- Jón Leifs
Jón Leifs was an Icelandic composer. He left Iceland in 1916 to study in Germany at the Leipzig Conservatory. He graduated in 1921 having studied piano, and then devoted his time to conducting and composing. He became successful as a conductor, and also as a writer. He married a Jewish pianist, Annie Riethof, and had two daughters, Snót and Líf. He lived in Wernigerode and subsequently in Baden-Baden. His family was harassed by the Nazis.
- Björn Bjarnason
Björn Bjarnason (born 14 November, 1944) is the Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs of Iceland, and has been since May 23, 2003. His father was Bjarni Benediktsson, Icelandic Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs and Mayor of the City of Reykjavík. He is married to Rut Ingólfsdóttir and has two children. Matriculating from Reykjavík Junior College in 1964 and graduating in Law (cand. jur.) from the University of Iceland in 1971, …
- Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir
Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir is an Icelandic politician and Chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance ("Samfylkingin"), the second largest political party in Iceland's parliament, the Althing. She was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland on May 24 2007. Ingibjörg started her political carrier in the Women's Alliance ("Samtök um kvennalista"), a party she represented in Reykjavík's City Council from 1982 to 1988.
- Geir Haarde
Geir Hilmar Haarde (born April 8, 1951) is Prime Minister of Iceland and chairman of the Independence Party. Geir became Prime Minister on June 15 2006 following the announcement of Halldór Ásgrímsson's resignation as the Prime Minister of Iceland on June 5, 2006. He then led a coalition between his party and the Progressive Party. After the 2007 parliamentary elections, where the Independence Party increased their share of the vote, …
- Davíð Oddsson
Davíð Oddsson (born 17 January 1948 in Reykjavík) is an Icelandic politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of Iceland, holding office from 1991 to 2004. He also served as foreign minister from 2004 to 2005. Previously, he was mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991, and since 2005 he has chaired the board of governors of the Central Bank of Iceland.
- Össur Skarphéðinsson
Össur Skarphéðinsson is an Icelandic politician. Since May 24, 2007 he has been Minister of Industry of Iceland. He is a member of the parliament (Althing) and a former chairman of The Social Democratic Alliance in Iceland. He graduated with a Doctoral degree in physiology from the University of East Anglia in 1983. Skarphéðinsson is first parliament member of Reykjavík North Constituency since 2003. Skarphéðinsson has been noted for being a prominent blogger, …
- Halldór Ásgrímsson
Halldór Ásgrímsson (born September 8, 1947) was the 22nd Prime Minister of Iceland. The leader of the Progressive Party 1994-2006, he took over as Prime Minister on September 15, 2004, from the Independence Party leader, Davíð Oddsson, who had held the office for a record thirteen years. On June 5, 2006, following poor results in municipal elections, …
- Árni Magnússon
Árni Magnússon was an Icelandic scholar and collector of manuscripts. Also widely known by his Danish name Arne Magnussen, Árni was a professor at the University of Copenhagen for many years, where he devoted most of his life to collecting and documenting medieval Icelandic manuscripts. His collection is known as the Arnamagnæan Codex. He was depicted on the now obsolete 100 Icelandic króna banknote.
- Pétur Gunnarsson
Pétur Gunnarsson is an Icelandic writer born in Reykjavík on June 15, 1947. He received his Master's Degree in philosophy in a French university. He has therefore translated several French works. He also has written song lyrics, done plays, poetry, and screenwriting. Pétur Gunnarsson lives in Reykjavík with his wife Hrafnhildur Ragnarsdóttir. Their two sons are grown.
- Ásmundur Sveinsson
Ásmundur Sveinsson was an Icelandic sculptor, was born at Kolsstadir in West Iceland on May 20,1893 and died in Reykjavík on December 9, 1982.
- Arnaldur Indriðason
Arnaldur Indriðason is an Icelandic writer of crime fiction. He has repeatedly proved to be the most popular writer in Iceland in recent years - topping bestseller lists year after year. In the year 2004 his books were seven of the ten most popular titles borrowed in Reykjavík City Library. Arnaldur published his first book, "Synir duftsins" ('Sons of Dust') in 1997 and many believe that that publication marked the start of a new wave of Icelandic crime fiction.
- Gljúfrasteinn
Gljúfrasteinn is a house in Mosfellsdalur, east of Reykjavík, Iceland. It was the home of Halldór Kiljan Laxness, a 1955 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, for 53 years. He moved there in 1945 and lived there until his death in 1998. His family now runs a museum about Laxness and his life in the house.
- Ingólfur Arnarson
Ingólfur Arnarson is recognized as the first permanent Nordic settler of Iceland. In 874, Ingólfur built his homestead in Reykjavík. This marked the beginning of the age of settlement that lasted until 930. When Ingólfur's ship approached the unsettled land he ordered that his high seat pillars should to be thrown overboard and the spot where they landed would be the place to build the first permanent settlement of Iceland.
- Guðrún Helgadóttir
Guðrún Helgadóttir is a prominent writer of children's literature in Iceland. She was born in Hafnarfjörður on September 7, 1935. Her first book, "Jón Oddur og Jón Bjarni", appeared in 1974 when she worked at the National Health and Insurance Office. It concerned scheming twins and several more books in this series came out. In 1981 they became the basis for a film.
- Jóhann Jóhannsson
Jóhann Jóhannsson is an Icelandic-born musician, composer and producer. He also runs the record label Kitchen Motors in Reykjavík, the art organization/think tank/record label which specializes in instigating collaborations, promoting concerts and exhibitions, performances, chamber operas, producing films, books and radio shows based on the ideals of experimentation, collaboration and the search for new art forms. Jóhann founded the Apparat Organ Quartet in 1999, …
- Einar Örn Benediktsson
Einar Örn Benediktsson is a popular music singer and trumpet player from Iceland who has worked with Björk and The Sugarcubes. As a vocalist for The Sugarcubes, Einar was the subject of some controversy. Some critics scorned him for his bizarre spoken-word rants and discordant singing, which often overshadowed Björk's more popular vocalizations. Others, however, defended his contributions as an essential component of the group's free-spirited, chaotic ethos.
- Stefán Gíslason
Stefán Gíslason is an Icelandic football player currently with Brøndby IF of the Danish Superliga. Gíslason is a defensive midfielder. As a youngster he was on the roster of English giants Arsenal, but limited playing time saw him returning to Reykjavík on a loan deal. He later played for Strømsgodset, Grazer AK and Keflavík ÍF before joining Lyn in 2005. Gíslason immediately made an impression, and was eventually made vice captain.
- Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir is an Icelandic singer-songwriter and composer, as well as an occasional actress. She is best known for her expressive range and an interest in many kinds of music, including pop, alternative rock, jazz, ambient music, electronica, folk, and classical music. She has won numerous awards, and has received 12 Grammy Award nominations and an Academy Award nomination.
- Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir
Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir was the Mayor of Reykjavík. She was the mayor from November 30, 2004 to June 13, 2006. Steinunn is a member of The Social Democratic Alliance.
- Helgi Sigurðsson
Helgi Sigurðsson is an Icelandic football player. He currently plays his trade as a striker for Valur in the icelandic Landsbankadeild. He started his career at Víkingur and won the Icelandic championship with them in 1991. He then moved to Fram before signing for Stuttgart in Germany. In his career he has played in Iceland, Germany, Norway, Greece and Denmark. He signed for Danish club AGF in February 2004.
- Bjarni Ármannsson
Bjarni Ármannsson was appointed CEO of Glitnir, a leading financial group based in Iceland, in the year 2000. The group offers universal banking and defines Iceland and Norway as its home markets. He worked at the Kaupthing securities firm in 1991 to 1997, first in Asset Custody and then as CEO from the start of 1997. Later in 1997, Ármannsson was appointed the CEO of FBA (The Icelandic Investment Bank) when four government credit funds were merged.
- Olaf de Fleur
Olaf de Fleur is an Icelandic film director and producer. He studied physics in Reykjavík, graduating in 1995. Since then he has participated in many film projects, including both feature and documentary films. After working for two years for a production company, focusing primarily on TV documentaries, he founded the independent production company Poppoli Pictures.
- Kristján Eldjárn
Dr. Kristján Eldjárn was 3rd president of Iceland, from 1968 to 1980. His parents were Þórarinn Kr. Eldjárn, a teacher in Tjörn, and Sigrún Sigurhjartardóttir. He graduated in archaeology from the University of Copenhagen and taught at the University of Iceland. In 1957 he was awarded a doctorate for his research into pagan burials in Iceland. He was a teacher at the Akureyri Grammar School and the College of Navigation in Reykjavík, …
- Hannes Hafstein
Hannes Þórður Pétursson Hafstein was an Icelandic politician and poet. In 1904 he became the first Prime Minister of Iceland and the first Icelander to be appointed to the Danish Cabinet as the Minister for Iceland in the Cabinet of Deuntzer and was - unlike the previous Minister for Iceland Peter Adler Alberti - responsible to the Icelandic Althing. He was born on the farm Möðruvellir in Hörgárdalur valley, Iceland.
- Árni Mathiesen
Árni M. Mathiesen is an Icelandic politician. Since September 2005, he has been Minister of Finance in Iceland. From 1999-2005 he was Minister of Fisheries. Mathiesen was first elected MP to the Icelandic Althing for the Independence Party in 1991. Mathiesen was born in Reykjavík on October 2 1958 and is the son of former MP and cabinet minister Matthías Á. Mathiesen.
- Andri Snær Magnason
Andri Snær Magnason is an Icelandic writer. He has written novels, poetry, plays, short stories, essays and CD's. His work has been published or performed in more than 16 countries. His most recent work is the book Draumalandið, a highly praised work of non-fiction dealing with all sorts of issues in modern Iceland, mostly environmentalism but also e.g. the US Army being in the country, …
- Orri Páll Dýrason
"'Orri Páll Dýrason"(born in July the 4th 1977) is the drummer for Sigur Rós. He joined the band in 1999, shortly after the recording of the studio album "Ágætis byrjun", when the previous drummer, Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson, left the band. He married Lukka Sigurðardóttir in Hawaii in 2005. He has a daughter from a prior relationship, whose name is Vaka. The first track from the "[ ]" album was named after her. Orri and Lukka live in the outskirts of Mosfellsbær, …
- Sveinn Björnsson
Sveinn Björnsson (27 February 1881 - 25 January 1952), son of Björn Jónsson (editor and later minister) and Elísabet Sveinsdóttir, was the first president of the Republic of Iceland. He became a member of Reykjavík town council in 1912 and was its president in 1918-1920. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he was a member of the Althing in 1914-1916 and 1920, …
- Tómas Guðmundsson
Tómas Guðmundsson was an Icelandic author. He was known as Reykjavík's poet "(Reykjavíkurskáldið, skáld Reykjavíkur)". Tómas's parents were Steinunn Þorsteinsdóttir and Guðmundur Ögmundsson, living at Efri-Brú in Grímsnes. He soon got in touch with literature and poetry. He read Icelandic sagas, Jónas Hallgrímsson's poems and more. He also started to write his own poetry at a young age.
- Þórhallur Gunnarsson
Þórhallur Gunnarsson is an Icelandic actor and television personality. Þórhallur has a B.A. degree in acting from the Iceland Academy of the Arts and an M.A. degree in television journalism from Goldsmiths College, University of London. He was employed on a permanent basis at Borgarleikhúsið theater in Reykjavík from 1996-2000 and has worked for RÚV radio, and the Icelandic television channels Sjónvarpið, Skjár einn, …
- Hallgrímur Pétursson
Hallgrímur Pétursson was one of Iceland's most famous poets and a priest at Hvalneskirkja and Saurbær in Hvalfjörður. The Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík and the Hallgrímskirkja in Saurbær are named after him. He was one of the most influential pastors during the Age of Orthodoxy (1580-1713). Because of his contributions to Lutheran hymnody, he is sometimes called the Icelandic Paul Gerhardt.
- Atli Heimir Sveinsson
Atli Heimir Sveinsson is a famous Icelandic composer. Sveinsson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland and started piano lessons at the age of 10. He studied piano with Rögnvaldur Sigurjonsson at the Reykjavík College of Music and took his diploma in 1957. He went on to study at the State Academy in Cologne, Germany, from 1959, studying composition with Günter Raphael and Rudolf Petzold, instrumentation with Bernd Alois Zimmermann, …
- Árni Sigfússon
Árni Sigfússon is the mayor of the town of Reykjanesbaer, Iceland (Keflavík, Njarðvík and Hafnir). He stepped in as a mayor in Reykjavík for a few months for his party in 1994. He was on the board of Heimdallur from 1976 to 1979 and was its chairman from 1981 to 1983. He then later became the chairman of SUS.
- Wolfgang Müller
Wolfgang Müller is a German artist, musician and writer, based in Berlin, Germany and Reykjavík, Iceland. Müller is the founder of the Berlin based multi-media performance art group Die Tödliche Doris ('The Deadly Doris'). The group was active for seven years, between 1980 and 1987. Wolfgang Müller published the book Geniale Dilletanten in 1982, naming a musical genre encompassing Die Tödliche Doris, Einstürzende Neubauten, Sprung Aus Den Wolken and many others.
- Helgi Ólafsson
Helgi Ólafsson is a chess grandmaster, one of a group of young Icelandic grandmasters that emerged after the World Chess Championship 1972 between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, dubbed the Match of the Century, was held in Reykjavík. Helgi Ólafsson became grandmaster in 1985 and has won the Icelandic Chess Championship six times.
- Megas
Megas (born April 7, 1945 in Reykjavík, Iceland), is a renowned rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer.
- Sjón
Sjón is the pen name of Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson. His pen name is formed from his given name (Sigurjón), and means 'Vision'. Sjón is an Icelandic author and a poet. He was awarded the The Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 2005 for the novel "Skugga-Baldur" ('Shadow Fox'), but is perhaps best known in the English speaking world for writing some of Björk's lyrics.
- Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson
Hjörtur Jónas Guðmundsson is the director of Heimssýn, an Icelandic organization opposed to the entry of Iceland into the European Union. Hjörtur is a founding member of Heimssýn (founded in 2002). He has been a board member of the organisation since 2004 and was a board member of TEAM, the European alliance of EU-critical movements, on behalf of Heimssýn 2005-2006. A substitute member since 2006.
- Þórólfur Árnason
- Selma Björnsdóttir
Selma Björnsdóttir, also known as simply Selma, is an Icelandic singer born in Reykjavík, best known internationally for representing her country in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her first Eurovision experience occurred when she took her highly-fancied entry "All Out of Luck" to the 1999 contest in Jerusalem, placing Iceland in the unaccustomed position of being the pre-contest favourites with many bookmakers.