Sonja Henie was an American actor who is best known for her roles in Wintertime, Sun Valley Serenade, and One in a Million.
Personal and Family Life
Sonja Henie was born on April 8, 1912, in Kristiania, Norway. She immigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a naturalized citizen. She had three marriages: Daniel Topping, Winthrop Gardner, and Niels Onstad, whom she married in 1956. Henie was known to be a skilled businesswoman and became one of the wealthiest women in the world by the time of her death.
Career
Henie received her first pair of skates at age six and quickly excelled, becoming the Norwegian Skating Champion at 14. She achieved Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936, making her the youngest Olympic skating champion at that time. After transitioning to film, she starred in numerous light comedies throughout the late 1930s and 1940s, boosting her popularity as an entertainer. Henie continued to perform until her retirement in 1960.
Death and Legacy
Sonja Henie died on October 12, 1969, due to leukemia while traveling to Oslo, Norway. Her legacy as a pioneering figure in figure skating remains significant, as she was the first to successfully turn her sports success into a successful film career. Henie’s contributions to both sports and entertainment are remembered today, and she was known for both her talent and her glamorous lifestyle.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Wintertime | 1943-09-17 | Nora Ostgaard |
| Sun Valley Serenade | 1941-08-29 | Karen Benson |
| Happy Landing | 1938-01-23 | Trudy Ericksen |
| Second Fiddle | 1939-06-30 | Trudi Hovland |
| Thin Ice | 1937-09-03 | Lili Heiser |
| One in a Million | 1937-01-01 | Greta Müller |
| Everything Happens at Night | 1939-12-22 | Louise Norden |
| It’s a Pleasure | 1945-03-03 | Chris Linden |
| My Lucky Star | 1938-09-09 | Kristina Nielsen |
| Iceland | 1942-09-21 | Katina Jonsdottir |
| Hello London | 1960-11-05 | herself |
| The Countess of Monte Cristo | 1948-10-31 | Karen Kirsten |
| A Star Is Born World Premiere | 1954-09-28 | Self |
| Take It or Leave It | 1944-07-17 | Herself |
| Ali Baba Goes to Town | 1937-10-29 | Herself |
| Se Norge | 1929-02-11 | Self |
| Riviera Dream | 1950-01-01 | Sonja Henie |