Matti Pellonpää
Encyclopedia
Matti Pellonpää was an award-winning Finnish
actor and a musician. He rose to international fame with his roles in both Aki Kaurismäki
's and Mika Kaurismäki
's films; particularly being a regular in Aki's films, appearing in 18 of them.
He started his career in 1962 as a radio actor at the Finnish state-owned broadcasting company YLE. He performed as an actor during the 70s in many amateur theatres, at the same time that he studied at the Finnish Theatre Academy, where he completed his studies in the year 1977.
He was nominated Best Actor by European Film Academy for his role as Rodolfo in La Vie de Boheme and won the Felix
at the European Film Awards in 1992. He also starred in Jim Jarmusch's
1991 film Night on Earth.
His private life melded seamlessly with his acting work. He was considered a natural bohemian, and a genuine everyman without ego. He frequently used his own life as a basis for his acting, eschewing wardrobe provided, acting in his own clothes. He had a tattoo of Snoopy
on his left bicep.
Pellonpää was the frontman for the band Peltsix (1989–1995). Peltsix gained cult following with its tragic, and at the same time, comic songs. Peltsix's songs were composed by Pale Saarinen, Kari Makkonen and Jukka Haikonen.
Matti Pellonpää died of a heart attack on 13 July 1995 at the age of 44.
In 1996, Pellonpää was one of the people commemorating 100 years of Finnish Cinema on a stamp
.
A Finnish documentary film Boheemi elää/Bohemian Eyes on Pellonpää's life was made in 2011 (directed by Janne Kuusi
).
Albums
Book
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
actor and a musician. He rose to international fame with his roles in both Aki Kaurismäki
Aki Kaurismäki
-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
's and Mika Kaurismäki
Mika Kaurismäki
Mika Juhani Kaurismäki is a Finnish film director.He is the elder brother of Aki Kaurismäki, and the father of Maria Kaurismäki who graduated from Tampere School of Art and Media in 2008 with her movie Sideline.Mika Kaurismäki has lived in Brazil since approximately 1992 and has made several...
's films; particularly being a regular in Aki's films, appearing in 18 of them.
He started his career in 1962 as a radio actor at the Finnish state-owned broadcasting company YLE. He performed as an actor during the 70s in many amateur theatres, at the same time that he studied at the Finnish Theatre Academy, where he completed his studies in the year 1977.
He was nominated Best Actor by European Film Academy for his role as Rodolfo in La Vie de Boheme and won the Felix
Félix Award
The Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
at the European Film Awards in 1992. He also starred in Jim Jarmusch's
Jim Jarmusch
James R. "Jim" Jarmusch is an American independent film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, editor and composer. Jarmusch has been a major proponent of independent cinema, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
1991 film Night on Earth.
His private life melded seamlessly with his acting work. He was considered a natural bohemian, and a genuine everyman without ego. He frequently used his own life as a basis for his acting, eschewing wardrobe provided, acting in his own clothes. He had a tattoo of Snoopy
Snoopy
Snoopy is an fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet beagle. Snoopy began his life in the strip as a fairly conventional dog, but eventually evolved into perhaps the strip's most dynamic character—and among the most recognizable...
on his left bicep.
Pellonpää was the frontman for the band Peltsix (1989–1995). Peltsix gained cult following with its tragic, and at the same time, comic songs. Peltsix's songs were composed by Pale Saarinen, Kari Makkonen and Jukka Haikonen.
Matti Pellonpää died of a heart attack on 13 July 1995 at the age of 44.
In 1996, Pellonpää was one of the people commemorating 100 years of Finnish Cinema on a stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
.
A Finnish documentary film Boheemi elää/Bohemian Eyes on Pellonpää's life was made in 2011 (directed by Janne Kuusi
Janne Kuusi
Janne Kuusi is a Finnish television and film director, screenwriter, producer and occasional actor.-Career:...
).
Filmography
- Pojat (1962), director Mikko Niskanen
- Akseli ja Elina (1970), director Edvin Laine
- Kesän maku (1975), director Asko Tolonen
- Antti Puuhaara (1976), director Katariina Lahti, Heikki Partanen ja Riitta Rautoma
- Viimeinen savotta (1977), director Edvin Laine
- Ruskan jälkeen (1979), director Edvin Laine
- Valehtelija (1981), director Mika Kaurismäki
- Pedon merkki (1981), director Jaakko Pakkasvirta
- Jackpot2 (1982), director Mika Kaurismäki
- Arvottomat (1982), director Mika Kaurismäki
- Regina ja miehet (1983), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Huhtikuu on kuukausista julmin (1983), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Crime and Punishment (1983), director Aki Kaurismäki
- Klaani - Tarina Sammakoitten suvusta (1984), director Mika Kaurismäki
- Kello (1984), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Aikalainen (1984), director Timo Linnasalo
- Rakkauselokuva (1984), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Viimeiset rotannahat (1985), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Calamari UnionCalamari UnionCalamari Union is the second full-length film by director Aki Kaurismäki, 1984.-Plot:Calamari Union is an allegorical movie that tells the story of sixteen men all of whom are called Frank apart from a single confrere, Pekka...
(1985), director Aki Kaurismäki - Ylösnousemus (1985), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Shadows in ParadiseShadows in ParadiseShadows in Paradise is a 1986 Finnish black comedy romantic comedy film written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki. The film stars Kati Outinen as Ilona and Matti Pellonpää as Nikander. Ilona is a supermarket check-out clerk who meets Nikander, a lonely garbage man, and they develop romantic feelings...
(1986), director Aki Kaurismäki - Rocky VIRocky VI (1986 film)Rocky VI is a 1986 nine-minute black-and-white short parody of Rocky IV by Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki. The film stars Antti Juhani "Silu" Seppälä as Rocky and Sakari Kuosmanen as Igor, his Soviet opponent. In the film, the two boxers fight at Töölön kisahalli in Helsinki...
(1986), director Aki Kaurismäki - Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan (1986), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Näkemiin, hyvästi (1986), director Anssi Mänttäri
- Hamlet liikemaailmassaHamlet Goes BusinessHamlet Goes Business is a 1987 comedy film directed by Aki Kaurismäki and starring Pirkka-Pekka Petelius.-Cast:* Pirkka-Pekka Petelius - Hamlet* Esko Salminen - Klaus* Kati Outinen - Ofelia* Elina Salo - Gertrud* Esko Nikkari - Polonius...
(1987), director Aki Kaurismäki - ArielAriel (film)Ariel is a Finnish 1988 film directed and written by Aki Kaurismäki. The movie tells the story of Taisto Kasurinen, a Finnish coal miner who must find a way to live in the big city now that the coal mine has closed....
(1988), director Aki Kaurismäki - Cha cha cha (1989), director Mika Kaurismäki
- Leningrad Cowboys Go AmericaLeningrad Cowboys Go AmericaLeningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band that travels to the United States to become famous...
(1989), director Aki Kaurismäki - Kiljusen herrasväen uudet seikkailut (1990), director Matti Kuortti
- Räpsy ja Dolly (1990), director Matti Ijäs
- Zombie ja kummitusjuna (1991), director Mika Kaurismäki
- Night on Earth (1991), director Jim Jarmusch
- Kadunlakaisijat (1991), director Olli Soinio
- La Vie de BohèmeLa Vie de Bohème (film)La Vie de Bohème is a 1992 film directed by Aki Kaurismäki and starring Matti Pellonpää, Evelyne Didi and André Wilms. Kaurismäki's screenplay for the film was based on Henri Murger's influential novel Scènes de la Vie de Bohème which has spawned several on-screen adaptations as well as plays and...
(1992), director Aki Kaurismäki - Missä on Musette? (1992), director Veikko Nieminen
- Papukaijamies (1992), director Veikko Nieminen
- Det var väl själva fan också (1993), director Peter Östlund
- The Last Border (1993), director Mika Kaurismäki
- Leningrad Cowboys Meet MosesLeningrad Cowboys Meet MosesLeningrad Cowboys Meet Moses is a 1994 film directed by Aki Kaurismäki. It is a sequel to the popular 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America that introduced the fictional Russian rock band Leningrad Cowboys which, subsequently, became a notable real life rock band in Finland.-Plot:Picking up where...
(1993), director Aki Kaurismäki - Take Care of Your Scarf, TatianaTake Care of Your Scarf, TatianaTake Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana , also translated as Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana, is a 1994 Finnish/German film directed, produced and co-written by Aki Kaurismäki...
(1993), director Aki Kaurismäki - Iron Horsemen (1995), director Gilles Charmant
- Sirpaleita (1996), director Aku Louhimies
Albums
- Peltsix / Lihaa Ja Leikkeleitä (Megamania Music, 1991)
- Peltsix / Silkkaa Kryptoniittia (Flamingo Music, 1993)
Book
- Lähikuvassa Matti Pellonpää (Lauri Timonen, Otava 2009)