Sesame Station” in the 90s.
Before that, he was a presenter in the children’s TV series “Lekestue” in the 70s. It was his presenter debut. He also played in the series “Friends and Enemies”.
He has also played in several feature films, including his debut “Liv” from 1967 and “Mariken’s Wedding” from 1972.
From 2015 to 2016 he played the shipowner Thomas Winther in Hotell Cæsar.
– If one sentence is to be written in an encyclopedia summarizing my life, it must be: “He entered Labbetuss as a young man, and came out of Max Mekker as an old man”, said Geir Børresen with a smile to VG in 2019.
See photos from Børresen’s long life in the entertainment industry:
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Broadcasting manager Vibeke Fürst Haugen herself had the pleasure of working with Børresen as an assistant on the “Sesame Station” production in the 90s, writes NRK.
– Geir Børresen has meant a lot to several generations of children in Norway. He has shaped children’s television over several decades. Our thoughts now go to the family of Geir Børresen, she says to the channel.
– Good friend and role model
Geir Børresen was a keen diver, and has, among other things, participated in a TV documentary about shark diving in Frank Polynesia together with comedian and musician Alex Rosén.
On Tuesday morning, Rosén recalled a very special moment with his late colleague on Twitter:
– When Max Mekker dragged his laugh in the queue at Gardermoen. All the children froze. They heard him but did not see him. Adventurous moment. Max without a costume, he tweets.
– Geir Børresen, good friend and role model. Rest in peace, writes Rosén.
Tommy Tee has too tweeted about Børresen.
– Geir Børresen RIP, he writes, followed by a heart emoji.
Worked for 20 years at the National Theatre
In addition to his roles on the TV screen, Børresen was employed at the National Theater for 20 years. Here he made his debut in “Den stundesløse” in 1968.
As a freelancer, he also played at several other theatres, such as Centralteatret and Oslo Nye Teater.
Before that, he spent four years at the Theater School.
He also released three albums of Smurf songs, all of which were huge successes.
– If one sentence is to be written in an encyclopedia summarizing my life, it must be: “He entered Labbetuss as a young man, and came out of Max Mekker as an old man”, said Geir Børresen with a smile to VG in 2019.
Malte under won
In addition to being a skilled diver, Børresen was very fond of painting motifs from the sea. He also made a name for himself by painting underwater pictures.
Børresen was educated at what was then called the School of Arts and Crafts, and after a long career as an entertainer Børresen took up the brush again.
In 2020, Børresen told VG about how regaining the joy of painting – and going on roller skates – gave him a happy transition from working life to retirement.
–– Thank you very much for the memories
Several VG readers have left a final greeting to Geir Børresen. Many talk about how much he has meant to them.
– My childhood and youth hero. Always smiling with a great voice and ditto radiance, writes one.
– Thanks for everything, Geir. You were my childhood and it feels good to have had such a nice one. You were also part of my children’s childhood. The Smurfs and Labbettuss, Max Mekker, we loved it. Rest in peace, writes another.
– Condolences to family and friends. He has meant a lot to my upbringing. Thank you so much for the memories.
Read all the greetings and leave your own here.
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