Obituary: Minken Fosheim

Norwegian actress and children’s author Birte Fosheim Wienskol, better known as Minken Fosheim, died on Thursday night at Lovisenberg Hospital after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 62 years of age.

After graduating from the Norwegian National Academy of Theatre, Minken Fosheim had various roles on stage and screen, but is best remembered for presenting the Good Book (God Bok) literature programme on NRK in the 80s and 90s, and for playing Vigdis Reverud in the sitcom Karl & Co, which aired from 1998 to 2001.

Fosheim also founded the Minken Children’s and Youth Theatre to encourage the young to experiment with drama, and wrote several children’s books about classical composers such as Vivaldi, Grieg and Mozart. In 1996 she was awarded the National Children’s and Youth Book Prize for her body of work.

Minken Fosheim leaves behind her husband André Wienskol and their two sons.