Väino Laes (born 26 September 1951 in

Jõhvi Jõhvi is a town in northeastern Estonia, and the administrative centre of the Ida-Viru County. The town is also an administrative centre of Jõhvi Parish. It is situated about 50 km west of the Estonia–Russia international border. ...

) is 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, a ...

n actor. In 1974 he graduated from

Tallinn State Conservatory The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (''Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia'') began as a mixed choir of the Estonia Society Musical Department (EMD) on the eve of World War I. The assembly of the Estonia Society created the Tallinn Higher Musi ...

. From 1978 to 1989 he worked at

Rakvere Theatre Rakvere Theatre is a professional theatre in Rakvere, Estonia. History Rakvere Theatre was established in the fall of 1921, when ''Rakvere Näitlejate Ring'' was formed. The building of the Rakvere Theatre was opened with a public ceremony on 2 ...

, 1989–1995 in

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 or ...

, and since 1995 in

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 Ein ...

. He has also starred in several films. In 1992 he was a nominee for the

European Film Award for Best Supporting Actor The European Film Award for Best Supporting Actor was awarded by the European Film Academy to actors of European language films. It ran from 1988 to 1992. Winners and nominees Awards by Years See also * BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor * C� ...

. Laes has been in a long-term relationship with actress Erika Kaljusaar since 1980. The couple reside in the village of

Padise Padise is a village in Lääne-Harju Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. (retrieved 27 July 2021) Padise is the birthplace of Estonian poet and author Arved Viirlaid (1922–2015). Gallery File:Padise Klooster.jpg, Padise Abbey Pa ...

Harju County Harju County ( et, Harju maakond or ''Harjumaa''), is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in Northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County to the sou ...

, with a summer home and small farm on the island of

Saaremaa Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring . The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island and west of Muhu island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago. The capital of the island i ...

Selected roles

Film roles

* 1984 ''Karoliine hõbelõng'' (feature film) * 1989 ''

Äratus ''Äratus'' (English: ''Awakening'') is a 1989 Estonian historical drama film directed by Jüri Sillart. Plot The film chronicles the lives of Estonian villagers during "Operation Priboi"; the 25 to 28 March 1949 Soviet mass deportation of mor ...

'' (feature film, role: Saareaugu Arnold) * 1990 ''Sügis'' (feature film, role:

Oskar Luts Oskar Luts ( – 23 March 1953) was an Estonian writer and playwright. Biography Oskar Luts was born into a middle-class family in Järvepera, central Estonia, at that time in the governorate of Livonia (Russian Empire). His younger brother was ...

) * 1990 ''See kadunud tee'' (feature film, role: Riida Oskar) * 1991 ''

Rahu tänav ''Rahu tänav'' ( en, Peace Street) is a 1991 Estonian film directed by Roman Baskin. Awards: * 1992: FilmFestival Cottbus (Germany), 1992, main prize - best film * 1992: European Film Awards, nomination: European Supporting Actor of the Year 19 ...

'' (feature film, role: Peeter) * 1993 '' Tallinn pimeduses'' (feature film, role: Andreas) * 1994 '' Jüri Rumm'' (feature film, role: Count von Rellingshausen) * 1998 ''Kallis härra Q'' (feature film, role: Uncle Oskar) * 2002 ''

Nimed marmortahvlil ''Names in Marble'' ( et, Nimed marmortahvlil) is an Estonian war novel written by Albert Kivikas. It was published in 1936, and its subject is the Estonian War of Independence. Kivikas received an award by the Estonian Literature Society for the ...

'' (feature film) * 2010 ''Taevavõti'' (feature film) * 2012 ''Üksik saar'' (feature film) * 2012 ''Distants'' (short film, role: Father) * 2014 ''Väikelinna detektiivid'' (television series, role: Bishop)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laes, Vaino Living people 1951 births Estonian male stage actors Estonian male film actors Estonian male television actors Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni People from Jõhvi