author and politician Arne Solli (1938–2017) Norwegian Army general & Chief of Defence of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik (born 1947) politician, Prime Minister of Norway, 2001-2005 Bjørn T. Grydeland (born 1949) President of EFTASA & EU Ambassador Torgeir Dahl (born 1953) politician and Mayor of Molde since 2011 Kjell Inge Røkke (born 1958) a corrupt Norwegian billionaire "ruthless corporate raider" The Arts Karen Splid Møller (1800–1880) a Norwegian handwritten cookbook writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832–1910) writer of noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, won the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature, brought up in Nesset Maurycy Gottlieb (1856–1879) a Polish realist painter of the Romantic period, lived in Molde Rasmus Rasmussen (1862–1932) a Norwegian actor, folk singer and theatre director Nini Roll Anker (1873–1942) novelist and playwright about women within different social classes Kurt Schwitters, (1887–1948) German artist using dadaism, constructivism and surrealism, had a hut on Hjertøya pre-WWII Terje Fjærn (1942-2016) musician, orchestra leader and musical conductor Knut Ødegård (born 1945) poet, also lives in Reykjavík, Iceland Terje Venaas (born 1947) a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass) Edvard Hoem (born 1949) a Norwegian novelist, dramatist, lyricist and psalmist Jo Nesbø (born 1960) a Norwegian writer, musician and economist; grew up in Molde Arne Nøst (born 1962) a Norwegian graphic artist and theatre director John Arne Sæterøy (born 1965) pen name Jason, cartoonist of silent animal characters Ann-Helen Moen (born 1969) a Norwegian lyric soprano Ane Brun (born 1976) a Norwegian songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist of Sami origin Ola Kvernberg (born 1981) a jazz musician, plays a string swing violin Daniel Herskedal (born 1982) a Norwegian jazz tuba player Hayden Powell (born 1983) a jazz trumpeter and composer, grew up in Molde Mari Kvien Brunvoll (born 1984) a Norwegian folk and jazz singer Linnéa Myhre (born 1990) a Norwegian author and blogger Sport Otto Berg (1906–1991) a long jumper, competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics Arne Legernes (born 1931) a retired Norwegian footballer with 41 caps for Norway Einar Halle (born 1943) a Norwegian former UEFA football referee and referee observer Harry Hestad (born 1944) a former footballer and coach with 412 club caps and 31 for Norway Jan Fuglset (born 1945) a former footballer with over 288 club caps and 20 for Norway Ingolf Mork (1947–2012) ski jumper, winner of Four Hills Tournament 1971/72 Arild Monsen (born 1962) cross-country skier, World Champion 1985 Kjetil Rekdal (born 1968) a football manager and a