Steinn Ármann Magnússon has died

**Fairy-Possum** · 29 August 2026, 03:58

Man, that sucks. Scheving was right, Ármann was great fun. He was my favourite depiction of Ziggy and one of my favourite actors in the stage plays.

This feels a bit insensitive to ask, but I'm curious. Did you see a cause of death on the page?

**boredjedi** · 29 August 2026, 05:30

Awww, condolences.

A little bit more on Steinn Ármann Magnússon
I was also curious about his age. 61 that's relatively young.

**boredjedi** · 30 August 2026, 00:58

I hold Tim Curry's view and attitude on life and Death

**LazyPooky** · 12 September 2026, 18:36

Here is an article about his life and the people who knew him. Someone mentioned his health, so I assume he was ill before he passed away.

https://www.visir.is/g/20262932911d/...stara-grinsins

Beautiful greetings and untold stories from the master of comedy

Smári Jökull Jónsson September 10, 2026 12:05 PM

The greatest storyteller and humorist who possessed the magic of being able to keep words alive. This is how Steinn Ármann Magnússon is remembered, among other things, in the obituary in Morgunblaðið today. Steinn Ármann will be buried from Víðistaðakirkja in Hafnarfjörður at 13:00 today, but there will be a live broadcast of the funeral on Vísir.

Steinn Ármann was born in Reykjavík on October 28, 1964. Steinn's parents were Sesselja Björg Helgadóttir, who died in 2006, and Magnús Gunnþórsson. Steinn also had two younger brothers, Halldór born in 1967 and Björgvin who died in 1991 at the age of twenty.

Steinn graduated from the Icelandic School of Drama in 1989 and attracted attention in the 1990s as one half of the Radius Brothers along with Davíð Þór Jónsson, who will sing Stein's funeral in Víðistaðakirkja today.

Stein's career was varied. He played bass with the band Kátum piltum frá Hafnarfjörður and worked as a program producer, first at Aðalstöðinn and then at Bylgjann, where he was one of the hosts of the popular radio shows Radius, Górillunnar and King Kong.

He also played the cat Kela in Stundinn þórk for years, which won the hearts and minds of the youngest generation, as well as other smaller roles in various children's programs. He was one of the authors of the Christmas calendar Klængs snituga along with Davíð Þór, and Icelandic parents and children know Stein's voice quite well, as he has voiced a multitude of cartoons and children's programs in recent years.

In addition, he worked for a while at the bicycle shop Ernin and was a guide for foreign tourists during the summer.

Steinn leaves behind his wife Jennýja Berglind Rúnarsdóttir and two sons, Tumi and Hugi.

"Now it's boring again"

Among those remembering Stein Ármann in Morgunblaðið today is actress Helga Braga Jónsdóttir, who were classmates at the Icelandic School of Drama and worked together many times thereafter.

"Dear Steinn Ármann, my classmate, now it's sad again! I always considered you my twin brother in acting, the thick as we called ourselves at the Drama School," writes Helga Braga and then recalls that the collaboration between the two began immediately after graduating from LÍ when they starred together in the youth program Ungmennafélagið on RÚV.

Will they form more duos like Kela and Lóa (un)courtesy in Our Moment and the ballroom dance couple Klára Klein and Olga Korsikova?

"It was always so easy and fun to work with you. You often cycled from Hafnarfjörður to me in Grafarvogur when we were writing together and I could devote myself to writing because you exuded genius. You were sharp-witted, sensitive, warm-hearted, funny and entertaining with an amazing talent and I always thought you were the best actor in the world and we adored each other."

"Have a safe journey to the summer land, my beautiful, good brother, I love you beyond the grave and beyond death. You were always so dear and important to me. We will meet on the other side when my time comes. Then it will be fun again!"

Didn't like playing the cat Kela

Ásta Hrafnhildur Garðarsdóttir and Steinn worked together on the production of the programs Stundin aðrður on RÚV for years. She says their collaboration has been seamless.

"Bringing words to life is a magic that Steinn Ármann possessed. He gave my cat, Kela, a voice and character that no one will imitate; without him, Kela would have been a mewling kitten," writes Ásta Hrafnhildur, saying that their friendship began long before their collaboration at RÚV began.

Steini initially didn't like the idea of playing a cat and thought the role would involve wearing a full-size cat costume. However, that wasn't the case and Ásta managed to convince Stein to take on the role of Kela.

"Keli the cat immediately took on an independent life and became extremely popular. He received pictures and letters from children all over the country, which I tried my best to answer on his behalf, as Keli is not a particularly literate cat. The greatest magic, however, happened when we performed at entertainments around the country."

"After the children's shouts and calls, everything was about to go haywire when Keli finally appeared on stage. He would always poke his head out of the window of a special cat hut, and at that the children would roar with joy and excitement. At such moments, I became as convinced as the excited crowd of children that the cat was real."

"And he liked me quite well in return"

Director Kristófer Dignus writes in a post on Facebook, where he remembers Stein Ármann, that he was one of the best actors and the coolest guy he ever worked with.

"When we did People on the Block together, where he was brilliant as the frail Robbi janitor, I realized what a sensitive, deep and talented artist he was. His breadth as an actor inspired me and I felt very comfortable with him."

Kristófer also writes that they had begun developing a television series in which Steinn was to play a goalless and burned-out journalist with a big heart and strong morals.

"I'm sure he would have rolled up that role and received all the awards available."

"This film would never have made it to the US without this heroism"

Actor and director Benedikt Erlingsson posts a photo on Facebook from the film Hross í oss, which Benedikt directed. Benedikt writes that a lot went into making the film and that every day was a matter of life and death for the outcome, and that many heroes contributed.

"In my mind, Steinn Ármann was the great savior. It is etched in my memory when he took the leap after the horse that had fallen between the ship and the platform and swam with it to land. This film would never have made it to shore without this heroic act."

Magnús Scheving, who was cast as Mr. Latabær, remembers Steinn Ármann in a post on Facebook, but they met when they worked together on the play Áfram Latabær at Loftkastalinn and later at the National Theatre. There, Steinn played the role of Siggi Sæti in a memorable way. Magnús says he was a great actor and one of the best he has ever worked with.

-- Steinn in the role of Siggi Sæti, while Steinn and Magnús Scheving performed together in over 400 Lazy Town shows and toured together all over the country --

"The actor Steinn Ármann constantly surprised me. He had endless fun trying to make me fall out of character on stage. He had a unique way of reading the audience and delivering such hilarious lines that the audience would roll over with laughter, and I had a hard time not doing the same. His radiance captured the attention of the audience and his humor made everyone laugh. He was endowed with the unique quality that humor flowed naturally from his lips," writes Magnús.

A fateful ski trip

Psychiatrist Engilbert Sigurðsson recalls good times with his friend.

"We were best friends for about 5-6 years in early childhood, together most of the time during our formative years after our families moved to Krókahraun 12 in Hafnarfjörður, the year we turned four. We climbed the rocks in the lava together, participated in battles with boys from Arnarhraun, once even being taken prisoner and tied up in a cage for a few hours; we cycled around the area a lot and invented various things, children were much more outdoors than indoors at that time," says Engilbert.

"We learned to read and read the Tin Books and the Ástríks Books to the hilt, often in the same room, and then we often shared the snarky sentences of Captain Kolbein and Steinríkur out loud and laughed heartily and long. We also did that after diluting the alcohol in bottles with water one New Year's Eve when we thought the men had had enough."

Engilbert remembers Stein's parents, Sesselja and Magnús, with great warmth.

"I still remember his story when he and his family were on their way to Borgarfjörður eystra as often as possible and broke through the heaths in an impassable Saab 99 that he had to push through one pothole after another - that was enough and no car had to tow the Saab on this crazy journey."

Then Engilbert recalls a fateful journey to a math school.

"It was on a ski trip in middle school that Stein decided to start sharing his rich but sometimes a little crude sense of humor in a kind of stand-up comedy with Davíð Þór. Later, their best "sketches" became world-class in terms of script, timing and creativity. We who say goodbye to Steini today can and should recall the many good memories we have from our interactions with him and from his responses while and when his health was good and he was able to control his emotions. I express my condolences to the family at this very difficult time of farewell."

Clay carrier four decades ago

Filmmaker Friðrik Hilmarsson remembers his friend.

"Steinn Ármann was a cycling pro, a skier, a tall and strong guy. He was my best friend."

He recalls a pottery wheel that arrived over forty years ago at the kitchen table of Sella and Maggi, Stein's parents. It was relevant to them, relevant now and into eternity.

"You are like the shining sun to me."

The sea and the mountains..... and the flowers

"Your name is Steinn Ármann Magnússon, my friend."

Set designer Atli Steinn Grétarsson remembers Steinn with a beautiful image and simple text.

"This is completely lost."

Steinn Ármann Magnússon has died

Steinn Ármann Magnússon has died

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment