Haugen was theater manager at Oslo Nye Teater from 1985 to 1988.

He was the son of Trygve Haugen (1897–1943) and his wife Hjørdis Wissestad (1904–60).

In 1959, he played the lead role in the movie Støv på hjernen (Dust on the Brain).

Haugen also worked as director of Oslo Nye Teater from 1985 until 1989.

[3] With his wife, actress Sissel Sellæg (1928–2014), he had a son Kim Haugen (born 1958), who also became an actor.