Lasse Pöysti

Lasse Erik Pöysti (24 January 1927 – 5 April 2019) was a Finnish actor, director, theatre manager and writer. He was born in Sortavala.

Biography
Pöysti began his career as a child actor, becoming known to the Finnish public as Olli Suominen in the "Suominen family" films. The first of these films as Suomisen perhe (1941). Pöysti was 14 years old at the time of the film. Pöysti matriculated in 1945 in the Helsinki Normal Lyceum.

From 1967 to 1974, Pöysti served as manager of the Lilla Teatern, with ex-wife Birgitta Ulfsson, and also acted in many roles in Swedish. During 1974–1981 he was the manager of the Tampere Workers' Theatre, and during 1981–1985 the manager of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. In his later career he has had many speaking roles in musical plays. He also had many roles on television, including the leading roles in the Strindberg plays Gustav III (Kustaa III) and Erik XIV. Another performance was the title role in the stage play Galileo by Bertold Brecht, which won critical acclaim. He also read bedtime stories in children's programs.

In addition to his stage career, Pöysti wrote several books, including his own memoirs. In 2002, Pöysti chose the book Juoksuhaudantie by Kari Hotakainen as the winner of the Finlandia Prize. Pöysti once lived in Paris, but later lived in Lauttasaari, Helsinki. His son Tom Pöysti has also acted in many film and theatre roles. In 2010, Pöysti received the Concrete-Jussi for lifetime achievement (the Jussi Awards are the equivalent to the Oscars in Finland).

He was married to actress Birgitta Ulfsson from 1952 to 1984. Their son Erik Pöysti and granddaughter Alma Pöysti are both actors in Helsinki.

Selected filmography

 * 1941: Suomisen perhe - Olli Suominen
 * 1941: Täysosuma - Skier (uncredited)
 * 1941: Onnellinen ministeri - Errand Boy (uncredited)
 * 1942: Suomisen Ollin tempaus - Olli Suominen
 * 1943: Suomisen taiteilijat - Olli Suominen
 * 1944: Suomisen Olli rakastuu - Olli Suominen
 * 1945: Suomisen Olli yllättää - Olli Suominen
 * 1948: Haaviston Leeni - (uncredited)
 * 1948: Kilroy sen teki - Pete
 * 1948: Hormoonit valloillaan - Pena
 * 1949: Ruma Elsa - Usko Aamunen
 * 1949: Katupeilin takana - Arvid
 * 1949: Sinut minä tahdon - Seppo Vesa
 * 1949: Professori Masa - Pentti Simola
 * 1950: Isäpappa ja keltanokka - Aimo Tammela
 * 1950: Rakkaus on nopeampi Piiroisen pässiäkin - Heikki Piiparinen
 * 1951: Vain laulajapoikia - Dr. Syrjä
 * 1951: Radio tekee murron - Radio reporter
 * 1951: The General's Fiancée - Korpraali Jukka Oksapää
 * 1951: A Night in Rio - Lasse
 * 1951: Tukkijoella - Pölhö-Kustaa
 * 1951: Vihaan sinua - rakas - Tauno Karnala
 * 1952: Kaikkien naisten monni - Alokas Nieminen
 * 1953: Two Funny Guys - Säveltäjä Jussi Mäki
 * 1953: The Millionaire Recruit - Vihuri
 * 1954: Kovanaama - Reporter Esko Pekuri
 * 1954: Laivaston monnit maissa - Maisteri Segerstråhle
 * 1954: Putkinotko - Malakias
 * 1955: Näkemiin Helena - Lennu
 * 1955: Sankarialokas - Alokas Esko Sirola / legioonal. T. Smith / matr T. MacDonald
 * 1955: Miss Eurooppaa metsästämässä - Antero W. Lintunen
 * 1955: Villi Pohjola - Kapakkapianisti
 * 1957: Vääpelin kauhu - Jaska
 * 1957: Syntipukki - Frans Koikkalainen
 * 1958: Asessorin naishuolet - Veikko Pajukivi
 * 1958: Sotapojan heilat - Alokas Esko Puustinen
 * 1959: Taas tapaamme Suomisen perheen - Olli Suominen
 * 1960: Justus järjestää kaiken - Justus
 * 1964: Bröllopsbesvär - Peddler
 * 1966: Syskonbädd 1782 - Guest at the tavern
 * 1968: Punahilkka - Matti - airline pilot
 * 1969:  Mumintrollet (TV Series) - Mumintrollet
 * 1976: Pyhä perhe - Paavo Mäkinen
 * 1977: Pikku Kakkonen (TV Series) - Himself - the host
 * 1978: The Adventures of Picasso - Sirkka's Father (uncredited)
 * 1979: Linus eller Tegelhusets hemlighet - Antique Dealer
 * 1979: Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti - Johannes Puntila
 * 1980: Barna från Blåsjöfjället - Lasso-Lassi
 * 1980: Det blir jul på Möllegården (TV Series) - Pixie
 * 1982: Flight of the Eagle - Photographer
 * 1984: The Clan – Tale of the Frogs - Siilipää
 * 1984: Dirty Story - Private detective
 * 1986: Flucht in den Norden
 * 1986: Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan - The Stablemaster
 * 1986: På liv och död - Sångare i tunnelbanan
 * 1986: Näkemiin, hyvästi - Lauri Valve, Tuulan isä
 * 1987: Lain ulkopuolella - Chairman of the Court
 * 1988: The Glory and Misery of Human Life - Martti Hongisto
 * 1989: Dårfinkar och dönickar (TV Mini-Series) - Morfar
 * 1989: Tjurens år (TV Movie) - Onkel Jegor
 * 1992: Mestari - Kalevi Suomalainen
 * 1993: Macklean (TV Series) - Carl August Ehrensvärd
 * 1993: Rosenbaum (TV Series) - Erik 'Lunkan' Lundkvist
 * 1995: Vita lögner - Lindqvist
 * 1995: Petri tårar - The Cripple
 * 1999: Lapin kullan kimallus - Konrad Planting
 * 2008: Thomas - Thomas