Vesa-Matti Loiri was born in Helsinki, Finland on January 4, 1945. Loiri became an actor in 1962, when he had a role in the movie “Pojat”, and graduated from the Finnish Theatre Academy, now the Uniarts Helsinki theatre academy, in 1966. Loiri did his most recognized work with comedian-director-producer Spede Pasanen, starting from “Noin seitsemän veljestä”. Spede and Loiri also developed the highly popular Uuno Turhapuro persona which would star in one of Finland's longest and most commercially successful film-series. In 2005, he starred in the film “Shadow of the Eagle”. Six films starring Loiri are in the top 20 list of the highest-grossing domestic films in Finland.
As a musician, Loiri performed compositions of Perttu Hietanen and Taisto Wesslin, Eino Leino's poems, Carl Michael Bellman's drinking songs and Juha "Watt" Vainio's songs. Loiri also played the flute, a talent he put to use representing Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 in The Hague/Netherlands with the song "Huilumies", dedicated to his flute. He finished last in a field of 19 participating countries. During his career, Loiri sold over 730,000 certified records in Finland and is currently the fifth best-selling soloist and ninth best-selling artist of all time in the country. He 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, Loiri did not see the original Robin Williams version and was only given a slight idea of what the original gags and jokes were. Disney gave the team an award for the best foreign Aladdin dub.
On 10 August 2022, in Helsinki, Loiri died from cancer, at the age of 77.
LOIRI, Vesa-Matti (aka Joulupukki, Jean-Pierre Kusela,
Loiri, Matti Loiri, Vesku Loiri, Tyyne) [1/4/1945, Helsinki, Finland –
8/10/2022, Helsinki, Finland (cancer)] – director, writer, composer, theater,
film, TV actor, musician, singer, brother of designer Pekka Loiri [1946- ], married to actress Tuula Nyman (Tuula
Elisabet Nyman) [1943–2014] (1967-1969), married to Mona Puolanen [1953-1977]
(1973-1977) father of Jani Lori [1974-1994], married to Ritta Jäppinen (1978-1989)
father of Jenni Loiri [1979- ], father of Jennin Lori [1982- ], Joonas L. (Joonas Lori) [1982-2019],
married to Stina Toljander [1973- ]
(1994-1999) father of Ukko Lori [1995-
], Sampo Lori [1996- ], awarded
Golden Venla for his special merits in the television industry [2011].
The Unhanged – 1971 [sings “Hirttämättömät”]
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