Tõnu Tepandi (born 4 July 1948 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 ...

) is an Estonian actor, singer, teacher, theatre pedagogue, politician, and an Estonian social figure.

Education and work

1955–1966 he attended Tallinn 2. Secondary School (). 1966–1970 he attended Tallinn Conservatory, Performing Arts Department, actor specialty. 1970–1983 he was actor of Vanemuine Theater. 1983–1987 he was actor of the Estonian National Youth Theater. From 1985 he is lecturer of voice engineering at

Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre 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 ...

, School of Performing Arts (since 2006 professor). 1987–1992 he was related to humor organization called ''Aara'' ( :et). From 1987 he is freelance actor. 1994–1997 Deputy Chairman of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and Chairman of the Endowment of Applied Arts. 1997–2008 worked as a lecturer at

Viljandi Culture Academy University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy () is an Estonian institution of higher education, situated in the provincial town of Viljandi, central Estonia. The UT Viljandi Culture Academy merged with the University of Tartu in 2005. The UT VC ...

, Estonian Institute of Humanities,

Estonian Academy of Arts The Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonian language, Estonian: ''Eesti Kunstiakadeemia'', EKA) is the only public university in Estonia providing higher education in art, design, architecture, Media (communication), media, art history and conservation ...

. 1996–1998 he was chairman of the jury of the Estonian Drama Festival. 1992–1999 he was member of

Riigikogu The Riigikogu (, from Estonian ''riigi-'', "of the state", and ''kogu'', "assembly") is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the prime minister and chi ...

. 1994–2000 he was chairman of the Estonian Theater Association.

Books

''Alguses on hääl'' ("There is a Voice at First")

Music

Concerts: *"Mu kodu on punaste pihlade all" ("My home is under red stalks")

Vanemuine Vanemuine () is a theatre in Tartu, Estonia. It is the first Estonian language, Estonian-language theatre. Stemming from the Vanemuine Society (1865), the theatre's first performance was Lydia Koidula's ''Saaremaa Onupoeg'' ("The cousin from S ...

, 1977 *"Süda on mul vaevas" ("My heart is troubled") Vanemuine, 1980 *"Tepandi ja Vanapagana lood" ("Tepandi, the Devil and their stories") Youth Theater, 1985 Film Music: *"Lõppematu päev" ("An Endless Day") 1971, by Virve Aruoja and

Jaan Tooming Jaan Tooming (28 March 1946 – 5 April 2024) was an Estonian actor, theatre and film director and writer. Life and career Jaan Tooming was born in Tallinn on 28 March 1946. In 1968, he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory (now, the Eston ...

, music by Tõnu Tepandi and

Olav Ehala Olav Ehala (born 31 July 1950 in Tallinn) is an Estonian composer. In 1969, he graduated from Tallinn Music School and then studied composition under Eugen Kapp at the Tallinn State Conservatory, graduating in 1974. From 1975 to 1991 he was the ...

Albums

*LP "Tõnu Tepandi laulud" ("Songs of Tõnu Tepandi"), 1982 *CD "Kõlakoda" ("The Chalet"), 2003

Important roles

*Romulus –

Friedrich Dürrenmatt Friedrich Dürrenmatt (; 5 January 1921 – 14 December 1990) was a Swiss author and dramatist. He was a proponent of epic theatre whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author's work included avant- ...

"Romulus Suur" ("Romulus the Great"), TRK Stage Artist, 1970 *Ullike –

Evald Hermaküla Evald Hermaküla (6 December 1941 – 16 May 2000) was an Estonian actor and director. Hermaküla was born in the village of Maardu in Jõelähtme Parish. In 1965 he graduated from the University of Tartu in geology. In 1965 he also finished his ...

"Üks ullike läks rändama" ("One ullike went on a journey"), Vanemuine 1973 *Andrei Buslai – Aleksey Dudarev "Üle läve" ("Over the threshold"),

Ugala Ugala is a theatre in Viljandi, Estonia. The theatre was founded in 1920 opening on January 10 of that year. The first production was Oscar Wilde's "Salome (play), Salome". Ugala's Artistic Directors *1925 - 1926: Andres Särev *1926 – 1928 ...

theatre, 1984 *George –

John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck ( ; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social percep ...

"Hiirtest ja inimestest" ("Mice and People"), Ugala theatre, 1993 *Horace Vandergelder – "Hallo, Dolly!" By

Jerry Herman Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre. One of the most commercially successful Broadway songwriters of his time, Herman was the composer and lyricist ...

Estonian National Opera Estonian National Opera (''Rahvusooper Estonia'') is the national opera company of Estonia. The company is based at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn. The theatre has had several names throughout its existence. The latest one being "The Estonian Na ...

, 1996 *Henry Higgins –

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

"Pygmalion", Ugala theatre, 2000 *Domenico Soriano –

Eduardo De Filippo Eduardo De Filippo OMRI (; 26 May 1900 – 31 October 1984), also known simply as ''Eduardo'', was an Italian actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright, best known for his Neapolitan language, Neapolitan works ''Filumena Marturano'' and ...

"Abielu Itaalia moodi" ("Italian Wedding"), Ugala theatre, 2001 *Fellbom –

Max Lundgren Max Lundgren (22 March 1937 – 27 May 2005) was a Swedish author of children's books. He debuted in 1962 with the book '' Hunden som äntligen visslade'', and wrote over 50 books. Some of his books have become TV series, among other ''Pojken med ...

"Unistus Mallorcast" ("Dream of Majorca"), Ugala theatre, 2001 *Father and father-in-law –

Vaino Vahing Vaino Vahing (15 February 1940 – 23 March 2008) was an Estonian writer, prosaist, psychiatrist and playwright. Starting from 1973, he was a member of the Estonian Writers Union. Early life Vlahing was born in Aravu, Põlva County. In 1963 he ...

"Suvekool" ("Summer School"), Rakvere Theatre, 2003 *Juhan Luiga – Katri Aaslav-Tepandi and

"Teatriromanss" ("Theater Romance") National Opera of Estonia, 2004 *Olovernes –

A. H. Tammsaare Anton Hansen (18 (O.S.)/30 January 1878 – 1 March 1940), better known by his pseudonym A. H. Tammsaare and its variants, was an Estonian writer whose pentalogy '' Truth and Justice'' (''Tõde ja õigus''; 1926–1933) is considered one of t ...

"Juudit" ("Jew"), Estonian National Opera, 2006 *President Konstantin Päts – "President 1939" by Katri Aaslav-Tepandi and Tõnu Tepandi, Estonian National Opera, 2008

Acknowledgements

Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star (; ) was instituted in 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonian citizens and foreigners to give recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state. Design Classes The Order of the White Star ...

, V Class 2002

Personal life

From 1969, Tõnu Tepandi was married to artist Tiiu Tepandi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tepandi, Tõnu 1948 births Living people Estonian male stage actors Estonian male film actors Male actors from Tallinn Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 5th Class 20th-century Estonian male actors 21st-century Estonian male actors Members of the Riigikogu, 1992–1995 Members of the Riigikogu, 1995–1999