Jón Gnarr
An anarchic comedian who channeled public fury into a satirical political campaign and unexpectedly became the mayor of Reykjavík.
Born 1967 (age 59)·Icelandic actor and politician·Birthday: January 2·Generation X
Biography
Jón Gnarr spent the first half of his life as Iceland's premier absurdist comedian, a countercultural fixture known for his punk attitude and surreal characters. The 2008 financial crisis, which devastated Iceland's economy and trust in its political class, became his unlikely launchpad. In 2009, he founded the Best Party, a joke-turned-political-movement whose platform included promises of a polar bear for the zoo and free towels at public pools. Against all odds, the party's honest satire resonated with a furious electorate, propelling Gnarr into the mayor's office. His tenure from 2010 to 2014 was a pragmatic experiment in anti-politics, focusing on social inclusion and transparency, proving that a comedian could govern with more heart than career politicians. After leaving office, he returned to writing and acting, his legacy a testament to the power of humor in the face of systemic failure.
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.
Jón was born in 1967, 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 Jón Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Jón's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
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
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
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
1988Turned 21
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
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded and led the satirical Best Party to victory in the 2010 Reykjavík city council elections.
- Served as Mayor of Reykjavík from 2010 to 2014, bringing a non-ideological approach to governance.
- Successfully advocated for Reykjavík's membership in the UNESCO City of Literature network in 2011.
- Was elected to the Icelandic parliament (Althing) as a member of the Reform Party (Viðreisn) in 2024.
Did You Know?
He played a small role as the 'Iron Bank representative' in the HBO series Game of Thrones.
He is a published author, having written several novels and an autobiography titled 'Gnarr!'.
He identifies as an anarchist and was heavily influenced by punk rock culture in his youth.
“We didn't read the reports. We didn't have time. We just did things.”
