Kaljo Kiisk (3 December 1925 â€" 20 September 2007) was an Estonian
actor, film director and politician. He was best known for his roles
as Kristjan Lible from Spring (Estonian: Kevade), Summer (Suvi) and
Autumn (Sügis), film adaptations of Oskar Luts' novels, and as
Johannes Saarepera from ETV's long-running Õnne 13. His career
spanned over half a century from 1953 to 2007.Kiisk was born and
raised in Viru County. In 1944, aged 18, he served in the
anti-aircraft unit of the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS
(1st Estonian), and took part in the Battle of Tannenberg Line. After
World War II, he managed to obscure his military service from the
Soviet occupiers. In 1946, he graduated from the Rakvere 1st Secondary
School and enrolled at the Tallinn University of Technology. He
switched the next year to the ESSR State Theatre Institute and in
1948, to the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts. Graduating in 1953, he
returned to Estonia and joined the Estonian Drama Theatre.His first
play was an adaptation of Oskar Luts' novel Spring (Estonian: Kevade),
staged together with Kulno Süvalep in 1954, in which Kiisk played the
part of the bright yet restless Joosep Toots. From 1955 to 1990, he
worked as an actor and director at Tallinnfilm. His most notable works
as a director included Naughty Curves (1959) and Dangerous Curves
(1961). He wrote the screenplay of the 1969 film Spring, an adaptation
of Oskar Luts' popular novel, in which he also starred as Paunvere's
bell-ringer Kristjan Lible. The film became an Estonian classic. From
1993 to 2007 (his death), he starred in Õnne 13 as Johannes
Saarepera.From 1980 to 1990, Kiisk was a member of the Supreme Soviet
of the Estonian SSR and from 1989 to 1991, a member of the Congress of
People's Deputies of the Soviet Union. In 1995 and 1999, he was
elected to the Riigikogu as a member of the Estonian Reform Party.
actor, film director and politician. He was best known for his roles
as Kristjan Lible from Spring (Estonian: Kevade), Summer (Suvi) and
Autumn (Sügis), film adaptations of Oskar Luts' novels, and as
Johannes Saarepera from ETV's long-running Õnne 13. His career
spanned over half a century from 1953 to 2007.Kiisk was born and
raised in Viru County. In 1944, aged 18, he served in the
anti-aircraft unit of the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS
(1st Estonian), and took part in the Battle of Tannenberg Line. After
World War II, he managed to obscure his military service from the
Soviet occupiers. In 1946, he graduated from the Rakvere 1st Secondary
School and enrolled at the Tallinn University of Technology. He
switched the next year to the ESSR State Theatre Institute and in
1948, to the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts. Graduating in 1953, he
returned to Estonia and joined the Estonian Drama Theatre.His first
play was an adaptation of Oskar Luts' novel Spring (Estonian: Kevade),
staged together with Kulno Süvalep in 1954, in which Kiisk played the
part of the bright yet restless Joosep Toots. From 1955 to 1990, he
worked as an actor and director at Tallinnfilm. His most notable works
as a director included Naughty Curves (1959) and Dangerous Curves
(1961). He wrote the screenplay of the 1969 film Spring, an adaptation
of Oskar Luts' popular novel, in which he also starred as Paunvere's
bell-ringer Kristjan Lible. The film became an Estonian classic. From
1993 to 2007 (his death), he starred in Õnne 13 as Johannes
Saarepera.From 1980 to 1990, Kiisk was a member of the Supreme Soviet
of the Estonian SSR and from 1989 to 1991, a member of the Congress of
People's Deputies of the Soviet Union. In 1995 and 1999, he was
elected to the Riigikogu as a member of the Estonian Reform Party.
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