Career
Ousdal made his debut in 1965 at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen. He worked at the Oslo Nye Teater between 1967 to 1970, and is since 1970 part of Norway"s National Theatre ensemble. He has had major roles in several television-series like, BlodsbÄnd (1998, for which he was awarded an Amanda), Familjen (Swedish) and
He also received the Amanda Award in 1990 for his part in the Norsk Rikskringkasting play Kreditorer.
In 1997 he was made a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Street Olav for his acting work. Ousdal has had a number of major roles in Norwegian and Swedish films, including, Falsk som vatten (1985),, Insomnia.
He has also appeared in United States films like The Island at the Top of the World (1974) and in several British productions, most notably the serial The Last Place on Earth (1985), where he starred as polar explorer Roald Amundsen. He is the father of actor Mads Ousdal.
Ousdal was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, and lost most of his eyesight due to a mistake made by surgeons during an operation to remove a tumour.
He retired as an actor in November 2013, after playing the title role in a production of King Lear at the National Theatre in Oslo.