Ómar Þorfinnur Ragnarsson (born 16 September 1940) is an Icelandic environment activist and former entertainer, news reporter and

rally Rally or rallye may refer to: Gatherings * Political demonstration, a political rally, a political demonstration of support or protest, march, or parade * Pep rally, an event held at a North American school or college sporting event Sport ...

driver. Born in

Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...

, 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
protest walk
against the controversial

Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant ( ), officially called Fljótsdalur Power Station ( ) is a hydroelectric power plant in Fljótsdalshérað municipality in eastern Iceland, designed to produce annually for Alcoa's Fjarðaál Aluminium smelting, alu ...

. 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 Stöð 2, literally Station 2, was an Icelandic subscription television channel. Founded in 1986, it was the first privately owned television station in Iceland following the lifting of the state monopoly on television broadcasting. Sister chan ...

(Channel two) in

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

and by

Rás 2 Rás 2 (''Channel 2'') is an Icelandic radio station belonging to the National Icelandic Broadcasting Service, RÚV. Launched on 1 December 1983, it is currently the highest-rated radio station in Iceland, with a schedule composed chiefly of news ...

(Radio two, government-run radio station) in 2003 and 2006, for his fight for Icelandic nature. He also received 4 Edda-Awards from 2003 to 2006. On his 70th birthday, the Icelandic Governmen
declared September 16
as "Icelandic Nature Day", in honour of Ómar Ragnarsson.

Sports

Ómar played

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

for Ármann in 1970. He competed in rally-driving from 1975 to 1985, together with his brother Jón Ragnarsson, where he won 18 titles, including 4-times champions of Iceland, in 1980-1982 and 1984.

Popular culture

In 2001, he was featured in the song ''Hí á þig'' with

XXX Rottweilerhundar XXX may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''XXX'' (film series), American action film series ** ''XXX'' (2002 film), an action film starring Vin Diesel ** '' XXX: State of the Union'', 2005 ** '' XXX: Return of Xander Cage' ...

. In 2015, popular Icelandic rapper

Emmsjé Gauti Gauti Þeyr Másson, better known as Emmsjé Gauti (meaning " MC Gauti"; born 17 November 1989 in Akureyri), is an Icelandic rapper and hip hop artist with R&B and pop influences. He started his rapping career in 2002 and was member of Icelandic ...

released a single titled "Ómar Ragnarsson". It is track #3 on his 2016 album,

Vagg & Velta Vagg is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Barrie Vagg (born 1943), Australian rules footballer * Bob Vagg (born 1940), Australian long-distance runner * Bob Vagg (born 1941), Australian rules footballer * Stephen Vagg, Aust ...

. The artist has said of the song, "The song is named after Ómar Ragnarsson because he’s always in a good mood like me."

Personal life

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

References

External links

*
News article (Icelandic)
Living people 1940 births Omar Ragnarsson Omar Ragnarsson Knights of the Order of the Falcon Omar Ragnarsson Men's association football players not categorized by position 20th-century Icelandic sportsmen {{Iceland-politician-stub