Ari Behn
A writer who married into Norwegian royalty, he navigated the glare of public life while forging his own path as an author and artist.
1972–2019 (age 47)·Norwegian author·Birthday: September 30·Generation X
Biography
Ari Behn was a Norwegian author and visual artist whose life took a dramatic turn when he married Princess Märtha Louise in 2002. Instantly thrust into the media spotlight, he chose to remain a private citizen, eschewing royal titles while supporting his wife's official duties. He carved out his own creative identity, publishing short stories, novels, and plays that often explored dark, psychological themes with a sharp, contemporary voice. His career was marked by both critical success and public controversy, as he candidly discussed his mental health struggles. Behn's story is one of modern royalty, where personal artistry and public expectation collided, a narrative that ended with his death by suicide in 2019, which sparked national conversations in Norway.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ari was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ari Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Ari's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2019Died at 47
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
Key Achievements
- Published his debut short story collection 'Sadness' in 1999, which was a literary success.
- Authored the novel 'Bakgård' in 2003, further establishing his literary reputation.
- Had his play 'Treningstimen' staged at the National Theatre in Oslo in 2004.
- Exhibited his visual art, including paintings and glasswork, in several galleries.
Did You Know?
He met Princess Märtha Louise at a party hosted by mutual friend Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway.
He designed the wedding rings for his marriage to the princess.
He was a distant relative of the famous playwright Henrik Ibsen.
He served in the Norwegian Royal Guard before his writing career.
“I have always been more interested in the shadows than the light.”
