On the international stage, he is known for his appearances in Lady Dynamite, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Ólafur was born to Icelandic parents in Connecticut, United States, where his father studied medicine.

[6] Ólafur is best known internationally for his role as Andri, the chief of police in the small town of Seyðisfjörður in the east of Iceland, in the series Trapped.

[4] In June 2016, Ólafur lip synced in the music video for Winter Sound by the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men.

[8] He is also an Icelandic dubber and has provided the voices of various characters in animated films, such as Ice Age, Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, and Kung Fu Panda, among others.