Kaljo Kiisk
Kaljo Kiisk (3 December 1925 – 20 September 2007) was an Estonian actor, film director, screenwriter and politician. He was best known for his roles as Kristjan Lible from Spring (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.
Kaljo Kiisk
- Name
- Kaljo Kiisk
- Born
- 3 December 1925
- Birthplace
- Vaivina, Ida-Viru County, Estonia
- Died
- 20 September 2007
- Place of death
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Education
- Russian Institute of Theatre Arts
- Occupation
- Actor, film director, screenwriter, politician
- Nationality
- Soviet Union · Estonia
- Honours
- Merited Art Worker of Estonian SSR · People's Artist of the Estonian SSR · Order of the White Star and 3rd Class · Black Nights Prize · Order of the Red Banner of Labour · Estonian SSR State Prize
- Languages
- Estonian · Russian
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Documentary summary
Kaljo Kiisk (3 December 1925 – 20 September 2007) was an Estonian actor, film director, screenwriter and politician. He was best known for his roles as Kristjan Lible from Spring (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.
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Note VALÉORINE
Kaljo Kiisk was an actor, director and politician, among other activities, of Estonian and Soviet nationality. The actor was born in Vaivina and died in Tallinn.
Kaljo Kiisk was educated at Rakvere Freedom School and Russian Institute of Theatre Arts. The actor worked for Estonian Drama Theatre and Tallinnfilm and held the position of member of the Riigikogu.
Languages used include Estonian and Russian. Honours include Black Nights Prize, Estonian SSR State Prize and Merited Art Worker of Estonian SSR, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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In this article
Biography
Biography
Kaljo Kiisk studied at Russian Institute of Theatre Arts and Rakvere Freedom School. The recorded working language is Estonian and Russian. Employment is recorded with Tallinnfilm and Estonian Drama Theatre. Positions recorded include member of the Riigikogu. Distinctions recorded are Merited Art Worker of Estonian SSR, People's Artist of the Estonian SSR, Order of the White Star, 3rd Class and Black Nights Prize.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Kaljo Kiisk • Born — 3 December 1925 • Birthplace — Vaivina, Ida-Viru County, Estonia • Died — 20 September 2007 • Place of death — Tallinn, Estonia • Education — Russian Institute of Theatre Arts • Occupation — Actor, film director, screenwriter, politician • Years Active — 1953–1993 • Children — 1
Early life
Early life
Kiisk was born and raised in Vaivina. 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 Institute of Theatre Arts. Graduating in 1953, he returned to Estonia and joined the Estonian Drama Theatre.
Politics
Politics
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.
Personal life
Personal life
Kiisk married his classmate Zinaida Ivanova in 1947. They had a daughter, Riina, who married actor and poet Juhan Viiding. Poet Elo Viiding is his granddaughter.
Television
Television
• Title — Year — Role — Notes • My Wife Became a Grandmother (Minu naine sai vanaemaks) — 1976 — Friend — Movie • Two Couples and Loneliness (Kaks paari ja üksindus) — 1984 — Farmer — Movie adaption of O. Henry's short story. • The Dance Around the Steam Boiler (Tants aurukatla ümber) — 1987 — Taavet Aniluik — Movie adaption of Mats Traat's novel. • Doctor Stockmann (Doktor Stockmann) — 1988 — Father — Movie • An Old Man is Missing His Home (Vana mees tahab koju) — 1991 — Toomas Simmo — Movie • Õnne 13 — 1993–2007 — Johannes Saarepera — 14 seasons
Identity
Identity
Kaljo Kiisk is recorded with the occupation theatre director. Recorded with the occupation film actor. Recorded as having studied at Russian Institute of Theatre Arts and Rakvere Freedom School.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1925–2011
The full dated record · 5 entries
1925
Kaljo Kiisk was born on 3 December 1925.
1985
Kaljo Kiisk received Estonian SSR State Prize in 1985.
2004
Kaljo Kiisk received Black Nights Prize in 2004.
2007
Kaljo Kiisk died on 20 September 2007.
2011
Filmilavastaja ja näitleja Kaljo Kiisk (2011) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Kaljo Kiisk was born at Vaivina.
Birthplace
Kaljo Kiisk died at Tallinn.
Deathplace
Vaivina.
Birth place
Tallinn.
Death place
Stage, film and television
Stage, film and television
His first play was an adaptation of Oskar Luts' novel Spring (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), Madness (1969) and Nipernaadi (1983) 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.
Film
Film
• Title — Year — Functioned as — Notes • Director — Writer — Actor — Role • Yachts at Sea (Jahid merel) — 1955 — Heino — Assistant director • Andrus' Happiness (Andruse õnn) — 1955 — Teder • The Turning Point (Pöördel) — 1957 — Assistant director • June Days (Juunikuu päevad) — 1957 • Naughty Curves (Vallatud kurvid) — 1959 • One village men (Ühe küla mehed) — 1961 — Raimond • Dangerous Curves (Ohtlikud kurvid) — 1961 • Ice drift (Jääminek) — 1962 • Traces (Jäljed) — 1963 • We Were 18 Years Old (Me olime 18-aastased) — 1965 • What Happened to Andres Lapeteus? (Mis juhtus Andres Lapeteusega?) — 1966 — Ants Pajuviidik • Midday Ferryboat (Keskpäevane praam) — 1967 • Madness (Hullumeelsus) — 1968 — Harmonica man • Spring (Kevade) — 1969 — Kristjan Lible • Old Toomas Has Been Stolen (Varastati Vana Toomas) — 1970 — Old Thomas — Musical film • Windy Coast (Tuuline rand) — 1971 • To Step Ashore (Maaletulek) — 1972 — Harald • Unusual story (Tavatu lugu) — 1973 — Detective Kaur • Red violin (Punane viiul) — 1974 — Commander • Indrek — 1975 — Voitinski • Death under sail (Nāve zem buras) — 1976 — Detective-Sergeant Aloysius Birrell • Summer (Suvi) — 1976 — Kristjan Lible • Ask the Dead About the Price of Death (Surma hinda küsi surnutelt) — 1977 — Doctor • Wild violets (Metskannikesed) — 1980 • Arabella, mereröövli tütar (film) (Arabella, mereröövli tütar) — Firefighter — Adaption of Aino Pervik's short story. • Nipernaadi — 1983 • There Were the Trees... (Puud olid...) — 1985 — Pakk-Rätsep • In One Hundred Years in May (Saja aasta pärast mais) — 1986 — Viktor Kingissepp's interrogator • Vernanda — 1988 — Old gentleman • Regina — 1989 • Upside Down (Наизнанку) — 1989 — Tamm — Short • Awakening (Äratus) — 1989 — Jaan • Autumn (Sügis) — 1990 — Kristjan Lible • Rahu street (Rahu tänav) — 1991 — Eugen • Prompter (Suflöör) — 1993 • Victoria (Victoria (Ühe armastuse lugu)) — 1994 — Guest • Jüri Rumm — 1994 — Old stableman • Roller coaster (Ameerika mäed) — 1994 — Albert • I'm tired of hating (Ma olen väsinud vihkamast) — 1995 — Carpenter • Letters from the East (Kirjad idast) — 1995 — Old farmer • Ladybirds' Christmas (Lepatriinude jõulud) — 2001 — Imanuel (voice) — Animated film • The Visit of the Old Lady (Vana daami visiit) — 2006 — Doctor — Adaption of The Visit. • Hostage (Koer, lennuk ja laulupidu) — 2006 — Old man
Reception
How Kaljo Kiisk was received and recognised. Kiisk received Order of the Red Banner of Labour. Kiisk received Estonian SSR State Prize in 1985. Kiisk received Black Nights Prize in 2004.
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which Kaljo Kiisk stands. Established in Library of Congress under n2009036979.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Kaljo Kiisk”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
institutional register
- VIAF cluster 90437323 for Kaljo Kiisk, aggregating national library name authorities.
General reference · VIAF
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3742259: Kaljo Kiisk
General reference · Wikidata
Honours
• Order of the White Star, 3rd Class • PÖFF Lifetime Achievement Award
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Peter Rollberg. Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. 354–355. 2009. 978-0-8108-6072-8.
- 2.Kaljo Kiisk. Eesti Filmi Andmebaas.
- 3.Kaljo Kiisk. Eesti Filmi Andmebaas.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
General referenceauthority record
General reference
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Distinctions
1- Order of the White StarTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Kaljo Kiisk received Merited Art Worker of Estonian SSR, People's Artist of the Estonian SSR, Order of the White Star, 3rd Class, Black Nights Prize, Order of the Red Banner of Labour and Estonian SSR State Prize.
Recognition and collections
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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