Kari Väänänen

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.

Väänänen has acted in more than 60 movies. He has received two Jussi awards, for best male actor in ''Jon'' (1983) and for best supporting male actor in ''Trench Road'' (2004). His performance as the monster Gollum in Yle's 1993 television series ''Hobitit'' was praised in ''Helsingin Sanomat''.

In 1992–1998 Väänänen was a professor at the Helsinki Theatre Academy. Provided by Wikipedia