Finnish actor Markku Peltola died Monday at age 51. Peltola was best known for his role in Aki Kaurismaki’s THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST (2002), the story of a down-and-out amnesiac who slowly rebuilds his life by moving into an industrial container with “sea view” and wooing a reluctant soup kitchen volunteer…. Peltola also appeared in Kaurismaki’s JUHA (1999) and DRIFTING CLOUDS (1996), as well as over 30 film and television roles.
During the 1980s, Peltola was the lead singer and guitarist of the Finnish band Motelli Skronkle. He released two solo albums in 2004 and 2006 respectively. In 1996 he co-founded Telakka, a theatre-themed restaurant, in his hometown of Tampere. In October 2007 he directed a play there called Activist.
His most recent film roles were a small role on the 2006 film JADE WARRIOR and the Estonian film I WAS HERE, which will premiere in that country in September this year.
Peltola died in his Tampere home. According to local media, he had suffered poor health for some time.
Very sad news, and a huge loss for Scandinavian cinema.
