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Jan Uuspõld (born 14 December 1973) is an Estonian stage, television, radio and film actor and musician.


Early life and music career

Jan Uuspõld was born in
Tallinn Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...
, the eldest of three sons of Ingar and Heidi Uuspõld. His mother is an accountant and his father was a long-distance truck driver. He was raised mostly in Hiiu, Nõmme and attended schools in Keila and Tallinn. In middle school was enrolled in music class and sang in a school choir. He graduated from Tallinn's 1st Industrial High School in 1991 where he trained as an offset printer. As a teenager, he wished to become a musician. Influenced in part by the Estonian punk rock band J.M.K.E., he formed a punk band called Trakulla at age fifteen with several classmates and younger brother Andrus after his mother gave him money to buy a guitar. The band went through several music styles and incarnations until eventually being called Luxury Filters and playing predominately jazz and Texas blues inspired songs. After recording several songs, the band appeared on the television Eesti Televisioon (ETV) program ''7 vaprat'' and found a degree of success in Estonia. Their most popular single, "Tramm nr 66", sung by Uuspõld, was released in 1992 when Uuspõld was nineteen. The band folded not long after, but reformed on several occasions, performing on ETV and the 2013 August Blues Festival in
Haapsalu Haapsalu () is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Lääne County, and on 1 January 2020 it had a population of 9,375. History The name ''Haapsalu'' derives from the Estonian words ' ...
.


Stage career

After Luxury Filters broke up, Uuspõld was inspired to become an actor after watching Estonian actor Tõnu Kark perform in a stage production of '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest''. In 1994 he applied to and was accepted at the EMA Higher Drama School (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) in Tallinn, graduating in 1998. Among his graduating classmate were actors Harriet Toompere, Tiit Sukk, Veikko Täär, Liina Vahtrik, and Andero Ermel. While still a student, his course instructor Priit Pedajas offered him an engagement at the Estonian Drama Theatre. He would perform at the Estonian Drama Theatre from 1996 until 2013 in roles by
Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
,
Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright, poet and actor. Ibsen is considered the world's pre-eminent dramatist of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama." He pioneered ...
, Dostoyevsky, among many others. From 2005 until 2007 he also performed for two seasons at the Vanemuine theater in
Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...
and from 2009 to 2014, with partner Karl Kermes, he created the Monoteater, which staged several plays. In 2013 he developed his own theater production company calle
Prem Productions


Television and film

Jan Uuspõld's first film role as an actor was in the 1999 Ervin Õunapuu directed short ''Kõrbekuu''. His first television appearance as an actor was in the Kanal 2 comedy series '' Wremja'' in 2001. He would appear in the program as a regular until 2003. This was followed by a dual role in the Finnish YLE2 television series ''Siperian Nero!'' He would go on to appear in roles for such television series as: ''Rikospoliisi ei laula'' (2006), ''Ohtlik lend'' (2006), ''Kelgukoerad'' (2007), ''Brigaad 3'' (2007), '' Kättemaksukontor'' (2009-2012), among others. In 2004, he appeared on his own television program ''Jan E. Uuspõld Show'' on TV3. In 2014 he appeared on the popular
reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...
program '' Su nägu kõlab tuttavalt'' (English: ''Your Face Sounds Familiar'') where celebrity contestants impersonate singers. Uuspõld's impersonations consisted of
Justin Bieber Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is recognized for his multi-genre musical performances. He was discovered by record executive Scooter Braun in 2008 and subsequently brought to the U ...
, Vesa-Matti Loiri,
Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (; born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. Known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the James Bond music, theme songs to three James Bond films - the only artist to officially perform more than o ...
, B.B. King and Fred Astaire. In 2011, he also competed for charity and won performing on '' Tantsud tähtedega'', the Estonian version of ''
Dancing with the Stars ''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
''. Since 2015, he has appeared as the character Urmas Kuldnokk on the Kanal 2 weekly television comedy series ''Takso''. In 2019, he began appearing in a starring role as the character Aksel in the Eesti Televisioon (ETV) comedy-drama television series ''Lahutus Eesti moodi'' opposite actress Liina Vahtrik. In 2024, he began appearing in the role of Mart in the Ergo Kuld directed TV3 drama ''Valetamisklubi''. Shortly after leaving the Estonian Drama Theatre, Uuspõld had an idea to create a comedic
road movie A road movie is a film genre, genre of film in which the main characters leave home on a road trip, typically altering the perspective from their everyday lives. Road movies often depict travel in the hinterlands, with the films exploring the the ...
. After presenting his idea to directors and screenwriters Rain Tolk and Andres Maimik, the three collaborated in making the 2007 comedy '' Jan Uuspõld läheb Tartusse'' (English release title: ''186 Kilometers''). In the film Uuspõld plays a down-on-his-luck caricature of himself, trying to hitchhike from Tallinn to Tartu to perform in a role at the Vanemuine theater. Along the way, he encounters a vision of deceased opera singer
Georg Ots Georg Ots (21 March 1920 – 5 September 1975) was an Estonian baritone. He sang at the Estonian National Opera from 1951 to his death in 1975. Ots gained wider recognition with his roles at the Bolshoi Theatre, particularly with his lead role in ...
, a perverse truck driver, a man kept as a slave, a hippie, neo-Nazis, the Estonian Army and Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in a cameo appearance, among others. The film premiered in Estonia in 2007 and became the most viewed movie of the year, bringing a record number of people to the cinemas. In 2021, he appeared in the role of Aadam in the Ergo Kuld directed comedy film ''Jahihooaeg'' alongside Harriet Toompere, Mirtel Pohla and Grete Kuld.


Personal life

Jan Uuspõld currently resides in Nõmme with his wife, Gerli Tiganik. The two were married in 2013. He has a daughter, Laura-Lisete, from a previous relationship with Margit Roosaar and was previously married to actress Marion Poom, with whom he has a son, Fred. He previously had a long-term relationship with actress Liina Vahtrik.elu.24
''Jan Uuspõld tõi teatrisse kolm kaasat korraga.'' 16 February 2012. Retrieved 7 Mat 2016.


Awards

* Estonian Radio Theatre Actor Award for the best radio play (Jörgen - ''Linnud'', Karl Raismik - ''Noored hinged'', Ekke - ''Domini Cane'') (2001) *Suur Ants, Estonian Drama Theatre Prize (Osvald Alving - ''Kummitused'') (2003) *Baltic Theatre Festival OmaDRAAMA Actor Award ( Eduard Wiiralt - ''Põrgu wärk'') (2006)
Kaval-Ants
Estonian Drama Theatre Prize for promoting the theatre in a television show, ''Tantsud tähtedega'' (2011) * Oskar Luts Humor Prize (2014) *Estonian Radio Theatre Actor Award (Reading of A. H. Tammsaare 's novel ''Põrgupõhja uus Vanapagan'') (2018)


Selected filmography

* '' 8 Views of Lake Biwa'' (Estonian: ''Biwa järve 8 nägu'', 2024) * ''Melchior the Apothecary. The Executioner's Daughter'' (Estonian: ''Apteeker Melchior. Timuka tütar'') (2022) * ''Swing, Axe and the Tree of Eternal Love'' (Estonian: ''Kiik, Kirves ja Igavese Armastuse Puu'') (2022) * ''Hunting Season'' (Estonian: ''Jahihooaeg'') (2021) * ''Estonian Funeral'' (Estonian: ''Eesti matus'') (2021) * '' Raggie'' (Estonian: ''Sipsik''; animated feature, voice) (2020) * ''Kratt'' (2020) * ''Asjad, millest me ei räägi'' (2020) * ''Vanamehe film'' (animated feature, voice) (2019) * ''The Manslayer/The Virgin/The Shadow'' (Estonian: ''Mehetapja/Süütu/Vari'') (2017) * ''Swingers'' (Estonian: ''Svingerid'') (2017) * ''The Spy and the Poet'' (Estonian: ''Luuraja ja Luuletaja'') (2016) * '' Free Range'' (Estonian: ''Free Range: Ballaad maailma heakskiitmisest'') (2013) * ''Vasha'' (2009) * '' 186 Kilometers'' (Estonian release title: ''Jan Uuspõld läheb Tartusse'') (2007) * ''Hundi agoonia'' (2006) * '' Ruudi'' (2006) * ''
Frank and Wendy ''Frank and Wendy'' () is a 2005 Estonian animated film directed by Kaspar Jancis, Ülo Pikkov, and Priit Tender. It was released on December 3, 2004 (Black Nights Film Festival), March 25, 2005 (Estonia) Plot Two FBI agents investigate Nazis an ...
'' (Estonian: ''Frank ja Wendy'', animated feature, voice) (2004) * '' Somnambulance'' (Estonian: ''Somnambuul'') (2003) * ''Made in Estonia'' (Estonian release title: ''Vanad ja kobedad saavad jalad alla'') (2003) * '' Ladybirds' Christmas'' (Estonian: ''Lepatriinude jõulud''; animated feature, voice) (2001)


References


External links


Prem ProductionsJan Uuspõld
* * Jan Uuspõld at th
Eesti Draamateater.

Luxury Filters
performing "Tramm nr 66" on ETV in 1992. {{DEFAULTSORT:Uuspold, Jan 1973 births Living people Estonian male stage actors Estonian male film actors Estonian male television actors Estonian rock musicians Estonian comedians 21st-century Estonian male singers Male actors from Tallinn Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni 20th-century Estonian male actors 21st-century Estonian male actors Singers from Tallinn 20th-century Estonian male singers