About

Known credits:
75
Birthday:
1929-01-31
Place of birth:
Äänekoski, Finland
Website:
N/A

Mikko Niskanen

Overview

Mikko Niskanen was a Finnish film director and actor. He was born in Äänekoski, Central Finland in 1929. He was the third of six children, and his father worked as a timber barge pilot. His mother too had a job outside the home, so the children often spent summers with their grandmother in Viitasaari.

At the age of 13, Mikko Niskanen started working in timber felling and floating. Two years later he enrolled in a vocational school in Jyväskylä to become a car mechanic. He took a serious interest in amateur theatre and was accepted to study at the Finnish Theatre Academy in Helsinki from 1947 until 1950. He then acted in Jyväskylä and Kuopio theatres until 1954 when he landed an actor's job at the film studios of Suomen Filmiteollisuus in Helsinki. One of his first film roles was in Edvin Laine's The Unknown Soldier (1955). Between 1958 and 1961 Niskanen studied at the Moscow Film School in the Soviet Union.

Niskanen's 1962 film The Boys was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival. He continued his directing career focusing on themes such as rural life and youth. His second breakthrough was Under Your Skin (Käpy selän alla, 1966), a story of two young couples spending a weekend camping in the countryside. The film received six Jussi Awards and was followed by another story about young lovers, Asfalttilampaat (1968).

Niskanen's tour de force as both actor and director was the five-hour television drama Eight Deadly Shots which was also released as a 145-minute theatrical version edited by Jörn Donner. Based on a true story from late 1960s Finland, it is a naturalistic drama about a poor farmer struggling to make a living for his family. He gradually becomes a violent alcoholic who goes on killing spree when the police arrive to calm him down. Besides directing, Niskanen gave a powerful and intense performance in the leading role. The film, like many of Niskanen's works were shot on locations around his home province north of Jyväskylä.

Mikko Niskanen died of cancer at the age of 61.

Known for

Acting
1988 Nuoruuteni savotat Actor (uncredited) 58
Average
1986 Elämän vonkamies Actor Auku-eno 58
Average
1983 Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika Actor Martti, Monan äidin esimies 58
Average
1982 Hamsterit Actor Jallu 69
Fair
1982 The Age of Iron Actor Tiera 69
Fair
1982 Gotta Run! Actor Aaro, työnjohtaja 58
Average
1978 Syksyllä kaikki on toisin Actor Kalervo Haapanen 59
Average
1977 Pulakapina Actor Heikki Niskanen N/A
N/A
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Actor Pasi 59
Average
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Actor Pasi 69
Fair
1971 Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta Actor Palsami / Rehentelevä tukkilainen 58
Average
1968 Here, Beneath the North Star Actor 58
Average
1967 Girl of Finland Actor luennoitsija 58
Average
1967 Elokuva jalostavasta rakkaudesta Actor Netsajev N/A
N/A
1966 Skin, Skin Actor Man on Dance Floor (uncredited) 58
Average
1962 Naiset, jotka minulle annoit Actor 58
Average
1962 Hän varasti elämän Actor (uncredited) 58
Average
1962 Älä nuolase… Actor 58
Average
1960 Isaskar Keturin ihmeelliset seikkailut Actor (uncredited) 58
Average
1958 Verta käsissämme Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Autuas eversti Actor (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1958 Pekka ja Pätkä Suezilla Actor (uncredited) 58
Average
1958 Kahden ladun poikki Actor (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1957 Pekka ja Pätkä sammakkomiehinä Actor UN-soldier #2 58
Average
1957 1918 Actor (uncredited) 59
Average
1957 Herra sotaministeri Actor (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1955 The Unknown Soldier Actor Mielonen 60
Fair
1955 Kaunis Kaarina Actor (uncredited) 58
Average
1955 Tähtisilmä Actor artist Sumppu 59
Average
1955 Ryysyrannan Jooseppi Actor Villager (uncredited) 58
Average
1950 Tanssi yli hautojen Actor 59
Average
1950 Köyhä laulaja Actor (uncredited) 59
Average

Directing
1988 Nuoruuteni savotat Directing Director 58
Average
1986 Elämän vonkamies Directing Director 58
Average
1983 Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika Directing Director 58
Average
1982 Gotta Run! Directing Director 58
Average
1978 Syksyllä kaikki on toisin Directing Director 59
Average
1977 Pulakapina Directing Director N/A
N/A
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Directing Director 59
Average
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Directing Director 69
Fair
1971 Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta Directing Director 58
Average
1968 Asfalttilampaat Directing Director 58
Average
1967 Girl of Finland Directing Director 58
Average
1967 Elokuva jalostavasta rakkaudesta Directing Director N/A
N/A
1967 Ihmisiä elämän pohjalla Directing Director N/A
N/A
1966 Skin, Skin Directing Director 58
Average
1963 Hopeaa rajan takaa Directing Director 58
Average
1963 Commando Assault Directing Director 58
Average
1962 The Boys Directing Director 59
Average

Writing
1988 Nuoruuteni savotat Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1986 Elämän vonkamies Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1983 Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika Writing Story 58
Average
1982 Gotta Run! Writing Writer 58
Average
1978 Syksyllä kaikki on toisin Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1977 Pulakapina Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Writing Writer 59
Average
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Writing Writer 69
Fair
1971 Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1968 Asfalttilampaat Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1967 Girl of Finland Writing Writer 58
Average
1963 Hopeaa rajan takaa Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1963 Commando Assault Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1962 The Boys Writing Screenplay 59
Average

Production
1983 Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika Production Producer 58
Average
1982 Gotta Run! Production Producer 58
Average
1978 Syksyllä kaikki on toisin Production Producer 59
Average
1977 Pulakapina Production Producer N/A
N/A
1976 The Accident Production Producer N/A
N/A
1976 The Accident Production Production Supervisor N/A
N/A
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Production Producer 59
Average
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Production Producer 69
Fair
1958 Verta käsissämme Production Location Manager N/A
N/A
1956 Juha Production Location Manager 59
Average

Camera
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Camera Director of Photography 59
Average
1972 Eight Deadly Shots Camera Director of Photography 69
Fair