Kari Väänänen

ActorDirectorWriter Sep 17 (age 72) Ivalo, Finland 1981–2024 (43 year career)

5.6 avg rating

Biography

Kari Kyösti Väänänen (born 17 September 1953 in Ivalo) is a Finnish actor and director. Domestically he is a member of the Ryhmäteatteri group of actors. He was introduced to international audiences by Aki Kaurismäki; and belongs to the list of his "trusted" stable of actors. His most challenging role has been the eponymous mafia hitman of Rosso, for which he learned all his lines phonetically, without previously speaking a word of Italian. Kari Väänänen was featured in Star Wreck, a Finnish sc…

Known For

Film

Night on Earth

Man #1 Helsinki

Film

Drifting Clouds

Lauri

Film

La Vie de Bohème

Schaunard

Film

Leningrad Cowboys Go America

Igor (Village Idiot)

Film

Christmas Story

Iisakki

Film

Calamari Union

Frank

Film

Master Cheng

Romppainen

Film

Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning

President Uljanov

Filmography

Acting (83)

Movies (70)

The Missile

2024

as Uutis-Seppo

6.4

The Grump: In Search of an Escort

as Tarmo

Master Cheng

as Romppainen

Fingerpori

as Homelius

Ryhmäteatteri

Kiwi Christmas

as Santa

Lapland Odyssey 3

as Räihäsen isä

Kajaani

as Arvo

Dirty Hands

2015

as Ivan

5.1

We Are the Pirates of the Roads

2015

as Hurja-Kaarlo

4.7

Arne's Legacy

2013

The Rise and Fall of a Friendship

as Jalo Rautakumpu

Bohemian Eyes

as Self

Let My People Go !

as Mr. Tiilikainen

One Foot Under

as Salmela

Backwood Philosopher

as Severi

The House of Branching Love

as Niilo

Christmas Story

as Iisakki

V2: Dead Angel

as Police Lieutenant Usko Saastamoinen

5.6

Onni von Sopanen

2006

as P.E. teacher

9.0

Rock'n Roll Never Dies

2006

as Laakkonen

5.3

Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning

as President Uljanov

Trench Road

as Jarmo Kesämaa

Honey Baby

as der Große Enrico

Land of Love

as Hannu Rinta-Perkiö

4.6

Kymmenen riivinrautaa

2002

as Heikki Korkkalainen

Bad Luck Love

as Heinonen

Highway Society

Lakeuden kutsu

as Erkki Hakala

Spy Games

as Cabbie

Ambush

as Corporal Tauno Snicker

The Tough Ones

as Törnqvist

Train Birds

as Asko, Milchfahrer

Underwater Iceland

as Narrator

Sambolico

as Eric

Drifting Clouds

as Lauri

Iron Horsemen

as Darling

Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses

1994

as The Mute

5.8

Goodbye Gibraltar

1993

as Jorma

The Last Border

as Borka

Ripa Hits the Skids

as Lynkkynen

Mestari

as Eero Tyrni

La Vie de Bohème

as Schaunard

Night on Earth

as Man #1 Helsinki

Zombie and the Ghost Train

as Upseeri (voice)

Amazon

as Kari

Dolly and Her Lover

as Detective Karisto

Leningrad Cowboys Go America

1989

as Igor (Village Idiot)

Paper Star

as Ilja Kulovaara

Cha Cha Cha

as Kari Pöllänen

Kukunor

as Ihmissyöjä

Hamlet Goes Business

as Lauri Polonius

Siriuksen vieraat

as Anders

Älä itke Iines

Helsinki Napoli All Night Long

as Alex

Näkemiin, hyvästi

Harmagedon

Laulu

Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan

as Narrator

Calamari Union

as Frank

The Unknown Soldier

as Lammio

Rosso

as Rosso

Viimeiset rotannahat

Ylösnousemus

as Touko Heinävesi

The Clan: Tale of the Frogs

as Leevi Sammakko

Jon

as Jon

Apinan vuosi

as Rene

Kuoleman hellä kosketus

as Hullu

Pedon merkki

as Nuori kapteeni

The Breakthrough

as Police officer (uncredited)

Television (13)

The Man Who Died

as Lääkäri Järvinen

Suojelijat

as Isä

Taivaan tulet

as Kauko Junni

Lehmän vuosi

as Kana-Jorma

Jurismia!

as Opettaja Lauri Peltonen

6.0

Seitsemän

2001

as Antti Mäkinen

8.0

Sincerely Yours in Cold Blood

2000

as Kalevi Repo

7.3

Sincerely Yours in Cold Blood

as Kalevi Repo

Kaverille ei jätetä

as Kapteeni Kalkku

Team Ahma

as Harjanne

Lääkärit tulessa

as Mark Messien

Kohtaamiset ja erot

as Mafiapomo

The Hobbits

1993

as Aragorn

5.5

Crew (10)

Movies (8)

Backwood Philosopher

Director

Backwood Philosopher

Screenplay

The Classic

Director

The Classic

Screenplay

Vaiennut kylä

Director

Vaiennut kylä

Writer

Sutki

Director

Rosso

Writer

Television (2)

Taivaan tulet

Director

Taivaan tulet

Writer