Lars Mjøen

Who is Lars Mjøen?

Lars Mjøen is a Norwegian comedian, actor, singer, screenwriter, director, editor and author. He is best known as a member of the comedy trio KLM, alongside Trond Kirkvaag and Knut Lystad.

Mjøen and Lystad began their entertainment careers with the NRK radio show “Bedre sent enn alvor” in 1975, a program heavily inspired by Monty Python. The program's similarities to Monty Python is probably no coincidence, as Mjøen has stated in interviews that Monty Python's Flying Circus was what inspired him to become a comedian. In 1976, they moved on to television where they joined Kirkvaag who was already a well-known comedian in Norway for the satirical news program “Nynytt”.

KLM shows later included “Klin Kokos”, “MRK Fjærsynet”, “I spøkelyset”, “Skai TV - imitert fjernsyn”, “KLMs Nachspiel” and “KLMs Vorspiel”. With the exception of the Monty Python-esque “Klin Kokos”, all these shows mainly spoofed Norwegian television and current events. Typically, Lystad and Kirkvaag played the comedic roles, while Mjøen was more often cast as a host or a straight man, likely because he was not as gifted of an imitator as the other two. The role as a host suited him well.