He was trained as an artist at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry under Eivind Nielsen and Per Krohg 1933–34.

Over a seven year period, he was employed as a designer and decorator at the advertising firm Høydahl Ohme A/S.

His breakthrough was on the nationally broadcast children's radio show Barnetimen for de minste in the beginning of the 1950s.

[3] Thorbjørn Egner received the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1972 and Cappelenprisen in 1979.

[4][5] In 1937, Thorbjørn Egner married Annie Eliassen (born in 1912 in Oslo).