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 sci-fi parody where he played the Russian president. He also starred in Jim Jarmusch's 1991 film Night on Earth.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known For
La Vie de Bohème
(1992)
Schaunard
Night on Earth
(1991)
Man #1 Helsinki
Christmas Story
(2007)
Iisakki
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
(1989)
Igor (Village Idiot)
Hamlet Goes Business
(1987)
Lauri Polonius
Drifting Clouds
(1996)
Lauri
Master Cheng
(2019)
Romppainen
Full Filmography
Acting
The Breakthrough
(1981)
Police officer (uncredited)
Pedon merkki
(1981)
Nuori kapteeni
Kuoleman hellä kosketus
(1982)
Hullu
Jon
(1983)
Jon
Apinan vuosi
(1983)
Rene
The Clan: Tale of the Frogs
(1984)
Leevi Sammakko
The Unknown Soldier
(1985)
Lammio
Viimeiset rotannahat
(1985)
Rosso
(1985)
Rosso
Calamari Union
(1985)
Frank
Ylösnousemus
(1985)
Touko Heinävesi
Harmagedon
(1986)
Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan
(1986)
Narrator
Näkemiin, hyvästi
(1986)
Hamlet Goes Business
(1987)
Lauri Polonius
Helsinki Napoli All Night Long
(1987)
Alex
Älä itke Iines
(1987)
Siriuksen vieraat
(1987)
Anders
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
(1989)
Igor (Village Idiot)
Dirty Hands
(1989)
Ivan
Cha Cha Cha
(1989)
Kari Pöllänen
Paper Star
(1989)
Ilja Kulovaara
Kukunor
(1989)
Ihmissyöjä
Amazon
(1990)
Kari
Dolly and Her Lover
(1990)
Detective Karisto
Night on Earth
(1991)
Man #1 Helsinki
Zombie and the Ghost Train
(1991)
Upseeri (voice)
La Vie de Bohème
(1992)
Schaunard
Mestari
(1992)
Eero Tyrni
Ripa Hits the Skids
(1993)
Lynkkynen
Goodbye Gibraltar
(1993)
Jorma
The Last Border
(1993)
Borka
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
(1994)
The Mute
Iron Horsemen
(1995)
Darling
Drifting Clouds
(1996)
Lauri
Sambolico
(1996)
Eric
Underwater Iceland
(1997)
Narrator
Train Birds
(1998)
Asko, Milchfahrer
Ambush
(1999)
Corporal Tauno Snicker
The Tough Ones
(1999)
Törnqvist
Spy Games
(1999)
Cabbie
Lakeuden kutsu
(2000)
Erkki Hakala
Bad Luck Love
(2000)
Heinonen
Highway Society
(2000)
Kymmenen riivinrautaa
(2002)
Heikki Korkkalainen
Land of Love
(2003)
Hannu Rinta-Perkiö
Honey Baby
(2004)
der Große Enrico
Trench Road
(2004)
Jarmo Kesämaa
Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning
(2005)
President Uljanov
Rock'n Roll Never Dies
(2006)
Laakkonen
Onni von Sopanen
(2006)
P.E. teacher
V2: Dead Angel
(2007)
Police Lieutenant Usko Saastamoinen
Christmas Story
(2007)
Iisakki
The House of Branching Love
(2009)
Niilo
One Foot Under
(2009)
Salmela
Backwood Philosopher
(2009)
Severi
Bohemian Eyes
(2011)
Self
Let My People Go!
(2011)
Mr. Tiilikainen
The Rise and Fall of a Friendship
(2012)
Jalo Rautakumpu
We Are the Pirates of the Roads
(2015)
Hurja-Kaarlo
Kiwi Christmas
(2017)
Santa
Lapland Odyssey 3
(2017)
Räihäsen isä
Ryhmäteatteri
(2018)
Fingerpori
(2019)
Homelius
Master Cheng
(2019)
Romppainen
The Grump: In Search of an Escort
(2022)
Tarmo
The Missile
(2024)
Uutis-Seppo
Writing
Directing