Erik Erikssønn Bye (1 March 1926 – 13 October 2004) was a versatile Norwegian journalist, artist, author, film actor, folk singer and radio and television personality. He was one of the 20th century's most well-known and popular radio and television figures in Norway.
Born in Brooklyn, New York to Rønnaug (née Dahl) and opera singer Erik Ole Bye, his family moved home to Norway when he was six years old. After a few years in Ringerike they settled in the Nordstrand borough in Oslo, where they took over a bed and breakfast. In his teens, Bye joined the Norwegian resistance movement during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during World War II. Following the war, he returned to the United States for his university education, studying English, journalism and drama at Midland Lutheran College, Nebraska and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. During his studies he also traveled extensively throughout the United States, taking odd jobs and gathering impressions.
In 1953, Bye took his first job as a reporter with the Associated Press and as a freelancer for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1955, he moved to London and worked three years at the BBC Overseas Services as an apprentice to Anthony Martin before returning home. Bye enjoyed immense popularity with generations of Norwegians, and his songs and programs on radio and television were magnets to audiences of all ages. He was noted for his gift of being equally comfortable with the King of Norway and a random character met on the street. His roaming reports from around the world ranged from searching America for an old Apache chief to bringing an African chieftain from Ghana who answered a message in a bottle released by NRK to Norway.
Bye was well known for his support of Norwegian sailors. He also spent much time helping the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue and their cause; as a result one of their rescue vessels is named after him.
In 1978 the King of Norway made him a Knight, 1st Class in the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. In 2005 he was voted the third greatest Norwegian of the 20th century by the viewers of NRK, behind King Olav V and Einar Gerhardsen.
Bye was married to politician Tove Billington Jørgensen from 1953 until his death from cancer.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Einar Eriksen |
Recipient of the Narvesen Prize 1965 |
Succeeded by Arne H. Halvorsen |
| Preceded by first recipient |
Se og Hør's TV Personality of the Year 1978 |
Succeeded by Odd Grythe |
| Preceded by Leo Eitinger |
Recipient of the Fritt Ord Award 1989 |
Succeeded by Charter 77 |
| Preceded by Iver Jåks |
Recipient of the Norsk kulturråds ærespris 1993 |
Succeeded by Anne-Cath. Vestly |
| Preceded by Axel Jensen |
Recipient of the Cappelen Prize 1993 (shared with Tor Bomann-Larsen) |
Succeeded by not awarded |