Kalju Orro

Kalju Orro (born 27 March 1952) is an Estonian stage, film and television actor, acting instructor, lecturer, theatre producer, and pedagogue.

Early life and education Kalju Orro was born in Tartu, where he attended primary and secondary schools. He is a 1970 graduate of Tartu 17 Vocational School. Afterward, he enrolled in the Vanemuine Drama Studios in Tartu, graduating in 1971. In 1972, 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, Lembit Peterson, Aare Laanemets, Jüri Krjukov, Anne Paluver, Külliki Tool, Priit Pedajas, Eero Spriit, and Peeter Volkonski.

Career Stage From 1976 until 1978, he was engaged at the Viktor Kingissepp Tallinn State Academic Drama Theatre (now, the Estonian Drama Theatre) in Tallinn, before departing to the Estonian SSR State Youth Theatre (since 1992, the Tallinn City Theatre), where he has been engaged as an actor and producer since 1978. Other notable film roles include that of Volt in the 1992 Lembit Ulfsak-directed comedy family film Lammas all paremas nurgas, author August Kitzberg in the Rainer Sarnet-directed 2005 thriller Libahundi needus, and as Uugu in the Elmo Nüganen-directed 2006 comedy Meeletu, which was based on the play of the same name by Jaan Tätte. In 2017, he made a cameo appearance as a hospital patient in the Andres Puustusmaa-directed comedy Rohelised kassid.

Orro's first prominent role on Estonian television was as Kilian in the 1976 Elvi Koppel-directed family film Kuidas kuningas kuu peale kippus. Other notable television roles were as Karl in the 1984 Ago-Endrik Kerge-directed and Enn Vetemaa-penned Eesti Televisioon (ETV) comedy television film Püha Susanna ehk meistrite kool, Constable Tults in the 1995 ETV historical drama miniseries Wikmani poisid, Hardi Tiidus in the Jaak Kilmi-directed 2005 ETV comedy-fantasy television film Kohtumine tundmatuga, and as Hendrik Soopalu in the Kanal 2 crime series Kelgukoerad in 2012. In 2013, he joined the cast of the Kanal 2 comedy series Naabriplika as the character Insener. In 2017 he joined the cast of the ETV ten-part drama series Pank, which follows the rise and subsequent misfortunes of a new bank that which emerges in Estonia in the 1990s. In 2020, he appeared in the Peeter Simm directed coming-of-age period drama Vee peal.

Kalju Orro has also worked extensively as a voice actor and radio performer. In 1999, he was awarded the Estonian Radio Actor's Prize.

Educator From 1976 until 1994, Kalju Orro worked as a lecturer and drama instructor at the Performing Arts Department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. From 1995 until 1999, he was a lecturer and instructor at Tallinn Pedagogical University (now, Tallinn University), and returning as a lecturer to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1998. Vana album, a collection of photographs taken by Orro of people and events associated with Estonian theatre, was published in 2002.

Personal life Kalju Orro was married to theatre scholar, editor, and critic Reet Neimar who died in 2008. Their son Oliver Orro, an architect, author, and professor, was born in 1982.

Acknowledgements Estonian Radio Actor Prize (1999) Order of the White Star, IV Class (2005) Karl Ader Award (2007)