Finnish actors born in 1961
Here are 12 famous actors from Finland were born in 1961:
Taisto Reimaluoto
Taisto Reimaluoto (September 28, 1961 Helsinki-) otherwise known as Taisto Ilmari Reimaluoto is a Finnish actor.
He graduated from the Theatre Academy of Helsinki in 1985 and began his career as a stage actor. Reimaluoto is known for his roles in Finnish movies such as "The Man Without a Past" (2002), "Lovers and Leavers" (2002), and "Frozen Land" (2005). He has also had roles in international productions such as "Mindhunters" (2004) and "Occupation 101" (2006). Reimaluoto has won numerous awards for his acting, including a Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Frozen Land" and a Swedish Guldbagge Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Pure". In addition to his work in film, Reimaluoto has also directed and acted in theatre productions in Finland.
Jussi Lampi
Jussi Lampi (February 9, 1961 Lappajärvi-) also known as Lampi, Jussi is a Finnish actor and musician. He has one child, Mandi Lampi.
Lampi began his career in the 1980s as the lead vocalist for the Finnish rock band Yö. The band went on to become one of the most successful in Finnish music history, releasing numerous hit singles and albums throughout the decade. In addition to his work in music, Lampi has also had a successful career in film and television. He has appeared in a number of popular Finnish films, including "Täältä tullaan, elämä!" and "Puolustusvoimat", among others. In recent years, Lampi has also become known for his work as a voice actor, lending his distinctive voice to a number of animated films and television series. Despite his success, Lampi has faced personal struggles over the years, including battles with addiction and health issues.
Marko Röhr
Marko Röhr (December 2, 1961 Helsinki-) a.k.a. Marko Röhr Edward is a Finnish film producer and actor.
Röhr is best known for his work as a producer on the critically acclaimed Finnish films "Kaurismaki's Hamlet Goes Business" (1987) and "Moomin" (1990). He has also acted in several films and TV series throughout his career. In addition to his work in the film industry, Röhr is also a successful entrepreneur and has founded several companies in the media and entertainment sectors. He has won numerous awards for his contributions to Finnish cinema, including a Jussi Award for Best Film in 2009 for "Letters to Father Jacob". Röhr is an advocate for the protection of the environment and regularly donates to charitable causes.
Heikki Kujanpää
Heikki Kujanpää (September 1, 1961 Lieksa-) is a Finnish actor, film director, television director and screenwriter.
Heikki Kujanpää began his career as an actor in the 1980s, appearing in various theater productions and television shows. He later shifted to directing and screenwriting, and has since directed numerous films and television series in Finland. He is known for his work on the popular Finnish crime drama, "Bordertown", which he co-created and directed. Kujanpää has received critical acclaim for his work and has been nominated for several awards, including Best Director at the Jussi Awards. Outside of his work in film and television, Kujanpää is also a member of the Finnish Association of Directors and Screenwriters.
Pertti Koivula
Pertti Koivula (April 17, 1961 Ranua-) also known as Pertsa Koivula or Mr. Matti Koivula is a Finnish actor and singer.
Pertti Koivula first rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead singer of the Finnish rock band, Agentti 117. He later transitioned to acting, appearing in several popular Finnish films, television shows, and stage productions. Koivula is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Sergeant Liukkonen in the long-running Finnish crime drama, "Vares". In addition to his acting career, Koivula has also released several solo albums and has toured extensively throughout Finland. He is known for his deep, distinctive voice and his ability to perform a wide range of musical styles, including rock, pop, and traditional Finnish folk music.
Ville Virtanen
Ville Virtanen (August 19, 1961 Espoo-) is a Finnish screenwriter, television director, actor and film director. He has three children, Sinna Virtanen, Daniel Virtanen and Valdemar Virtanen.
Virtanen is best known for his work in the Finnish television series "Bordertown" (Sorjonen in Finnish), which he co-created, wrote and directed. The series, which follows a brilliant but socially awkward detective solving crimes in a small Finnish town, has gained international recognition and was picked up by Netflix for distribution in multiple countries.
Virtanen has also directed several Finnish films, including "Frozen Land" (Paha maa), which won the Jussi Award for Best Film in 2006, and "Naked Harbour" (Vuosaari), which won the Nordic Council Film Prize in 2013.
In addition to his work in film and television, Virtanen has appeared in several Finnish films and TV shows as an actor. He also had a recurring role in the international television series "The Spiral," which aired on Channel 4 in the UK.
Virtanen's contributions to the Finnish film and television industry have earned him numerous nominations and awards, including multiple Jussi Awards and the Pro Finlandia Medal in 2017.
Jarmo Savolainen
Jarmo Savolainen (May 24, 1961 Iisalmi-June 11, 2009 Helsinki) was a Finnish composer, musician, jazz pianist and actor.
Savolainen began playing piano at a young age and went on to study music at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He rose to prominence in the Finnish jazz scene in the 1980s and was known for his virtuosic piano playing and innovative compositions.
In addition to his musical career, Savolainen also worked as an actor, appearing in several Finnish films and television shows. He was also a member of the Finnish parliament, representing the Green League from 1999 until his untimely death in 2009.
Throughout his career, Savolainen recorded numerous albums and collaborations, including a highly acclaimed trio with bassist Ulf Krokfors and drummer Reino Laine. He was a highly respected figure in the Finnish music community and is remembered as one of the country's greatest jazz musicians.
Puntti Valtonen
Puntti Valtonen (September 23, 1961 Kemi-) also known as Valtonen, Puntti, Hannu Valtonen or Hannu Veli Matti Valtonen is a Finnish actor, guitarist and singer.
He rose to fame as a member of the popular Finnish rock band Eppu Normaali, where he played lead guitar and sang backing vocals. Valtonen was with the band from its inception in 1976 until 1997 when he decided to pursue a solo career.
Apart from his music career, Valtonen has also acted in several Finnish films, TV series and theater productions. He made his debut as an actor in the film "Punainen viiva" in 1979 and has since appeared in numerous films including "Kalteva torni" in 1982 and "Niskavuoren leipä" in 2013.
In addition to his acting and music, Valtonen has also worked as a radio host and television presenter. He has hosted several radio programs and was a presenter on the Finnish version of the music competition show "The Voice" in 2012.
Valtonen is known for his distinctive voice and stage presence, and his contributions to Finnish music and culture have made him a beloved figure in his home country.
Kimmo Rajala
Kimmo Rajala (May 26, 1961 Finland-) is a Finnish stunt performer, actor and stunt coordinator.
He has been involved in over 200 film and television productions, including blockbuster movies such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and The Chronicles of Narnia. Rajala began his career as a stunt performer in the early 1990s and quickly made a name for himself in the industry. He was later given the opportunity to work as a stunt coordinator for various productions, where he was responsible for overseeing the safety of the cast and crew during filming of high-risk action scenes. Rajala is known for his ability to perform complex stunts, especially involving horses and water, and has won several awards for his work in the industry. Outside of his work in film and television, Rajala also runs his own stunt training academy, where he teaches aspiring stunt performers the skills they need to succeed in the industry.
Jari Pehkonen
Jari Pehkonen (June 26, 1961 Outokumpu, Finland-) also known as Jari Olavi Pehkonen is a Finnish actor.
Jari Pehkonen has had a successful acting career in both Finland and in other parts of Europe. He graduated from the Finnish Theatre Academy in 1988 and has been actively involved in theater, film, and television ever since. Some of his notable performances include the role of Valdemar Melkko in the Finnish television series "Kohtalon kirja", and the role of Vennamo in the film "Talvisota". In addition to his acting career, Pehkonen has also worked as a theater director and continues to be involved in various artistic projects in Finland.
Jouko Klemettilä
Jouko Klemettilä (March 3, 1961 Rauma-) a.k.a. Jouko Antero Klemettilä is a Finnish actor.
He graduated from the Theatre Academy of Finland in 1986 and has since appeared in numerous stage productions in Finland. Klemettilä is also notable for his appearances on Finnish television, where he has appeared in popular shows such as "Pako", "Bordertown", and "Deadwind". In addition to acting, Klemettilä has also worked as a voice actor, providing the Finnish voice for characters in various animated films and television shows. Outside of his professional life, Klemettilä is known for his activism on behalf of the Finnish deaf community, for which he was awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland in 2019.
Joel Elstelä
Joel Elstelä (December 25, 1961 Helsinki-) a.k.a. Joel Tapani Elstelä is a Finnish actor.
He graduated from the Theatre Academy of Finland in 1987 and began his acting career in the theatre. Elstelä has performed in numerous stage productions and has also acted in Finnish films and television series. He is best known for his roles in the hit TV series "Salatut elämät" (Secret Lives) and "Kummeli", as well as the films "Kauriinmetsästäjät" (The Reindeer Hunters) and "Kulman pojat" (Boys from the Corner). In addition to his acting work, Elstelä has also directed and written several plays and short films. Outside of his career in the entertainment industry, he is known for his passion for sailing and has competed in several regattas.