Aare Laanemets

Aare Laanemets (6 February 1954 – 28 October 2000) was an Estonian actor and theatre director, who is possibly best recalled for his role as Joosep Toots in three film adaptations of novels penned by author Oskar Luts: Kevade, Suvi (1976), and Sügis (1990). Laanemets' career began as a teenager and he worked steadily as an adult as a stage, film, and television actor until his death in 2000, aged 46. In 1984, he co-founded the Pärnu School Theatre, where he worked as an instructor and stage director.

Early life and education Aare Laanemets was born in Tallinn to Johannes and Ilse Dagmar Laanemets (née Heinluht). He had one sibling. Afterwards, he enrolled in the Performing Arts Department of Tallinn State Conservatory (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) under instruction of actor and theatre pedagogue Voldemar Panso, graduating in 1976. Among his graduating classmates were Merle Karusoo, Ago-Endrik Kerge, Urmas Kibuspuu, Kalju Orro, Anne Paluver, Külliki Tool, Lembit Peterson, Priit Pedajas, Eero Spriit, and Peeter Volkonski.

Career Film At age fifteen, while still a secondary student at the Tallinn Sports Boarding School, Laanemets was cast as the character Joosep Toots in the 1969 Arvo Kruusement directed Estonian language film Kevade (English: Spring) for Tallinnfilm; a film adaptation of author Oskar Luts' popular 1912 short novel of the same name which followed the lives of residents of the rural, fictitious village of Paunvere in the early 20th-century. Laanemets' role of Joosep Toots would prove to be one of his most popular and enduring film roles in Estonia. In 1974, he had a small role in the Naum Birman-directed Russian language World War II action film . During his career, Laanemets appeared in approximately twenty films. In addition to Estonian and Russian language films, Laanemets also appeared in the 1981 Gunārs Piesis-directed Latvian language historical drama feature film for Riga Film Studio. His last film appearance was a small role in the 1993 Pekka Karjalainen-directed joint Estonian-Finnish co-production comedy feature Hysteria.

Stage In 1976, shortly following his graduation from the Tallinn State Conservatory, Laanemets began an engagement as an actor at the Estonian Drama Theatre in Tallinn that lasted until his departure in 1983 when he joined the Endla Theatre in Pärnu. Laanemets performed in over forty roles at the Endla Theatre and directed eleven plays, including five for children. In 1984, he co-founded the Pärnu School Theatre with actors Elmar Trink and Ahti Puudersell, where he worked as an instructor. Some of his students included Liisa Aibel, Kersti Heinloo, Külli Teetamm, Piret Laurimaa, Marko Matvere, and Ago Anderson. In 1981, he appeared in the role of Laimonis Kalniņš in the Aloizs Brenčs-directed, Latvian language, seven part television period melodrama . The following year, he appeared as Valentine in the Boris Nebieridze-directed, Russian language, two-part musical drama Faust.

Personal life and death

Aare Laanemets was married and divorced. He had two children. Prior to his death he was in a relationship with actress and singer . On 28 October 2000, he died after suffering a stroke in Tallinn, aged 46. He was interred at the cemetery in the village of Kullamaa in Lääne County.