His father, Olaf Skavlan, was writer, literary historian and professor.
He was also father of actress and theatre director Merete Skavlan.
Skavlan was a journalist for Verdens Gang from 1907, and for Tidens Tegn from 1910.
He was editor-in-chief for Dagbladet from 1915 to 1954, except for his period as director for the National Theatre from 1928 to 1930.
[2] From 1 April 1942 to 19 October 1943 while he was serving as the editor-in-chief of Dagbladet he was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp.