Advanced search

Finnish-American actress and dancer Taina Elisabeth Elg was born in 1930 in Helsinki but later her family moved and lived in and around Finland, including Turku. Taina's mother was a Russian immigrant, pianist Helena Doroumova, and her father was pianist Åke Elg (a.k.a. Åke Ludwig). Her home later became a target during the Finnish-Soviet wars between 1939 and 1944 and when it became part of the Soviet Union, the family was forced to leave. After WWII they evacuated from Viipuri and returned to Helsinki.

At a very young age Taina trained in both ballet and acting. When the family returned to Helsinki, Taina continued with her dance and acting training and eventually she was invited to join the Finnish National Ballet. She appeared in a few homeland movies as early as age 10 and found a couple of obscure film roles as a teenager, one in which she danced. Her international reputation began to grow when she joined the famed Sadler's Wells ballet dance company (The Royal Ballet) in London and then the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas, in Paris. A serious injury forced her to rethink her dancing career.

Fortunately, Elg was discovered in London by American film producer Edwin H. Knopf and, on the heels of the spectacular Hollywood success fellow Scandinavian Anita Ekberg was having, MGM decided to sign Elg to a customary seven-year Hollywood contract. She made her American debut for MGM with the secondary role of Elissa in the Lana Turner biblical costumer Le fils prodigue (1955). The following year MGM utilized her acting talents in their films Diane de Poitiers (1956), again starring Turner, and Gaby (1956) with Leslie Caron.

For the aforementioned work she was honored with a Golden Globe award for female "foreign newcomer". She was subsequently handed her best all-around opportunity by MGM to display her sublime dancing, sexy figure and comedic acting skills when asked to portray Angèle Ducros in Cole Porter's musical Les Girls (1957) opposite Gene Kelly and alongside fellow dazzlers Mitzi Gaynor and Kay Kendall. Receiving her second consecutive Golden Globe (tying with Kendall) for "Best Actress" in a musical, Les Girls (1957) also won the Golden Globe for "Best Picture - Musical" and an Oscar for its costume design.

More films came her way with Le général casse-cou (1958) starring Glenn Ford and Red Buttons; the remake of the classic Les 39 marches (1959) opposite Kenneth More; the African adventure Watusi (1959) with George Montgomery and David Farrar and the war story Mission of Danger (1960), which was actually culled from a few TV episodes. None, however, could match the quality of Les Girls (1957). Elg's Hollywood film career went into a steep decline at this juncture and she began focusing on TV projects, foreign films and especially theatre roles. Appearing on stage in such 1960s productions as "Redhead," "Silk Stockings", "Irma La Douce", "West Side Story", "The Sound of Music", and "There's a Girl in My Soup", she finally made her Broadway debut with the musical "Look to the Lilies" in 1970, which was based on the Oscar-winning film Les Lys des champs (1963). She never found a strong footing again in films and has appeared in less than a handful since. Other than the 1961 Italian spectacle Les bacchantes (1961), she showed up in the musclebound Arnold Schwarzenegger's vehicle Hercule à New York (1970), Traumatismes (1991), and the Barbra Streisand feature Leçons de séduction (1996).

Her love for the stage was obvious and she remained as colorful than ever gracing such musicals as Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" (1973) in which she sang the haunting "Send in the Clowns." She also returned to Broadway in later years with the musicals "Where's Charley?", for which she earned a Tony nomination, "Nine" and "Cabaret". She appeared in the national tour of the musical "Titanic" in 1998-1999. On the non-musical stage she had strong roles in "Uncle Vanya", "I Hate Hamlet", "O Pioneers!", and, more recently, "Requiem for William" and Memory of a Summer" (both 2003).

In 2004, the actress received a special honor from her native Finland, when she was knight by the Order of the Lion of Finland. She is a naturalized American citizen. Jazz guitarist Raoul Björkenheim is Taina's son from her first marriage (1953-1958) to Carl "Poku" Björkenheim. In 1985, she married Rocco Caporale, an Italian educator and professor of sociology. The couple lived in New York City until his death in 2008.

Matti Pellonpää was born on 28 March 1951 in Helsinki, Finland. He was an actor and writer, known for Night on Earth (1991), La vie de bohème (1992) and Räpsy et Dolly (1990). He died on 13 July 1995 in Vaasa, Finland.

Tove Jansson was born on 9 August 1914 in Helsinki, Finland. She was a writer and cinematographer, known for Moominvalley (2019), The Summer Book (2024) and Mûmin (1969). She died on 27 June 2001 in Helsinki, Finland.

Åke Lindman was a very skilled football player and played in the Finnish national team, he was offered a contract by the English Premier League team Swindon in the 60s but he turned it down and chose to become an actor.

Vesa-Matti Loiri created a significant career in Finland as an actor, singer, writer and sportsman.

Loiri's career in movies started in 1962. He had a leading role in Mikko Niskanen's film Pojat (1962), which brought him a Diplomat of Merit at the Jussi Awards (the Finnish Oscars). After the film he didn't return to films until the late 1960s, playing mainly comedy roles.

In the 1970s, his films were often the highest grossing films of the year and he became "the only Finnish film star", as Academy Award winner Jörn Donner said. Loiri mostly worked with Spede Pasanen who wrote and produced most of Loiri's biggest films. Loiri's portrayal of Uuno Turhapuro, a lazy married man, in Spede show (1968), was the start of the longest running film series in the history of Finnish cinema. He starred as Uuno Turhapuro in 19 successful movies.

Loiri became also a star as a singer in the late 1970s. His album "Eino Leino", songs based on poems by Eino Leino, was released in 1978 and it became the 2nd highest selling album in the history. Loiri recorded several albums, most earning Gold or Platinum awards.

He won several awards for his work in films, TV and music business. In Brussels, at the Festival International du Film Indépendent, in 2003, he was awarded for his role in Pahat pojat (2003). He also won two Jussi Awards for his acting roles plus three special Jussi Awards and several Telvis Awards for his TV work. In music, 10 of his albums won Gold or Platinum.

Kikka was born on 26 October 1964 in Tampere, Finland. She died on 3 December 2005 in Tampere, Finland.

Tony Halme was born on 6 January 1963 in Helsinki, Finland. He was an actor, known for Une journée en enfer (1995), Shadow Warriors (1995) and American Tigers (1996). He was married to Katja Talus. He died on 8 January 2010 in Helsinki, Finland.

Antti Litja was born on 21 February 1938 in Antrea, Finland. He was an actor, known for Mielensäpahoittaja (2014), Mies, joka ei osannut sanoa EI (1975) and L'année du lièvre (1977). He was married to Leila Litja. He died on 13 July 2022 in Helsinki, Finland.

Joel Rinne was born on 6 June 1897 in Asikkala, Finland. He was an actor, known for Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu. (1962), Kaasua, komisario Palmu! (1961) and Kalle-Kustaa Korkin seikkailut (1949). He was married to Saga Rikberg and Rosi Rinne. He died on 3 December 1981 in Helsinki, Finland.

Markku Peltola was born on 12 July 1956 in Helsinki, Finland. He was an actor and composer, known for L'homme sans passé (2002), Vares - yksityisetsivä (2004) and V2 - Jäätynyt enkeli (2007). He died on 31 December 2007 in Kangasala, Finland.

Spede Pasanen was born on 10 April 1930 in Kuopio, Finland. He was a producer and writer, known for Uuno Turhapuro kaksoisagentti (1987), Häpy endkö? Eli kuinka Uuno Turhapuro sai niin kauniin ja rikkaan vaimon (1977) and Kahdeksas veljes (1971). He was married to Pirjo Pasanen. He died on 7 September 2001 in Kirkkonummi, Finland.

Nils Brandt was born on 13 January 1932 in Porvoo, Finland. He was an actor and writer, known for Fanny et Alexandre (1982), Jönssonligan & DynamitHarry (1982) and Varning för Jönssonligan (1981). He was married to Susanna Ringbom. He died on 5 June 1990 in Helsinki, Finland.

Anneli Sauli was born on 6 August 1932 in Pyhäjoki, Finland. She was an actress, known for L'homme sans passé (2002), Sept destins (2009) and Les chiens sont lâchés (1958). She was married to Jaakko Pakkasvirta and Åke Lindman. She died on 15 March 2022 in Helsinki, Finland.

Ansa Ikonen was born on 19 December 1913 in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire [now Russia]. She was an actress and director, known for Vaivaisukon morsian (1944), Vaimoke (1936) and Pikajuna pohjoiseen (1947). She was married to Jalmari Rinne. She died on 23 May 1989 in Helsinki, Finland.

Tapio Suominen was born on 2 November 1946 in Porvoo, Finland. He was a director and writer, known for Täältä tullaan, elämä! (1980), Porttikielto taivaaseen (1990) and Musta hurmio (1984). He died on 18 August 2023 in Finland.

Rauni Mollberg was born on 15 April 1929 in Hämeenlinna, Finland. He was a director and writer, known for La terre de nos ancêtres (1973), Des gens pas si mal que ça (1977) and Le soldat inconnu (1985). He was married to Eva-Brita Mollberg. He died on 11 October 2007 in Loimaa, Finland.

As the melodramas, so often looked down upon, of various national cinemas are now being rediscovered, those of the Finnish director Tulio are among those reassessed, similar with the melodramas of the Italian Raffaello Matarazzo. Tulio was a heartthrob silent actor who played several gypsy type roles and graduated to directing toward the end of the 1930s. His films combine strong erotic elements and beautiful Scandinavian landscapes in the style of Swedish pioneers Seastrom and Stiller, with musical accompaniment pushed to the forefront and Russian style montage ( he edited most of these films) .Add to this heady brew a strong component of feminism, as the Finnish auteur identifies with the plight of his women who are treated unfairly as sex objects.

Toivo Lehto was born on 31 March 1907 in Askainen, Finland. He was an actor, known for Kaksi kivaa kaveria (1944), Naimapuuhat (1966) and 30-luvun mies (1968). He was married to Lempi Helena Hurme and Senni Nieminen. He died on 28 March 1993 in Tampere, Finland.

Heikki Silvennoinen was born on 27 April 1954 in Savonlinna, Finland. He was an actor and writer, known for Kummeli Stories (1995), Kummeli (1991) and Kummeli Kultakuume (1997). He was married to Toni Lähteenmäki, Tiina Keskinen and ???. He died on 18 December 2024 in Pälkäne, Finland.

Esko Nikkari was born on 23 November 1938 in Lapua, Finland. He was an actor, known for Hamlet liikemaailmassa (1987), La fille aux allumettes (1990) and L'homme sans passé (2002). He was married to Asteri Martikkala. He died on 17 December 2006 in Seinäjoki, Finland.

Gustav Wiklund was born on 26 May 1934 in Helsinki, Finland. He was an actor, known for Aleksis Kiven elämä (2001), Jean-Paul Marat förföljd och mördad så som det framställs av patienterna på hospitalet Charenton under ledning av herr de Sade (1967) and Dagmars heta trosor (1971). He was married to May-Britt Helga Wiklund. He died on 27 August 2019 in Helsinki, Finland.

Jörn Donner grew up in a Swedish-speaking family belonging to the Finnish upper class. Already as a student he had radical leftist ideas displayed in magazines and newspapers. His first novel appeared in 1951 when Donner was only 18 years old. He graduated from the University of Helsinki in 1959. In 1961 Donner moved to Sweden when the daily newspaper "Dagens Nyheter" hired him as a film critic. He returned to his home country in 1967. During his stay in Sweden he also directed his first feature film, "A Sunday in September". He temporarily returned to Sweden in the 1970s to head the Swedish Film Institute. Again, Donner returned to his home country after a while.

Donner is best known for his work as an author. He has written several novels. He was awarded the Finlandia Prize in Literature in 1985 for "Father and Son". During the years he has also written many columns for large news papers in Finland.

After his directorial debut in 1963 Donner continued to work in film, mainly as a producer. He formed his own production company Jörn Donner Productions in 1960. He produced Ingmar Bergman's critically acclaimed "Fanny and Alexander" in 1982 and is thereby the first Finn ever to receive an Academy Award.

Ever since his early years as a student and struggling writer Donner has had an interest in politics. He has been a Member of Parliament in Finland and also an European MP. After successfully supporting Social Democrat Ahtisaari's presidential campaign in 1994 he was appointed Finnish consul to Los Angeles. Donner soon returned back to Finland. In 2003 Donner failed to return to politics when he did not get elected in the Finnish parliamentary election.

After a few years in the small town of Ekenäs, Finland Donner has returned to live in the nation's capital where he works as an independent writer, columinst and film producer.

Marjatta Kallio was born on 10 February 1924 in Tampere, Finland. She was an actress, known for Minkä minulle voitte (1961), Syntipukki (1963) and Anu ja Mikko (1956). She was married to Saulo Haarla and Kai Lappalainen. She died on 7 July 2003 in Helsinki, Finland.

Tauno Palo was born on 25 October 1908 in Hämeenlinna, Finland. He was an actor, known for Härmästä poikia kymmenen (1950), Billie le bandit (1949) and Omena putoaa (1952). He was married to Kirsti Ortola and Sylvi Palo. He died on 24 May 1982 in Helsinki, Finland.

Jussi Jurkka was born on 15 June 1930 in Turku, Finland. He was an actor, known for Soldats inconnus (1955), Punainen viiva (1959) and Akseli ja Elina (1970). He was married to Arja Pessa and Maikki Länsiö. He died on 9 April 1982 in Helsinki, Finland.