Actor Petri Poikolainen has died

Actor Petri Poikolainen has died at the age of 50. The information about Poikolainen’s death is confirmed to HS by the film director Teemu Nikki.

Poikolainen is best known for his leading role in Niki’s film The blind man who didn’t want to see the Titanic. Poikolainen received the Jussi award for best actor in 2022 for the role.

The film was also awarded at several foreign film festivals, and in autumn 2021 it received the audience award at the Venice Film Festival.

Poikolainen, who played a blind person, had actually lost his sight himself.

In the year In 2000, Poikolainen, who graduated from Teatterikorkeakoulu, became ill with MS in 2008, which led to his blindness. Poikolainen had to stop working at the Helsinki City Theater in 2011.

Before that, he had acted in Seinäjoki city theater and Teatteri Euroopa four.

The blind man who didn’t want to see the Titanic – at the time of filming, Poikolainen’s illness had progressed to such an extent that it was difficult to work.

He told in 2019 In an interview with HSthat the pain caused by the disease disappeared from his mind during filming, when he concentrated on his role. Poikolainen also appreciated Niki’s decision to choose him for the main role.

“Suddenly, a healthy actor is not put in a wheelchair to play a blind and disabled person, but an actor who actually has those qualities. I count them as qualities, not defects”. Poikolainen described.

About his illness regardless, Poikolainen approached his situation with humor. He characterized his feet as “shit pets”.

“They follow me everywhere, don’t obey anything and eat most of my food. And they get all the attention by swinging,” said Poikolainen.

He didn’t regret never being able to see a movie starring him.

“But I hear it and I know what it felt like. I’ve lived those feelings for real.”

Poikolainen’s death was reported earlier on Sunday Yle.