Ari Behn

Norwegian author and artist (1972-2019)

Ari Mikael Behn (né Bjørshol, 30 September 1972 – 25 December 2019) was a Danish-born Norwegian writer. He wrote three novels, two collections of short stories and a book about his wedding.

Ari Behn
Ari Behn in 2013
Born
Ari Mikael Bjørshol

(1972-09-30)30 September 1972
Died25 December 2019(2019-12-25) (aged 47)
Alma materUniversity of Oslo
OccupationAuthor
Spouse(s)
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
(m. 2002; div. 2017)
Children3

His 1999 short stories collection Trist som faen ("Sad as hell") sold about 100,000 copies.[1] His books have been translated into Swedish, Danish, German, Hungarian, and Icelandic as well as French. In the spring of 2011, Behn made his debut as a playwright with Treningstimen.

He was married to Princess Märtha Louise from 2002 to 2017.[2] They had three children.

In December 2017, Behn alleged that he was sexually assaulted by Kevin Spacey. He accused Spacey of groping his genitals in 2007, at a nightclub during the afterparty for the Nobel Peace Prize concert.[3]

Behn died killing himself at his home in Lommedalen on 25 December 2019, aged 47.[4][5][6][7] He had struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues.[8] In a 2009 interview he said he was chronically depressed and lonely.[9]

References change

  1. "Kolon forlag". www.kolonforlag.no. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  2. "Går fra hverandre". www.kongehuset.no. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  3. "Kevin Spacey 'groped Norwegian king's son-in-law'". BBC News. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  4. "Norway's Ari Behn, ex-royal and Kevin Spacey accuser, dies by suicide". BNO News. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  5. "Ari Behn er død". www.vg.no. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  6. Nordli, Wasim Riaz Øyvind. "Ari Behn er død. – Det er med stor sorg Dronningen og jeg har mottatt budskapet, melder kong Harald". Aftenposten. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  7. Fjeld, Iselin Elise (25 December 2019). "Ari Behn er død". NRK. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  8. "Norwegian ex-royal Ari Behn shared battle with alcoholism before death". news.com.au. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  9. Monsen, Rikke (25 December 2019). "Slik var Ari Behns liv". Nettavisen.