The Outrageous Rocky Twins (1927–1937) At just 18 years old, Paal and Leif were "discovered" and booked at the
Casino de Paris for the 1927 revue
Les Ailes de Paris. Their most controversial and popular routine involved dressing in elaborate drag to parody the
Dolly Sisters. Their impersonation was so convincing and "disturbingly beautiful" that they became the talk of the Parisian nightlife. They became the Jazz Age Icons. They were nicknamed "The Black Orchids of the North". Throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, they headlined at the
Folies Bergère, the
Lido, and toured
Vienna,
Berlin, and
Scandinavia. In 1932, director
Edmund Goulding cast them in the MGM film
Blondie of the Follies. Their pirate-themed dance sequence with
Marion Davies remains their most famous filmed performance. During this time, they were staples of the Hollywood social circuit, frequently staying at
Hearst Castle and socializing with
Charlie Chaplin,
Tallulah Bankhead, and
William Haines.
Solo Career and German Cinema (1938–1940) By 1937, the twins decided to pursue separate paths. Paal moved to
Berlin, where his "Nordic" looks and dance training allowed him to transition into the German film industry. In 1938, he starred in the major musical revue film
The Stars Shine. Billed as Paul Roschberg, he performed as a lead dancer ("Der Tänzer") alongside the exotic star
La Jana. He briefly returned to the
U.S. in 1940, attempting to secure work at
RKO Pictures, but as the political climate shifted and the
Jazz Age aesthetic faded, the demand for his specific style of performance declined.
Military Service With the outbreak of
World War II, Paal abandoned his stage career to serve his
country and the Allied cause. His service was notable for its length and variety He joined Royal Norwegian Air Force and he served for three years, initially training in
Canada at "Little Norway". In 1944, he transferred to the American forces, serving for an additional year. He served with the occupational troops in
Frankfurt,
Germany, for six months following the war's end. For his multi-year commitment, he was awarded several service medals by both the Norwegian and U.S. governments.
Screenwriting and acting in Norway Cinema (1950–1955) In the 1950s, Paal returned to Norway and established himself as a versatile creator in the national film industry under the name
Paal Rocky. He became a prolific contributor to Norwegian cinema in the early 1950s, often acting in the films he helped write. In his later years, he became a writer in
Oslo, penning a screenplay titled
The Twins and various articles about his life in the spotlight. He was a key figure in the popular post-war "marriage comedy" genre, acting in films
Vi vil skilles (1952),
Det kunne vært deg (1952), and
Portrettet (1954). He balanced performing with literary contributions, writing the screenplay and original story for
Brudebuketten (1953) and co-writing the cultural hit
Troll i ord (1954). His career was abruptly halted when he was found dead in
New York City on March 21, 1955, at the age of 46. == Personal life ==