Pirkka-Pekka Petelius

{{BLP sources|date=September 2015}}

{{Short description|Finland comedian}}

{{Infobox person

| image = Pirkka-Pekka_Petelius.jpg

| caption = Pirkka-Pekka Petelius at SuomiAreena public debate forum in Pori, 2015

| name = Pirkka-Pekka Petelius

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1953|5|31}}

| birth_place = Alatornio, Lapland, Finland

| occupation = Actor, director, producer, screenwriter, member of the Finnish Parliament

| awards = Special Venla
1989
Special Telvis
1997
HUIPS
2004, for lifetime achievement in comedy

|spouse = Erika Skön (2019 – 2023)

|years_active = 1975–present

}}

Pirkka-Pekka Petelius (born 31 May 1953) is a Finnish actor, director, producer, screenwriter and politician. He has also released six records as a singer. He is a member of the Green League and was elected to the Finnish parliament in the 2019 election with 6,331 personal votes, {{Cite web |title=Yle - Result service - Candidates |url=https://vaalit.yle.fi/ev2019/en/candidates |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=vaalit.yle.fi |language=en}} but is not a member of the parliament any more.

Petelius's breakthrough was in Yleisradio's sketch series Velipuolikuu (1983), which he wrote and also acted in. The popularity gained by the series started Petelius's career as one of the most well-known comedians in Finland. He gained immense popularity due to his work in the sketch series Pulttibois (and its sequel, Manitbois) with Aake Kalliala.{{Cite web |title=Petelius pyyteli saamelaissketsejä anteeksi: Yle hyllyttää ohjelmien julkaisun – esitti ne kuitenkin vasta pari vuotta sitten |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/40a8123d-544f-47e8-b465-c79e860cd63b |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Iltalehti |language=fi}}

File:The Unknown Solder (the film 1985) directed by Rauni Mollberg 1984 (JOKAUS3N01A-8).tif in Niinisalo.]]

Despite being known as a comedian Petelius has also acted in several more serious roles in films and television, especially in the recent years. He played Hietanen in Rauni Mollberg's The Unknown Soldier (1985). Other significant films have been e.g. Aki Kaurismäki's Hamlet Goes Business (1986), Åke Lindman's Lapin kullan kimallus (1999) and Peter Lindholm's Drakarna över Helsingfors (2001).

He also provided the Finnish voice of Timon in Leijonakuningas (The Lion King) (1994).{{cite web|url=http://www.elonet.fi/fi/henkilo/712781|title=Pirkka-Pekka Petelius|website=Elonet.fi|accessdate=7 December 2017}}