Masa Niemi
Born
Martti Elis Niemi

(1914-07-20)20 July 1914
Viipuri, Finland
Died3 May 1960(1960-05-03) (aged 45)
Tampere, Finland

Martti "Masa" Elis Niemi (20 July 1914 – 3 May 1960) was a Finnish actor.

Career

Niemi started his career as a drummer, but became popular as a comedian.[1] He is most famous for his role as "Pätkä" (in English: Stub) in all thirteen original Pekka and Pätkä movies, with Esa Pakarinen as Pekka Puupää, Pätkä's best friend.[2]

Personal life

Masa Niemi was only 154 cm tall (about 5 feet ½ inch), but he is said to have drunk at least a bottle and a half of Koskenkorva hard liquor every day.[3] In addition to alcoholism, he also suffered from severe stage fright and disturbance of mental health. His alcoholism increased over time, and he eventually had to undergo rehabilitation. In 1960, he committed suicide in Tampere from an overdose of sleeping pills.[4]

Filmography

Niemi, Siiri Angerkoski and Esa Pakarinen in the Pekka and Pätkä film

References

  1. ^ Marjamäki, Tuomas. "Masa Niemi: "Asiahan ei tietysti minulle kuulu" – Valkokankaan varjot 6/10" (in Finnish). Apu. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  2. ^ Ahonen, Markus. "Pekka ja Pätkä -elokuvien tähden karu kohtalo ei unohdu" (in Finnish). Iltalehti. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  3. ^ Kolsi, Eeva-Kaarina. "Elmer Niemi muistelee setänsä Masa Niemen traagista kohtaloa: "Kaikki oli juotu"" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  4. ^ Kuuskoski, Kaisla. "Puupää-elokuvien Pätkän kohtalo oli traaginen – Masa Niemi kirjoitti kahvilakuittiin lohduttoman viestin" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 22 July 2022.

External links

Authority control databases: National
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