Ousdal was born in Flekkefjord, Norway on 18 July 1944.

He made his debut in 1965 at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen. He worked at the Oslo Nye Teater between 1967 and 1970, and is since 1970 part of Norway's National Theatre ensemble.^[1]

He has had major roles in several TV-series like Grenseland (1980), Blodsbånd (1998, for which he was awarded an Amanda), Familjen (Swedish) and Deadline Torp (2005). He also received the Amanda Award in 1990 for his part in the NRK play Kreditorer.^{[citation needed]} In 1997 he was made a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav for his acting work.^[1]

Ousdal has had a number of major roles in Norwegian and Swedish films, including Karjolsteinen (1977), Orion's Belt (1985),^[1] Falsk som vatten (1985), Etter Rubicon (1987), and Insomnia. He has also appeared in US 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.

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.^[1]

• Sverre Anker Ousdal at IMDb