Biography
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Born
28 March 1951
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Born In
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
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Died
13 July 1995 (aged 44)
Matti Pellonpää (born March 28, 1951 in Helsinki; died July 13, 1995 in Vaasa) 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. 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.
In 1996 Matti Pellonpää was one of the people commemorating 100 years of Finnish Cinema on a stamp.
Pellonpää was known among his friends for his joke-quizzes which utilized the similarity between names of countries and Finnish words.
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
Rikos ja rangaistus (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 Union (1985), director Aki Kaurismäki
Ylösnousemus (1985), director Anssi Mänttäri
Varjoja paratiisissa (1986), director Aki Kaurismäki
Rocky VI (1986), director Aki Kaurismäki
Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan (1986), director Anssi Mänttäri
Näkemiin, hyvästi (1986), director Anssi Mänttäri
Hamlet liikemaailmassa (1987), director Aki Kaurismäki
Ariel (1988), director Aki Kaurismäki
Cha cha cha (1989), director Mika Kaurismäki
Leningrad Cowboys Go America (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
Boheemielämää (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 Moses (1993), director Aki Kaurismäki
Pidä huivista kiinni, Tatjana (1993), director Aki Kaurismäki
Iron Horsemen (1995), director Gilles Charmant
Sirpaleita (1996), director Aku Louhimies
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