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1-17 of 17
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Born in 15 March 1959 as Renny Lauri Mauritz Harjola, he is the most successful Finnish film director in the history of Hollywood.
Harlin started his career in film business in the beginning of 1980s when he was directing commercials and company films for companies like Shell. Later he worked as a buyer for Finnish film distributor and met Finnish Markus Selin in Los Angeles. They became friends and started writing a screenplay called "Arctic Heat". The project started fast and soon they had Chuck Norris signed on leading role for the film. But with money problems shooting schedule didn't hold and Norris left the project, but Selin and Harlin got Mike Norris for the leading role. They wrote new script, Born American (1986), and got financial help from USA. In the year 1986 Born American (1986) was finished and the most expensive Finnish film ever opened in USA in over 1,000 theaters and reached no 9.
The film wasn't successful in Finland, where it was banned. Harlin moved to Los Angeles and got a job from Halloween (1978) producer Irwin Yablans who offered him script of "Prison" to film. Film was made with low budget and distributed with only 42 copies. In the same year 1988 he got a job from New Line Cinema to direct A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) after meeting producer Robert Shaye numerous times, who at the first didn't want Harlin to direct the film. It became the highest-grossing film in the series, though its budget was seven times greater than the original "A Nightmare on Elm Street" film.
20th Century Fox wanted Harlin to direct the Andrew Dice Clay rock'n roll comedy The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) and also a sequel to Die Hard (1988). Harlin made the both, but only Die Hard 2 (1990) was commercially successful, with over 239 million dollar worldwide gross. Next he directed Cliffhanger (1993) with Sylvester Stallone which made $255 million worldwide and was nominated for 3 Oscar's. Before Cliffhanger (1993) Harlin was hired to direct "Alien³" but he left the project because of creative differences.
His next film Cutthroat Island (1995) was a pirate film made with $100 million budget. Unfortunately it came out without good promotion and flopped badly. It made only $10 million in USA and for a time became the biggest flop in Hollywood history. But for Harlin, it wasn't a total loss.
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) was a critical success, but was a box office flop, grossing only $30 million domestically with a $65 million budget.
In year 1998, Warner Bros. wanted a summer blockbuster for the year 1999 and Renny Harlin was the right name to direct. Deep Blue Sea (1999) came to theaters after costing 60 million dollars to film and made $160 million worldwide. The film never hit the top spot in the USA but still grossed $73 millions in the USA alone.
Harlin was hired to direct Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) after John Frankenheimer left the job and died shortly after it, and Paul Schrader was fired. Producers knew that Harlin could made a blockbuster even with the weak script, and so he did. With $50 million budget the film opened in number 1 and grossed $80 million worldwide.
Probably most liked Harlin's film Mindhunters (2004) was released in 2004 after years post-production. It was released in USA in 2005 in over 1,000 theaters but it only reached 10th place. In 9 weeks it grossed only $4 million dollars.
The Covenant (2006) was released in 2006. With non-famous (but attractive) actors, the film hit the top in its opening weekend and became a successful film. With a $20 million budget, it grossed $37 million worldwide and DVD sale brought $20 million more.- Actor
- Writer
- Production Designer
Aku Hirviniemi was born on 5 December 1983 in Riihimäki, Finland. He is an actor and writer, known for The Unknown Soldier (2017), Luokkakokous (2015) and Harjakainen: The Movie. He has been married to Sonja Kailassaari since 2018. They have one child. He was previously married to Niina Lahtinen.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Pertti Weckström was born on 29 January 1933 in Riihimäki, Finland. He was an actor, known for Kihlaus (1955), Reds (1981) and Reviisori (1975). He was married to Eila Hytönen. He died on 19 October 2010 in Helsinki, Finland.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Laura Lehmus was born in 1972 in Riihimäki, Finland. She is a director and writer, known for Sweet Disaster (2021), AlieNation (2014) and Not Going Down (2001).- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Niina Lahtinen was born on 23 November 1979 in Riihimäki, Finland. She is an actress and writer, known for Nieminen & Lahtinen Show (2016), Saturday Night Live (2016) and Siskonpeti (2014). She was previously married to Aku Hirviniemi.- Pekka Autiovuori was born on 19 March 1946 in Riihimäki, Finland. He is an actor, known for Tunteita (1965), Uuno Turhapuro kaksoisagentti (1987) and Kaikenlaisia karkulaisia (1981). He has been married to Marjukka Halttunen since 1987. He was previously married to Pia Kyllikki Helve and Lena Ingeborg Autiovuori.
- Actor
- Writer
Veikko Sinisalo was born on 30 September 1926 in Riihimäki, Finland. He was an actor and writer, known for The Unknown Soldier (1955), Täällä Pohjantähden alla (1968) and Montserrat, taipumaton (1963). He was married to Raija Anneli Hurri and Kaija Sinisalo. He died on 16 December 2003 in Tampere, Finland.- Tarja Markus was born on 14 January 1946 in Riihimäki, Finland. She is an actress, known for Punatukka (1969), Vain silloin kun nauran (1984) and A Time of Roses (1969). She has been married to Pertti Roisko since 1978. They have one child. She was previously married to Jorma Markus.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Matti Lehtelä was born on 28 May 1906 in Riihimäki, Finland. He was an actor, known for Putkinotko (1954), Vääpelin kauhu (1957) and Varjoja Kannaksella (1943). He was married to Sylva Rossi. He died on 13 April 1971 in Helsinki, Finland.- Aino-Kaisa Pekonen was born on 24 January 1979 in Riihimäki, Finland.
- Jukka Jalonen was born on 2 November 1962 in Riihimäki, Finland.
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Asko Tolonen was born on 6 September 1942 in Riihimäki, Finland. He is a director and writer, known for Tunteita (1965), Kesän maku (1975) and Deckpassenger (1968).- Writer
- Producer
Antero Karapalo was born on 11 June 1942 in Riihimäki, Finland. He was a writer and producer, known for Kuntoruutu (1968), Kun hockey Suomeen tuli... (1987) and Kuuselan Kiirastuli (1985). He died on 4 July 1999 in Tampere, Finland.- Alpo Vammelvuo was born on 26 August 1923 in Riihimäki, Finland. He was an actor, known for Tähtisilmä (1955), Pää pystyyn Helena (1957) and Tanssi yli hautojen (1950). He was married to Seija Silfverberg and Eila Pennanen. He died on 27 April 1963.
- Satu Taiveaho was born on 29 September 1976 in Riihimäki, Finland.
- Kaarlo Gustafsson was born on 21 June 1926 in Riihimäki, Finland. He is an actor, known for Sodan ja rauhan miehet (1978), Otus (1966) and Konkurssi (1972).
- Janne Lahti was born on 20 July 1982 in Riihimäki, Finland.