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Matti Pellonpaa
Pellonpaa in 1990
Born	( 1951-03-28 ) 28 March 1951 Helsinki , Finland
Died	13 July 1995 (1995-07-13) (aged 44) Vaasa , Finland
Nationality	Finnish
Occupation(s)	Actor, voice actor, writer
Years active	1962?1995

Matti Pellonpaa (28 March 1951 in Helsinki ? 13 July 1995 in Vaasa ) was a Finnish actor and a musician. He rose to international fame with his roles in both Aki Kaurismaki 's and Mika Kaurismaki 's films; particularly being a regular in Aki's films, appearing in 18 of them.

Career [ edit ]

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 1970s 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. He was considered 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. He had a tattoo of Snoopy on his left bicep. ^[1]

Pellonpaa was the frontman for the band Peltsix (1989?1995). Peltsix gained cult following with its tragic, and at the same time, comic songs. Peltsix's songs were composed by Pale Saarinen, Kari Makkonen and Jukka Haikonen.

Matti Pellonpaa died of a heart attack on 13 July 1995 at the age of 44. He was buried in the Malmi Cemetery .

In 1996, Pellonpaa was one of the people commemorating 100 years of Finnish Cinema on a stamp .

A Finnish documentary film Boheemi elaa/Bohemian Eyes on Pellonpaa's life was made in 2011 (directed by Janne Kuusi ).

Filmography [ edit ]

• Pojat (1962), director Mikko Niskanen
• Akseli and Elina (1970), director Edvin Laine
• Kesan maku (1975), director Asko Tolonen
• Antti Puuhaara (1976), director Katariina Lahti , Heikki Partanen , Riitta Rautoma
• Viimeinen savotta (1977), director Edvin Laine
• Ruskan jalkeen (1979), director Edvin Laine
• The Liar (1981), director Mika Kaurismaki
• Pedon merkki (1981), director Jaakko Pakkasvirta
• Jackpot2 (1982), director Mika Kaurismaki
• Arvottomat (1982), director Mika Kaurismaki
• Regina ja miehet (1983), director Anssi Manttari
• Huhtikuu on kuukausista julmin (1983), director Anssi Manttari
• Crime and Punishment (1983), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Klaani ? tarina Sammakoitten suvusta (1984), director Mika Kaurismaki
• Kello (1984), director Anssi Manttari
• Aikalainen (1984), director Timo Linnasalo
• Rakkauselokuva (1984), director Anssi Manttari
• Viimeiset rotannahat (1985), director Anssi Manttari
• Calamari Union (1985), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Ylosnousemus (1985), director Anssi Manttari
• Shadows in Paradise (1986), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Rocky VI (1986), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Kuningas lahtee Ranskaan (1986), director Anssi Manttari
• Nakemiin, hyvasti (1986), director Anssi Manttari
• Hamlet liikemaailmassa (1987), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Ariel (1988), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Cha cha cha (1989), director Mika Kaurismaki
• Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Kiljusen herrasvaen uudet seikkailut (1990), director Matti Kuortti
• Rapsy ja Dolly (1990), director Matti Ijas
• Zombie ja kummitusjuna (1991), director Mika Kaurismaki
• Night on Earth (1991), director Jim Jarmusch
• Kadunlakaisijat (1991), director Olli Soinio
• La Vie de Boheme (1992), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Missa on Musette? (1992), director Veikko Nieminen
• Papukaijamies (1992), director Veikko Nieminen
• Det var val sjalva fan ocksa (1993), director Peter Ostlund
• The Last Border (1993), director Mika Kaurismaki
• Hobitit (1993), director Timo Torikka ^[2]
• Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses (1993), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana (1993), director Aki Kaurismaki
• Iron Horsemen (1995), director Gilles Charmant
• Sirpaleita (1996), director Aku Louhimies

Albums [ edit ]

• Peltsix / Lihaa Ja Leikkeleita (Megamania Music, 1991)
• Peltsix / Silkkaa Kryptoniittia (Flamingo Music, 1993)

References [ edit ]

Literature [ edit ]

• Lahikuvassa Matti Pellonpaa (Lauri Timonen, Otava 2009)

External links [ edit ]

• Matti Pellonpaa entry at IMDb
• PELTSIX MySpace
• Se minun toistani ? a documentary on Matti Pellonpaa from 1984.