Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri (4 January 1945 – 10 August 2022)[1] was a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004.

Other comedic characters Loiri portrayed included Nasse-setä, Jean-Pierre Kusela, and Tyyne, all of which were featured in television sketch shows in the 1980s and later expanded into films and music albums.

In addition to his comedic roles, Loiri delivered critically acclaimed performances in theater, such as his portrayal of Kosola in the Ylioppilasteatteri production of Lapualaisooppera and Tuomas in the Turku City Theatre adaptation of Seven Brothers.

[2] As a singer, Loiri gained acclaim for his interpretations of Eino Leino’s poetry, alongside recording Finnish pop songs, including works by Reino Helismaa and Juha Vainio.

According to Yle News, "Loiri was one of Finland's most beloved cultural figures over six decades, playing comic and tragic roles on screen and stage, alongside a musical career.

Spede and Loiri also developed his highly popular Uuno Turhapuro persona which would star in one of Finland's longest and most commercially successful film-series.

[6][7][8][9][10][11] Loiri appeared in the premiere of Aulis Sallinen's opera Kullervo in Los Angeles in 1992, creating the role of the blind singer.

[17] Vesa-Matti and his brother Veli-Pekka spent their summers at their grandmother's house, Lily's childhood home, located in a residential area near the center of Pori.

[21] The 1950s educational system in Finland emphasized practical professions over creativity, which led to the Loiri brothers losing interest in school.

[24] In early 1962, the band performed a youth musical titled Huipulla tuulee (The Wind Blows at the Top), which caught the attention of Paavo Hukkinen, an actor and organizer for Suomen Filmiteollisuus (Finnish Film Industry).

[29] Loiri began his military service in the Coastal Artillery Regiment at Isosaari near Helsinki in October 1962, just a few weeks before the premiere of the film The Boys.

At the same time, he held a trainee contract as a stagehand at the opera house, which had to be terminated due to his military commitment—a process that proved challenging.

[35] At the same time, the diversity and depth of Loiri's career are unfortunately overshadowed, as fewer people remember his inspired and profound interpretations on stage or the intense performances in serious films that counterbalanced his Turhapuro comedies.

[38] One of the earliest mentions of Loiri's theater roles appeared in Helsingin Sanomat in September 1964, describing his minor part in Under the North Star as a "feverish Singer Boy".

[40] Notable roles included "God’s Chosen Leader" Kosola in Arvo Salo’s Lapualaisooppera, Tuomas in Kalle Holmberg’s production of Seven Brothers, and Nikolai Stavrogin in Dostoevsky’s Demons.

[33] Directors who influenced him included Matti Aro, Ralf Långbacka, and Arto af Hällström, but Kalle Holmberg was the most significant.

[45][46] Other notable productions during his Turku years included Tasangolta tuulee, focusing on Turkish migrant workers, and Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, in which he portrayed Yasha.

[47][48] His singing performance did not meet opera’s demands, but what he lacked in vocal ability, Vesa-Matti more than compensated for by portraying a strong and credible Jimmy Mahoney.

[35] Loiri performed significant dramatic roles in films such as Rakastunut rampa (1975), Pedon merkki (1981), Sokkotanssi (1999), Rumble (2002), Pahat pojat (2003),[33][52] and Tie pohjoiseen (2012).

[58] Loiri continued his collaboration with Pasanen and Kokkonen, contributing as a co-writer for Speedy Gonzales – noin 7 veljeksen poika (1970) and appearing in major Spede productions such as Kahdeksas veljes (1971) and Hirttämättömät (1971).

The iconic final scene, where his character Jake chases after a departing train, is considered a landmark moment in Finnish cinema.

[69] In December 1979, Tuija-Maija Niskanen's television film Seth Mattsonin tarina, starring Loiri in the title role, was broadcast for the first time.

[72][73] His mental collapse was preceded by multiple personal blows, such as the death of his wife Mona Loiri in a traffic accident and tax disputes.

The cult classic Jani Volanen's farcical road movie Rumble (2002) featured Loiri as Leo, the eldest member of a reckless quartet.

[79][80] In 1995, Loiri played a supporting role in Jukka-Pekka Siili's psychological drama Ruuvimies, portraying a warehouse worker, Simo Nikander, whose romantic interest is Titta Jokinen's secretary Vaara.

Usko did not yet exhibit Uuno’s trademark mumbling speech or exaggerated gait and dressed neatly, but the essence of Turhapuro was already discernible.

As Tyyne Lipasti, he recorded Pim peli pom (1988), featuring interpretations of "Tahdon olla sulle hellä" and "Fiilaten ja höyläten."

[109] Loiri attended Pohjois-Haagan yhteiskoulu and engaged in various sports, including boxing, football, handball, water polo, ice hockey, billiards, and golf.

In the early 1960s, he joined Töölön Vesa's first team in Finland's third division but ended his football career when he started studying at the Theatre Academy Helsinki.

[133] Loiri, who personally selected the participants for the documentary, stated that the film deeply moved him and gave his full approval to Kaurismäki's vision.