Ómar Ragnarsson

Ómar Þorfinnur Ragnarsson (born 16 September 1940) is an Icelandic media personality and activist for nature and environment, as well as a former entertainer and rally driver.[1][2]

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Ómar.
Ómar Ragnarsson at the Edda Awards 2007.

Ómar began acting on stage at the age of 12 and started his career as a stand-up comedian when he was 18. He has written a considerable number of songs and lyrics, performed by him or other Icelandic pop artists. Ómar studied law and has been a professional aviator and pilot since 1967. He worked as a TV reporter for RUV Channel 1 from 1969–1988, for TV Channel 2 from 1988–1995, and again for RUV from 1995. Later he started his own film production, mainly on nature and environmental issues in Iceland, Norway and the USA. He has also written 10 books in Iceland.

Ómar Ragnarsson turned activist for Icelandic nature and in September 2006, he led a protest walk against the controversial Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant.[3] This led to the foundation of the environmentalist party Iceland's Movement – Living Land which took part in the 2007 parliamentary elections, chaired by Ómar Ragnarsson.

Recognition

Ómar was picked as man of the year in 2006 by Stöð 2 (Channel two) in Iceland[4] and by Rás 2 (Radio two, government-run radio station) in 2003[5] and 2006,[6] for his fight for Icelandic nature. He also received 4 Edda-Awards from 2003 to 2006. On his 70th birthday, the Icelandic Government declared September 16 as "Icelandic Nature Day", in honour of Ómar Ragnarsson.

Rally

Ómar competed in rally-driving from 1975 to 1985, together with his brother Jón Ragnarsson,[7] where he won 18 titles, including 4-times champions of Iceland.

Popular Icelandic rapper Emmsjé Gauti released a single in 2015 titled "Ómar Ragnarsson". It is track #3 on his 2016 album, Vagg & Velta. The artist has said of the song, "The song is named after Ómar Ragnarsson because he’s always in a good mood like me."[8]

Personal life

With his wife Helga Jóhannsdóttir, Ómar is the father of seven, including media personalities Lára Ómarsdóttir and Þorfinnur Ómarsson.[9]

References
  1. Erna Agnes Sigurgeirsdóttir (28 January 2017). "Ómar Ragnarsson: "Ég er alltaf tilbúinn til ferðar, annað hvort fljúgandi eða á jöklabíl, hvert sem er og í marga daga'"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  2. Páll Halldórsson (27 August 2003). "Bræður, feðgar, mæðgin og feðgin". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  3. "Fjölmennustu mótmæli síðan 1973". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). 27 September 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  4. "Ómar Ragnarsson maður ársins að mati fréttastofu Stöðvar 2". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 30 December 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. "Ómar Ragnarsson er maður ársins á Rás 2". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 31 December 2003. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  6. "Ómar Ragnarsson maður ársins". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 January 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  7. Þórdís Lilja Gunnarsdóttir (15 June 2011). "Hræddur um að rallýið kitli". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  8. Tryggvi Páll Tryggvason (28 November 2015). "Nýtt lag og myndband frá Emmsjé Gauta: "Ómar Ragnarsson er svo nettur náungi"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. Freysteinn Jóhannsson (4 January 2008). "Fordómalaus heimsborgari". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
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