Simo Salminen
Encyclopedia
Simo Salminen is a Finnish comic-actor best known for his many performances in movies and television shows by Spede Pasanen
. He, Vesa-Matti Loiri
and Pasanen himself are the three important players in almost all of Spede's productions. He frequently plays a supporting or at the very least a relevant secondary character in many of Spede's films, usually the bungling assistant to the main character (often portrayed by Pasanen). His characters are frequently named after Simo (such as in Pähkähullu Suomi
, Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit
).
He is best recognised in the role of the luckless mechanic Sörselssön in the Uuno Turhapuro
series of films who works at an auto-repair shop with the foul-mouthed Härski Hartikainen (Pasanen).
Prior to becoming one of Spede's regular actors he was the Clown Water-jump champion of Finland
.
Salminen's company took a loan denominated in foreign currency before the devaluations of Finnish markka in the early 1990s. As a result of the devaluations and the recession, the company went bankrupt, forcing Salminen himself into insolvency himself. As the Finnish legal system does not recognize personal bankruptcy
, even a part of his pension still continues to be deducted for this intractable debt. In addition he has had bouts of serious illness and has lost his house in a fire. Currently he lives in a sheltered home
in Espoo
.
Spede Pasanen
Pertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, humorist, inventor, TV personality and practitioner of gags....
. He, Vesa-Matti Loiri
Vesa-Matti Loiri
Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri is a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004....
and Pasanen himself are the three important players in almost all of Spede's productions. He frequently plays a supporting or at the very least a relevant secondary character in many of Spede's films, usually the bungling assistant to the main character (often portrayed by Pasanen). His characters are frequently named after Simo (such as in Pähkähullu Suomi
Pähkähullu Suomi
Pähkähullu Suomi is a 1967 comedy by Spede Pasanen. It is occasionally cited as one of the best sources for his abstract sense of humour since the film has very little in the sense of plot and is more of a montage of various events...
, Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit
Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit
Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit is a 1979 comedy directed, written and starring Spede Pasanen, along with the typical comic-cast of Simo Salminen, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Tapio Hämäläinen and Olavi Ahonen....
).
He is best recognised in the role of the luckless mechanic Sörselssön in the Uuno Turhapuro
Uuno Turhapuro
Uuno Turhapuro is a Finnish comedy character created by Spede Pasanen and played by Vesa-Matti Loiri. Originally appeared in Spede Show during 1971–1973, the character gained popularity through the Uuno Turhapuro films....
series of films who works at an auto-repair shop with the foul-mouthed Härski Hartikainen (Pasanen).
Prior to becoming one of Spede's regular actors he was the Clown Water-jump champion of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Salminen's company took a loan denominated in foreign currency before the devaluations of Finnish markka in the early 1990s. As a result of the devaluations and the recession, the company went bankrupt, forcing Salminen himself into insolvency himself. As the Finnish legal system does not recognize personal bankruptcy
Personal bankruptcy
Personal bankruptcy is a procedure which, in certain jurisdictions, allows an individual to declare bankruptcy. In other jurisdictions, bankruptcies are reserved for corporations.-Canada:...
, even a part of his pension still continues to be deducted for this intractable debt. In addition he has had bouts of serious illness and has lost his house in a fire. Currently he lives in a sheltered home
Sheltered housing
Sheltered housing is a British English term covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people. Most commonly it refers to grouped housing such as a block or "scheme" of flats or bungalows with a scheme manager or "officer"; traditionally the manager has...
in Espoo
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
.