Biography for
Mikko Niskanen (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

31 January 1929, Äänekoski, Finland

Date of Death

25 November 1990, Helsinki, Finland

Birth Name

Mikko Johannes Niskanen

Mini Biography

Mikko Niskanen (1929-1990) was a Finnish film director, writer, producer and actor. He started his directing career in 1962 after studying film making in Moscow. His first feature film The Boys (1962) was a proof of his talent and earned him a Jussi Award for directing. During the next 12 months he also directed movies Sissit (1963) - which he won an Jussi Award for directing also - and Hopeaa rajan takaa (1963). All of these three movies were war-themed.

During the next few years he worked for TV, but returned to film industry in 1966 with his film Skin, Skin (1966). The film became a huge success with 700,000 tickets sold to screenings. The film stays in Finnish film industry as 12th highest grossing Finnish film of the history. It was also sold to several different countries. Niskanen won a Jussi for directing.

His next two films Girl of Finland (1967) and Asfalttilampaat (1968) weren't so well received, but earned him a Jussi for directing the first one. In early 1970s he directed Song of the Bloodred Flower (1971) which was everything but a success.

He made his comeback with "Eight Deadly Shots" (1972) which was originally produced for TV. 5-hour movie was eventually cut to a little over two hours for a theatrical release. The film earned him two Jussis; one for directing, another one for best leading role.

Niskanen never had the same success that he had with Kahdeksan surmanluotia (1972). His other films of 1970s didn't turn to box office hits or award winners. In the 1980s he received his sixth and last Jussi for directing for his film Gotta Run! (1982). After it, he directed also two films based on popular novels; Life's Hardy Men (1986) and Lumberjacking (1988) before his death in 1990.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Vuokko Inkeri	(1974 - 1975) (divorced)
Margarita Niskanen	(1960 - 1967) (divorced)
Eila Mäkelä	(1950 - 1954) (divorced) 3 children

Trade Mark

Amateur actors

Trivia

Won 6 Jussi's for directing, more than anyone else in the history.

Studied directing in Moscow.

His film Skin, Skin (1966) is 12th on the list of Finnish films with most admissions. It was 2nd highest grossing Finnish movie of 1960s.

He has won more Jussi awards for directing than anyone else.

Of his 14 feature films, 9 were based on novels.

Brother of Sakari Niskanen.