91 Facts About Vesa-Matti Loiri

Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri was a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004.

Vesa-Matti Loiri later acted in notable films such as Rakastunut rampa, Pedon merkki, and The Howling Miller, as well as the television series Rauta-aika.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was known for immersing himself deeply in his roles, sometimes to the detriment of his mental health.

Vesa-Matti Loiri became an actor in 1962, when he had a role in the movie Pojat, directed by Mikko Niskanen, and graduated from the Finnish Theatre Academy, now the Uniarts Helsinki theatre academy, in 1966.

Vesa-Matti Loiri did his most recognised work with comedian-director-producer Spede Pasanen, starting from Noin seitseman veljesta.

Spede and Vesa-Matti Loiri developed his highly popular Uuno Turhapuro persona which would star in one of Finland's longest and most commercially successful film-series.

Six films starring Vesa-Matti Loiri are in the top 20 list of the highest-grossing domestic films in Finland.

Vesa-Matti Loiri finished last in a field of 19 participating countries.

Vesa-Matti Loiri appeared in the premiere of Aulis Sallinen's opera Kullervo in Los Angeles in 1992, creating the role of the blind singer.

Vesa-Matti Loiri's father, Taito Vilho Loiri, was a technical draftsman born in Lappee in 1911.

Vesa-Matti Loiri's mother, Lily Ida Annikki Nylund, was born in Mustasaari in 1916 and grew up in Pori.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was a sensitive child who could be moved to tears by a teacher's sharp remark in primary school.

Vesa-Matti Loiri collected records, including stolen discs sold to him by Olavi Virta's son.

Vesa-Matti Loiri led boys' games that often mimicked movies, especially westerns.

The 1950s educational system in Finland emphasized practical professions over creativity, which led to the Vesa-Matti Loiri brothers losing interest in school.

Hukkinen inquired if Vesa-Matti Loiri would be interested in a film role.

Vesa-Matti Loiri had read the novel The Boys upon its release and dreamed of playing the role of Jake.

Vesa-Matti Loiri later noted that without The Boys, he might not have pursued theater school, as his interests at the time were more focused on music.

Vesa-Matti Loiri applied to the Finnish Theatre Academy in the spring of 1962 but was not admitted at that time.

Vesa-Matti Loiri volunteered for service at the age of 17, but a doctor had marked his fitness classification in a way that was misinterpreted.

Vesa-Matti Loiri began his military service in the Coastal Artillery Regiment at Isosaari near Helsinki in October 1962, just a few weeks before the premiere of the film The Boys.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was granted leave from the military to travel to Oulu for the premiere of The Boys.

Vesa-Matti Loiri reapplied to the Theatre Academy in the spring of 1963 and was accepted.

Vesa-Matti Loiri completed his military service in September 1963 with the rank of corporal.

Vesa-Matti Loiri matured emotionally, although he described the overall experience as unpleasant; the military helped to curb his self-centeredness, preventing the popularity of The Boys from going to his head.

Vesa-Matti Loiri performed in theater, film, and television, with his career often described as built from highly contrasting elements.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was part of the Helsinki City Theatre from 1966 to 1971 and the Turku City Theatre from 1973 to 1977.

Leo Lahteenmaki helped the young Vesa-Matti Loiri connect with his small role in The Kurdish Prince by giving him alcohol, aiming to induce a mild hangover to help unlock the performance.

Vesa-Matti Loiri would cancel lighter projects, such as films, to collaborate with Holmberg, finding the partnership creatively revitalizing.

In spring 1969, Vesa-Matti Loiri played Kyosti Karjanmaa in The Ostrobothnians, again directed by Holmberg.

Vesa-Matti Loiri played Tuomas, a role he inherited after Juha Hypponen left for non-artistic reasons.

Vesa-Matti Loiri's singing performance did not meet opera's demands, but what he lacked in vocal ability, Vesa-Matti more than compensated for by portraying a strong and credible Jimmy Mahoney.

In 1992, Vesa-Matti Loiri portrayed a blind singer in Aulis Sallinen's opera Kullervo, with Jorma Hynninen in the title role.

Vesa-Matti Loiri's performance received mixed reviews, but subsequent performances in Nantes in 1995 were more favorably received.

Vesa-Matti Loiri had previously performed the role of Jimmy Mahoney in The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny from 1970 to 1971.

Vesa-Matti Loiri performed significant dramatic roles in films such as Rakastunut rampa, Pedon merkki, Sokkotanssi, Rumble, Pahat pojat, and Tie pohjoiseen.

Vesa-Matti Loiri starred in 19 Uuno Turhapuro films and over ten other full-length films produced by Spede Pasanen.

Vesa-Matti Loiri played a soldier in this comedic film known for its anachronistic humor.

In 1970, Vesa-Matti Loiri played the titular role in Jussi Pussi, a satire of the leftist student movements of the time.

Vesa-Matti Loiri appeared in films by Jorn Donner, including Hellyys and Krapula, though these performances garnered less attention.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was the voice of the Genie in the Finnish dub of Disney's Aladdin, even performing the musical numbers Friend Like Me and Prince Ali.

When dubbing the Genie, Vesa-Matti Loiri did not see the original Robin Williams version and was only given a slight idea of what the original gags and jokes were.

Later, Vesa-Matti Loiri played a significant role as the blacksmith Ilmarinen in the TV theater's Kalevala adaptation titled Rauta-aika.

The story of Tykkimies Kauppala was adapted into a television play in 1977, and Vesa-Matti Loiri reprised his familiar stage role.

Production of Rauta-aika began as early as 1978, during which Vesa-Matti Loiri periodically underwent psychiatric treatment.

In 1998, Vesa-Matti Loiri played the role of Juutas in Reima Kekalainen's television series Putkinotko.

In 1995, Vesa-Matti Loiri played a supporting role in Jukka-Pekka Siili's psychological drama Ruuvimies, portraying a warehouse worker, Simo Nikander, whose romantic interest is Titta Jokinen's secretary Vaara.

Vesa-Matti Loiri's titular show, Vesku Show, was both written by and starred Vesa-Matti Loiri, alongside Simo Salminen, Hannele Lauri, Eija Vilpas, and Juha Muje.

The program was a direct continuation of Spede Show, in which Vesa-Matti Loiri participated during the early 1970s and again from 1984, after a ten-year hiatus.

Vesa-Matti Loiri rose to national fame portraying Uuno Turhapuro, a character that originated in Spede's television programs and made its film debut in Uuno Turhapuro.

The character of Tyyne originated from Vesa-Matti Loiri trying on Saija Hakola's wigs.

Vesa-Matti Loiri took credit for others' songs and laughed with a boisterous, fake laugh, accompanied by pianist Olli Ahvenlahti.

Vesa-Matti Loiri's repertoire includes humorous songs, folk-style interpretations of Finnish rock classics, and Christmas carols.

Vesa-Matti Loiri used his comedy to highlight Finnish customs' oddities, such as the popularity of the tango, which he viewed as a sign of poor musical taste.

Vesa-Matti Loiri parodied the genre with songs like "Lankon tango" and "Vie minut minne tahdot," the latter being so skillful a parody that it was not always recognized as satire.

Vesa-Matti Loiri played the flute, particularly jazz, and his debut album, 4+20, was almost entirely instrumental.

Vesa-Matti Loiri had not yet found his style as a recording artist, as evidenced by his next two albums.

That same year, Vesa-Matti Loiri represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Huilumies," composed specifically for him by Aarno Raninen.

Vesa-Matti Loiri recorded songs based on Eino Leino's poems for the first time on the 1978 album Eino Leino.

Vesa-Matti Loiri released four albums based on Leino's works, the last being Paivan laskiessa in 2001.

Vesa-Matti Loiri interpreted songs written by Reino Helismaa on the album Vesku Helismaasta and by Juha Vainio on two Ystavan laulut albums.

In 1998, Vesa-Matti Loiri held a church concert tour, raising nearly 170,000 Finnish marks for the Finnish Red Cross.

From 2006 to 2008, Vesa-Matti Loiri released the Lappi trilogy, featuring acoustic versions of Finnish pop and rock songs.

Vesa-Matti Loiri had a lifelong interest and exceptional talent in a number of sports, especially association football.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was signed by juggernauts HJK for one season in 1972.

Vesa-Matti Loiri attended Pohjois-Haagan yhteiskoulu and engaged in various sports, including boxing, football, handball, water polo, ice hockey, billiards, and golf.

Vesa-Matti Loiri won Finnish championships in water polo and handball.

Vesa-Matti Loiri gave up his sports career in favor of acting.

Vesa-Matti Loiri played football for Huopalahden Hurjat and Toolon Vesa during his youth.

Later, Vesa-Matti Loiri played as a goalkeeper for the entertainers' sports club Zoom, from which HJK recruited him in November 1971 as a reserve goalkeeper due to an injury crisis.

In water polo, Vesa-Matti Loiri won three Finnish championships, representing Helsingfors Simsallskap.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was partly recruited to the team to attract more spectators.

Previously, water polo matches had not even charged admission, but when Vesa-Matti Loiri played, Helsingin urheilutalo games were sold out.

In handball, Vesa-Matti Loiri won one Finnish championship, representing Sjundea Idrottsforening.

In ice hockey, Vesa-Matti Loiri played as a goalkeeper for Jokers' second team and for Kiekko-67 during his time in Turku, competing in Finland's second and third divisions.

Vesa-Matti Loiri always played as a goalkeeper in these sports as well.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was fascinated by boxing from a young age and participated in youth boxing.

Vesa-Matti Loiri stated that his sense of rhythm was helpful in boxing but acknowledged that black eyes would not have suited an acting career.

Vesa-Matti Loiri achieved a career-best 14th place in the national championships.

Vesa-Matti Loiri served as chairman of the Finnish Billiards Federation for multiple years, receiving the federation's silver merit award in 1989.

In golf, Vesa-Matti Loiri organized the Vesku Open, a namesake tournament held at Vierumaki for four years.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was an avid harness racing enthusiast, owning horses from the 1980s onward.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was married three times, with two marriages ending in divorce and one in his spouse's death.

Vesa-Matti Loiri was engaged to model Katja Peiponen from 1971 to 1972 and later to model Marita Hakala from 1989 to 1993.

Vesa-Matti Loiri reportedly had a near-death experience, including an out-of-body experience.

On 10 August 2022 Vesa-Matti Loiri died from cancer, at the age of 77.

Vesa-Matti Loiri's funeral was held on 20 September 2022 at St John's Church in Helsinki.

Peter von Bagh considered Vesa-Matti Loiri to be undoubtedly one of Finland's most talented and powerful actors.

Mika Kaurismaki directed a documentary about Vesa-Matti Loiri titled Vesku, which premiered in Ivalo on 20 August 2010.

However, Vesa-Matti Loiri did not participate in the making of the book, did not give interviews, and did not approve the biography.

In September 2019, Otava published a biography of Vesa-Matti Loiri written by Jari Tervo titled Vesa-Matti Loiri.