Eero Abraham Kilpi (23 January 1882 – 29 November 1954)[1] was a Finnish stage, film and radio actor whose career spanned nearly fifty years.
Eero Kilpi | |
|---|---|
 Kilpi in the 1930s | |
| Born | Eero Abraham Ericsson 23 January 1882 |
| Died | 29 November 1954 (aged 72) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1905–1954 |
| Spouse | Tekla Sofia Kilpi |
| Relatives | Volter Kilpi (brother) |
Early life
editBorn Eero Abraham Ericsson, he was the son of a sea captain, David Ericsson (1943–1919) and Anna Lucina Ericsson (née Abrahamsson, 1846–1917). He was the second youngest child of five sons: Volter Adalbert Kilpi (1874–1939), Väinö Kilpi (1877–1880), Anto Ferdinand Kilpi (1879–1932) and Sulo Taavetti Kilpi (1882–1954).[2] His family later changed their surname from Ericsson to Kilpi. His older brother Volter would become a prominent Finnish writer.[3] He initially studied at the Finnish Business College before deciding to become an actor.[4]
Stage and film career
editKilpi was engaged at the Finnish National Theatre from 1903 to 1949 where, during his long engagement, he performed in such varied roles as the title role of Josef Julius Wecksell's tragedy Daniel Hjort, Friedrich Schiller's Don Carlos, Shakespeare's Hamlet and Aleksis Kivi's Nummisuutarit (The Cobblers on the Heath), among many others. During the early 1900s, he performed in Denmark, Germany, France and Austria and served as the theater director of the Finnish Drama Institute, the predecessor of Finnish Theatre School, from 1924 to 1940.[5]
During the early 1900s, Kilpi began appearing in Finnish silent films. He made his screen debut in the 1907 Louis Sparre and Teuvo Puro directed film Salaviinanpolttajat (The Moonshiners); Finland's first fictional motion picture.[6] Kilpi would appear in approximately thirty films during his career, transitioning to the sound film era with ease. In the 1930s and 1940s, he also began appearing as a voice actor on YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company. His last film role was in the 1954 comedy Minäkö isä! directed by Valentin Vaala.[7]
Personal life
editEero Kilpi was married to Tekla Sofia Kilpi (née Carlson) from 1923 until his death[8] in 1954 in Helsinki.
References
edit- ^ Elonet. Kansallisfilmografia.. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Geni. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Elonet. Kansallisfilmografia.. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Koskimies, Rafael: Suomen Kansallisteatteri II: 1917–1950, p. 230. Helsinki. Otava. 1972.
- ^ Koskimies, Rafael: Suomen Kansallisteatteri II: 1917–1950, p. 230. Helsinki. Otava. 1972.
- ^ Aali, Heta & Perämäki, Anna-Leena & Sarti, Cathleen (eds.): Memory Boxes: An Experimental Approach to Cultural Transfer in History, 1500–2000, p. 178. Transkript Verlag. 2014. ISBN 978-3-8376-2786-2
- ^ Elonet. Kansallisfilmografia.. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Geni.. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
External links
edit- Eero Kilpi at IMDb
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