Aleksander Eelmaa (6 November 1946 – 21 July 2021) was an

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and t ...

n actor. Eelmaa was born in

Viljandi Viljandi (, german: Fellin, sv, Fellin) is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,407 in 2019. It is the capital of Viljandi County and is geographically located between two major Estonian cities, Pärnu and Tartu ...

. From 1968 to 1969 he studied at the Estonian SSR Theatre Association's

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speakin ...

studio. From 1976 to 1981 he was an actor at Estonian Youth Theatre, from 1981 to 1990 at

Vanalinnastuudio Vanalinnastuudio (literally 'Old Town Studio') was a theatre in Tallinn, Estonia. The theatre was established in 1980. At the beginning, it operated at Estonian State Philharmony (nowadays Eesti Kontsert). The founder and artistical leader was ...

, from 1990 to 2006 at

Estonian Drama Theatre The Estonian Drama Theatre ( et, Eesti Draamateater) is a theatre in Tallinn, Estonia. It has the role of a national theatre for Estonia. The Estonia Theatre is located next door. History The building that houses the Estonian Drama Theatre was o ...

, from 2007 to 2015 at

Tallinn City Theatre Tallinn City Theatre ( et, Tallinna Linnateater) is a repertory theatre located in the medieval old town of Tallinn, Estonia. Tallinn City Theatre was established in 1965 as Estonian SSR State Youth Theatre. In 1992, after the reindependence o ...

, and from 2015 again at Estonian Drama Theatre. Besides theatrical roles he also played on several films (''

Agent Wild Duck ''Agent Wild Duck'' Agent Wild Duck
...

'', '' A Friend of Mine'' and ''

Vana daami visiit ''Vana daami visiit'' (English: ''The Visit of the Old Lady'') is a 2006 Estonian film directed by Roman Baskin and based on the 1956 play '' The Visit'' by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Cast References External links * {{IMDb title, tt0810470 Van ...

'') and television series (''

Tuulepealne maa ''Tuulepealne maa'' ("Windward Land") is a twelve-part Estonian television mini-series about the pre-World War II history of Estonia, its birth as a country, the Estonian War of Independence, post-war life throughout 1920 up to 1941 and World ...

'' and ''

Õnne 13 Õnne 13 is an Estonian dramatic TV series that airs on ETV. The series first aired on 30 October 1993 and was written by Astrid Reinla and as of 1996 by Teet Kallas. Rainer Kerge. Vabandage, proua, kas see maja on Õnne tänav 13?'. Õhtul ...

''). Eelmaa's children are actor and director

Taavi Eelmaa Taavi Eelmaa (born 15 June 1971) is an Estonian stage and film actor. Biography Career Born and raised in Tallinn, he is the son of actor Aleksander Eelmaa and Reet Eelmaa. Taavi Eelmaa began studies at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatr ...

and theatre artist Liisi Eelmaa. Eelmaa died on 21 July 2021, at the age of 74 in Ohtla. He was appearing in the play ''Kadunud kodu'' at the Saueaugu Theatre Farm, which had premiered the night before his death.

Awards

* 1984: Ants Lauter prize * 2004

Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star ( et, Valgetähe teenetemärk; french: Ordre de l'Etoile Blanche) was instituted in 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Balti ...

, IV class.

Selected filmography

* 1980: '' Metskannikesed'' * since 1996: ''

'' * 2002: ''Ferdinand'' * 2005: ''Vanameeste paradiis'' * 2006: ''

Ruudi ''Ruudi'' is a 2006 Estonian family film directed by Katrin Laur. Awards: * 2006: MAFF - Multimedia Audiovisual Film Festival (Warsaw, Poland), second prize * 2006: SCHLINGEL International Film Festival (Chemnitz, Germany), audience prize * 200 ...

'' * 2011: '' Üks mu sõber''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eelmaa, Aleksander 1946 births 2021 deaths Estonian male stage actors Estonian male film actors Estonian male television actors 20th-century Estonian male actors 21st-century Estonian male actors Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 4th Class People from Viljandi