Knutsen was born in
Langenes Municipality to Ole and Unni Knudsen. He was elected representative to the
Storting for
Nordland for the period 1985–1989 for the
Labour Party. He was a member of the
municipal council of
Øksnes Municipality from 1955 to 1987 (serving as mayor from 1967 to 1973) and 1991 to 1999 (again serving as mayor) and of
Nordland county council from 1967 to 1979. He was awarded the
King's Medal of Merit in 2000. Knutsen died on 14 February 2021, four days short of his 89th birthday. ==References==