Kari Väänänen
Actor · Writer · Since 1989
Known for
Kari Väänänen is a screen veteran who has been at it long enough for audiences to grow up watching him. The career now covers more than 45 years. The single most recognizable credit is 'Night on Earth', playing Man #1 Helsinki. Viewers may also know him from 'Leningrad Cowboys Go America'. The career opened quietly, the way most long ones do.
Kari Väänänen
Actor · Writer · Since 1989
56 Movies · 12 Series
Kari Väänänen is a screen veteran who has been at it long enough for audiences to grow up watching him. The career now covers more than 45 years. The single most recognizable credit is 'Night on Earth', playing Man #1 Helsinki. Viewers may also know him from 'Leningrad Cowboys Go America'. The career opened quietly, the way most long ones do.
Movies
Plays Iisakki
Christmas Story
2007
Plays Man #1 Helsinki
Night on Earth
1991
Plays Kari
Amazon
1990
Plays Corporal Tauno Snicker
Ambush
1999
Plays Frank
Calamari Union
1985
Plays Cabbie
Spy Games
1999
Plays Schaunard
La Vie de Bohème
1992
Plays Lauri
Drifting Clouds
1996
Writer
Plays Rosso
Rosso
1985
Plays Igor (Village Idiot)
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
1989
Plays Leevi Sammakko
The Clan: Tale of the Frogs
1984
Plays Arvo
Kajaani
2017
Plays Tarmo
The Grump: In Search of an Escort
2022
Plays der Große Enrico
Honey Baby
2004
Plays Niilo
The House of Branching Love
2009
Plays Törnqvist
The Tough Ones
1999
Plays Uutis-Seppo
The Missile
2024
Plays Lammio
The Unknown Soldier
1985
Plays Jon
Jon
1983
Plays Hurja-Kaarlo
We Are the Pirates of the Roads
2015
Plays Jalo Rautakumpu
The Rise and Fall of a Friendship
2012
Plays Mr. Tiilikainen
Let My People Go !
2011
Plays Upseeri (voice)
Zombie and the Ghost Train
1991
Plays President Uljanov
Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning
2005
Plays Eero Tyrni
Mestari
1992
Plays Lynkkynen
Ripa Hits the Skids
1993
Plays Alex
Helsinki Napoli All Night Long
1987
Plays The Mute
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
1994
Director
Plays Severi
Backwood Philosopher
2009
Plays Police Lieutenant Usko Saastamoinen
V2: Dead Angel
2007
Plays Anders
Siriuksen vieraat
1987
Plays Asko, Milchfahrer
Train Birds
1998
Plays Ilja Kulovaara
Paper Star
1989
Plays Romppainen
Master Cheng
2019
Plays Heinonen
Bad Luck Love
2000
Plays Jarmo Kesämaa
Trench Road
2004
Plays Eric
Sambolico
1996
Plays Kari Pöllänen
Cha Cha Cha
1989
Plays Rene
Apinan vuosi
1983
Plays Touko Heinävesi
Ylösnousemus
1985
Plays Salmela
One Foot Under
2009
Plays Nuori kapteeni
Pedon merkki
1981
Plays Laakkonen
Rock'n Roll Never Dies
2006
Plays Lauri Polonius
Hamlet Goes Business
1987
Plays Homelius
Fingerpori
2019
Plays Borka
The Last Border
1993
Plays Detective Karisto
Dolly and Her Lover
1990
Plays Räihäsen isä
Lapland Odyssey 3
2017
Plays Santa
Kiwi Christmas
2017
Plays Erkki Hakala
Lakeuden kutsu
2000
TV Shows
Director
Plays Kauko Junni
Taivaan tulet
2007
Plays Kalevi Repo
Sincerely Yours in Cold Blood
2000
Plays Antti Mäkinen
Seitsemän
2001
Plays Kana-Jorma
Lehmän vuosi
2006
Plays Isä
Suojelijat
2008
Plays Aragorn
The Hobbits
1993
Plays Lääkäri Järvinen
The Man Who Died
2022
Plays Vode
Kaverille ei jätetä
1999
Plays Mark Messien
Lääkärit tulessa
1998
Plays Mafiapomo
Kohtaamiset ja erot
1994
Plays Opettaja Lauri Peltonen
Jurismia!
2002
Plays Harjanne
Team Ahma
1998
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Missile
Full Filmography 68
The Missile
Uutis-Seppo
2024
The Grump: In Search of an Escort
Tarmo
2022
The Man Who Died
Lääkäri Järvinen · 6 episodes
2022–
Fingerpori
Homelius
2019
Master Cheng
Romppainen
2019
Kiwi Christmas
Santa
2017
Lapland Odyssey 3
Räihäsen isä
2017
Kajaani
Arvo
2017
We Are the Pirates of the Roads
Hurja-Kaarlo
2015
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kari Väänänen and where are they from?
Kari Väänänen is 73 years old, born on September 17, 1953 in Ivalo, Finland.
What are the most famous roles of Kari Väänänen?
Kari Väänänen is best known for roles in Night on Earth, Leningrad Cowboys Go America, Drifting Clouds.
How many movies has Kari Väänänen been in?
Over a 45-year career (since 1981), Kari Väänänen has appeared in 56 movies and 12 TV shows.
What was Kari Väänänen's first movie?
The career of Kari Väänänen began with The Breakthrough (1981).
What is Kari Väänänen's most recent movie or series?
Kari Väänänen's most recent release is The Missile, which premiered on February 2, 2024.
What TV shows has Kari Väänänen appeared in?
On television, Kari Väänänen has appeared in The Hobbits, The Man Who Died, Sincerely Yours in Cold Blood, Jurismia!.
Kari Väänänen
1953-09-17 · Ivalo, Finland
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.