author
Jussi Snellman
1879–1969
Best known as a Finnish stage actor and director, he also left behind texts that found a life in music and print. His long career at the Finnish National Theatre made him a familiar name in Finnish cultural history.
1 Audiobook
Ristimiekka
by Jussi Snellman
About the author
Born in Oulu on June 28, 1879, Samuli Johannes "Jussi" Snellman studied theology for a short time before turning to the stage. He joined the Finnish National Theatre in 1901 and remained there for decades, building a remarkably long career as an actor and later also as a director.
Snellman appeared in both theatre and early Finnish film, and after retiring from the National Theatre he continued working in theatre as a dramaturge and director at Helsingin Kansanteatteri. Sources about his work also show that his writing was used in vocal music settings, which helps explain why his name appears in literary and music catalogs as well as theatre histories.
He died in Helsinki on April 25, 1969. Today he is remembered chiefly for his enduring contribution to Finnish theatre, especially through his many years on the National Theatre stage.