Biography
Nils Saebjørn Buttedahl was born November 10, 1876 in Norway. He debuted as an actor in Norway in 1896. From 1902-1924 he was employed in the Central Theatre in Oslo but continued simultaneously producing art as a sculptor. He created a number of busts of people active in the theatre. Several of these are located at the National Theatre in Oslo and in theatre museums in Oslo and Copenhagen. He emigrated to the United States in 1926, settling in California, where he died in San Diego, July 10, 1960. In California, he was active in the theatre but also continued sculpting, especially creating busts of people involved in the film industry. He was married to the Danish actress Clare Petrea Margrethe Benelli (1871-1933).
Source of Biography
Norsk Kunstner Leksikon, Oslo, Norway: Universitetsforlaget, 1982. Translation by Jane Kemp and Bill Musser.
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