Sonja Henie was born on April 8, 1912, in Kristiania, Norway, to Wilhelm and Selma Henie. She had two older brothers, Leif and Erik. Her father was a successful businessman, and her mother was a former figure skater. Sonja began skating at the age of six and quickly showed talent for the sport. She began competing in local competitions at the age of ten and won her first Norwegian national championship in 1926.
In 1927, Sonja Henie traveled to the United States to compete in the World Championships. She won the gold medal, becoming the first Norwegian to do so. She also won the gold medal at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Sonja Henie’s career in Hollywood began in 1930 when she signed a contract with 20th Century Fox. She made her film debut in the movie “Love on Ice.” She went on to star in a number of successful films, including “Thin Ice” (1937), “Sun Valley Serenade” (1941), and “My Lucky Star” (1942).
In 1936, Sonja Henie married American businessman Dan Topping. The couple had two children: a son named Leif and a daughter named Nancy. The marriage ended in divorce in 1946.
In 1955, Sonja Henie married French Olympic skier Henri Richard. The couple had no children. They remained married until Sonja’s death in 1969.
Sonja Henie died of leukemia on October 12, 1969, at the age of 57.
General Info
Full Name
Sonja Henie
Died
October 12, 1969, Oslo, Norway
Height
1.55 m
Profession
Actor, Figure skater
Nationality
Norwegian
Family
Spouse
Niels Onstad, Winthrop Gardner, Dan Topping
Parents
Wilhelm Henie, Selma Lochmann-Nielsen
Accomplishments
Movies
One In a Million, Thin Ice, My Lucky Star, Happy Landing, Everything Happens at Night, Second Fiddle, Iceland, Wintertime, It's a Pleasure, The Countess of Monte Cristo, Hello London
I want to do with skates what Fred Astaire is doing with dancing.
3
[on studio publicity promoting what was an imaginary romance with Tyrone Power] We had to consult the gossip columns every day to see if we were still in love or not.
After she turned pro, she staged a series of successful ice-skating shows with Arthur Wirtz.
3
In 1940, when the Nazis invaded Norway, she was out of the country. She telegraphed her maid and told her to place a picture of her with Hitler, which he had autographed, in a prominent place in her house. When the Nazis arrived to take over the house, they saw the picture and left quickly. For the rest of the war, all of her possessions were left untouched by the Nazis.
4
The signature of her ice skate blades adorns the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
5
Inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame (1976) and the International Women's Sport Hall of Fame (1982).
6
Became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1941.
7
Accumulated a large collection of modern art together with her third husband that formed the basis for the Henie-Onstad Art Centre in the city of Tampere, about 200 km from Oslo. They are buried on the hilltop overlooking the museum.
8
Robbed of jewels twice in six months in 1952
9
The photograph of her shaking hands with Adolf Hitler was taken at the 1936 Olympic Winter Games in Germany, and Hitler - being the host nations leader - naturally met several contestants. In that context many claim it's not fair to really judge any of the athletes who encountered Hitler at the games, while others claim Henie should have refused to shake his hand. It is of course easy to judge in retrospect, knowing what we know today of Hitler's later crimes against humanity.
10
Lost popularity when a photograph was published showing her shaking hands with Adolf Hitler.
11
She was the youngest Olympic skating champion - 15 years and 10 months of age when she won the 1928 gold medal. This record was beaten only in 1998 by a two-month younger American 'Tara Lipinski'.
12
10 time World Champion Women's Figure Skating according to A&E Biography
13
Won 3 olympic gold medals between 1928 and 1936. She was the first skater to parlay her athletic success into a lucrative career.
performer: "Count Your Blessings", "Who Believes in Santa Claus"
Sun Valley Serenade
1941
performer: "I Know Why and So Do You" 1941 - uncredited
Everything Happens at Night
1939
music: "The Blue Danube Waltz, Opus 314" 1867 - uncredited
My Lucky Star
1938
"I've Got a Date with a Dream", "March of the Toys", uncredited / performer: "Could You Pass in Love?", "By a Wishing Well", "This May Be the Night" - uncredited
Happy Landing
1938
"Yonny and His Oompah"
Thin Ice
1937
"Over Night", "Polovetsian Dances" , "The Blue Danube Waltz" 1867, uncredited
One in a Million
1936
performer: "One in a Million" 1936, "Roses From the South"
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hello London
1960
Documentary producer
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bilder aus Kalifornien
1969
TV Series documentary
Herself
Hello London
1960
Documentary
Herself
Holiday on Ice
1956
TV Movie
Herself
Max Liebman Presents: Spotlight
1954
TV Special
Herself - Guest
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
TV Short
Herself
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1954
TV Series
Herself
All Star Revue
1953
TV Series
Herself - Hostess
The Ed Sullivan Show
1952
TV Series
Herself
Screen Snapshots 5852: Hollywood Night at '21' Club
1952
Documentary short
Herself - Celebration Guest
What's My Line?
1952
TV Series
Herself - Mystery Guest
Camera Angles
1948
Documentary short
Cameo
Til Vesterheimen
1939
Documentary
Herself
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
1939
Documentary short
Herself
Se Norge
1929
Documentary
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bud Greenspan's Favorite Stories of Winter Olympic Glory
2002
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Biography
1995-1999
TV Series documentary
Greta Muller / Herself / Actress 'Thin Ice'
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
1999
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults