He started his career with the theatre in 1906, with a long theater career in various Norwegian theaters, along with guest appearances in Copenhagen. He debuted in film in 1914 in a Swedish-made silent film. The following year he came to Nordisk Film in Denmark, replacing Valdemar Psilander as the company"s main star.
He had lead or co-starred in a totla of 27 Danish silent films.
Tolnæs"s film credits, all silent films, include:
Children of the Streets (1914)
One of the Many (1915)
Himmelskibet (also known as A Trip To Mars) (1918)
Sex in Chains (1928)
He died in Oslo at age sixty and is buried with his family at Vestre gravlund.