Markku Tapani Toikka (born 5 April 1955 in Somero, Finland) is a Finnish stand-up comedian[1] and actor.[2]

Markku Toikka
Markku Toikka (right) in May 2006
Born
Markku Tapani Toikka

(1955-04-05) 5 April 1955 (age 69)
Somero, Finland

His acting roles include "Rahikainen" in Aki Kaurismäki's Crime and Punishment and "Pekka" in another Aki Kaurismäki film Calamari Union. In Calamari Union, Pekka appears for most of the film to gibber in English in an apparent schizophrenic delusion about his days as a soldier of fortune. This viewer interpretation is subverted towards the end of the movie, as a group of Latin American freedom fighters wreak their vengeance by shooting him like a dog.

As a stand-up comic, his shtick has largely been that of the balding middle aged man going through an identity crisis.

He lives in Helsinki with his wife, Ulla-Maija, and two children, son Toivo Toikka, who plays in band called "Security" and acts in amateur movies, and daughter named Tuuli.

References

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  1. ^ Kotirinta, Pirkko (29 November 2010). "Second-generation Dallapé Orchestra aspires to win hearts and minds again". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  2. ^ James, Caryn (23 August 1990). "MOVIE REVIEW: Calamari Union (1985) From Tragedy to Absurdity With Finland's Prolific Upstart". New York Times. Retrieved 25 January 2011.