Thor Knai was born Torbjorn Knai 22nd of June 1984 in Tromso, Norway. His father was in the Royal Norwegian Air Force and his mother an entrepreneur. At 15, his mother found the casting call for a mini-series (Ansur, 1999). He later starred in a high school cabarets, where his ensemble won "Best High School Cabaret" in 2001. Thor graduated Nesbru High School with an International Baccalaureate Diploma, spring 2003, with the highest amount of extra curricular activity hours, mainly from acting related endeavors. Thor went on to join the Royal Norwegian Army for a mandatory year. He became Squad leader in a Storm-Cavalry unit (mechanized infantry unit) and signed up to take part in the NATO, ISAF-7 mission in Kabul, Afghanistan as a Combat Medic. After completing the tour of duty he went on to study acting at the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. During his brief stay in Norway before leaving for LA, Thor got a part in the Norwegian reality show "Filmstjerne" (Moviestar). He was eventually voted off the show just in time to make his planned departure to Hollywood. He graduated the NYFA-program spring '06. Thor has since been granted permanent residency on the basis of "exceptional ability" and continues to live and work in Los Angeles, California.