Vesa-Matti Loiri

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 Bad Boys (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.