
Tõnu Aav
Biography
Tõnu Aav (January 21, 1939 – August 14, 2019) was an Estonian stage, film, TV, and radio actor. Aav was born in Tallinn and graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1961. From 1961 he performed at the Estonian Drama Theatre in Tallinn. He played in dozens of films and twenty screenplays and also recorded a number of radio play and audio CDs (including Uncle Remus stories and Alice in Wonderland) as well as a recurring role as Feliks Viss on the ETV dramatic series Õnne 13. From 1965 until 1974 Aav was married to actress Irja Aav (née Pilvet). The couple had two sons, music producer and conductor Lauri Aav and prop maker Ardi Aav.
Known For & Full Filmography33 Titles

Drama Series - 2009, 16 episodes • as Taavi Raasik
A group of women create an organization named "Kättemaksukontor" to fight for the rights of women and help solve murder mysteries for the police.

Movie - 1964, 2h 15m • as German Pilot
Russian prisoners of war commandeer a tank and lead the Nazis on a cross-country chase in this World War II adventure drama. The Russians use their own tanks so the Nazis can use them as target practice to test a new anti-tank weapon. Knowing that death is near, the brave Russians run amok and tear down German monuments before heading out to a field where female slave laborers are working.

Movie - 1974, 2h 15m • as Narrator
The famous chief of the corsairs Bloody John brings the lovely Isabella back as war booty from yet another foray. The avaricious Isabella shortly seizes power in the gang. Bloody John is reduced to a weak-willed, henpecked subordinate of the female robber. The desperate John escapes and seeks shelter in his dear childhood home in Saaremaa, where he starts earning a living again by honest means.

Movie - 1965, 2h 15m • as Eerik
It's 1940 - the first summer of the Soviet occupation on the Estonian island Saaremaa. Teenagers stepping in their lives have important decisions to make. Should they support the Soviet regime or join the resistance?

Movie - 1984, 2h 15m • as Grünberg
Georg Lurich was a world-famous Estonian professional wrestler in the early 1900-s who became a legend already in his lifetime. He was called not only the world's best technique-wrestler but he was also a sports-philosopher, health and temperance activist, an efficient sports manager, a talent in acting, writing and chess, a "world's citizen" who spoke more than ten languages and an athlete with enormous popularity. At least 14 wrestling clubs in Europe and USA carried his name. This film is an unpretentious attempt to recall that unique man, the first world-famous Estonian.

Drama Series - 2009, 16 episodes • as Ганс Саакс
The series is set in the 1920s. It tells about the first tasks of Isaev. First, he goes to Reval to stop the smuggling of valuables stolen from Gokhran. Upon his return, he is sent to Vladivostok to collect information about the actions of the whites. Then he has to go abroad to monitor counterrevolutionary emigration.

Drama Series - 1984, 16 episodes • as Егор Резен
The Russian Empire, the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the era of Peter I's reforms. At the center of events are Captain Silvestr Ievlev, Lieutenant of the Customs Troops Afanasy Krykov, and Helmsman Ivan Ryabov. All three are very close to the emperor, who entrusts them with commanding the resistance against the Swedish fleet during the defense of Arkhangelsk. Each of the trio plays an important role in the defense of Arkhangelsk and the capture of the Swedish fleet.

Movie - 1966, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
A talented young student of astronomy and an experienced strict professor both dream about discovering a supernova. When the student experiences beginner's luck, the whole research group will be excited. Then, opposite scientific approaches collide and decisions must be made - now the greatness of the scientist's spirit will open up.

Movie - 1970, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
The "Fiery Arc" tells of a grandiose battle on the Kursk Bulge in the summer of 1943. Here was the largest tank battle in the history of World War II. Along with the personal fate of the heroes, the film shows battle scenes, the activities of headquarters and intelligence, those who worked at the front and in the rear.

Movie - 1986, 2h 15m • as prosecutor Farr
Paul Madvig is a businessman in an American town in the 1920s, doing everything to maintain his power. He plans to marry Janet, the daughter of senator Ralph Henry who must be re-elected in order to ensure Paul's position. Paul is sure of himself and treats his competitor Shad O'Rory, who is involved in the gambling business, with arrogance. Then the senator's son is murdered. It is rumoured that Paul is behind the murder. Private detective Ned Beaumont, an old friend of Paul's, starts to investigate the case. Based on the novel "The Glass Key" by Dashiell Hammett.

Movie - 1972, 2h 15m • as Even More Belligerent Mayor
A landlord chases his escaped serf but some town takes the refugee under its protection. That leads to a serious confrontation. Based on a true story.

Movie - 1973, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Ülo and Olev think the German occupation is humiliating and the soldiers are arrogant. But even among Estonians there are people who cannot be trusted - this can have fatal consequences. Witty schoolboys find out that Mr Velirand, who has moved in the apartment that once belonged to their teacher, is a henchman of Fascists. The boys make up their minds to give people warning about the provocator, even if the rebellion is risky and their opponent superior, as it had been in the St George's Night Uprising in 1343.

Movie - 1971, 2h 15m • as Tent
Based on Jaan Anvelt's novel "Outlaws" which deals with the struggle of the Estonian Communist Workers' Movement and the life of revolutionaries in the Republic of Estonia in the 1920s. The film represents the maturation and decay of human soul in tense situations. The dark intersections and the dense, abandoned areas create a tumultuous tension field in which the characters find themselves. Their choices and decisions overwhelm them in one way or another. Where is the way out?

Movie - 1970, 2h 15m • as Innkeeper (uncredited)
The story of Balthasar Russow, an Estonian pastor from the 16th century, his life and life's work - writing The Chronicle of Livonia.

Movie - 2005, 2h 15m • as Manivald
Two long-serving city officials are being forced into compulsory retirement from the environment agency. The enterprising men decide to take it upon themselves to fight predators on the fishing lakes. On a boat trip, they meet the fishermen. But the fishermen and the surrounding wildlife hold more mystery than the men can initially see. A trip to a fishing village will change the men's lives forever.

Movie - 1970, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Fascist Italy's prime-minister Mussolini is arrested following the Allies landing in Sicily. Meanwhile, Soviet troops plan their offense towards Kyiv. Lt. Col. Lukin's regiment crosses the Dnieper river as the division's vanguard. Unbeknownst to them, they're merely a ploy to mislead the Germans so the rest of the army can catch them off guard.

Drama Series - 1971, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
A film novella about a Soviet spy, a pilot of the 'Condor' Legion, connected to the testing of the jet 'Swallow' by Willy Messerschmitt – the Me-262 (in the film, the 'Albatross') – and the disruption of a promising project during the Great Patriotic War.

Movie - 1993, 2h 15m • as Sergei
A rock ‘n’ roll road movie, an absurd comedy and a modern love story between the Finn Sam and the Estonian Mari taking place in the newly independent, poetically nightmarish Baltic countries.

Movie - 1967, 2h 15m • as Людвиг
The year is 1944. The young scout Marianne remains alone behind enemy lines. Having no experience, without communication and support, she starts an important task on her own.

Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as Self
Portrait of a rebel expat Estonian filmmaker Vladimir Karasjov-Orgusaar.

Movie - 1979, 2h 15m • as (voice)
Film about Giufa, the spoon, who is lucky to find a great treasure.

Movie - 2008, 2h 15m • as Self
Veteran actors from the 3 Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - gather at a castle in Latvia to receive awards for their roles as Nazi villains in propagandist Soviet war films. They reminisce about the films that made them famous throughout the USSR, but also stigmatized the Baltic countries as Nazi sympathizers in the eyes of many Russians - a misconception that is nowadays exploited by the Russian media, desperate to label the Baltic countries as a fascist haven.

Movie - 1972, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
A seriously injured young man was found on a Georgian military road. Investigator Georgy Mikeladze finds out that the victim - the navigator of the Tallinn Shipping Company - was rolling in his new Volga on vacation days. The investigator goes to the criminal and, having connected employees of the Riga criminal investigation department to the case, arrests the robber.

Movie - 1967, 2h 15m • as Ervin Räim
Martin Puri is an elderly fisherman who is told to retire because of his old age. When a group of people has to be saved from a boat in an autumn storm, Martin understands that one cannot act against the sea but together with it.

Movie - 1960, 2h 15m • as (uncredited)
Jaak is a young labourer always facing some kind of issues and it seems he always rides for a fall. At the construction work of a new thermal power station, Jaak meets young people from the Young Communist League who won't find faults with him and are ready to help him out.

Movie - 1993, 2h 15m • as Innkeeper
Tallinn, Estonia, days before outbreak of World War II. Hotel detective and Polish writer team up to find Tear of the Prince of Darkness, a legendary ring which can bring Satan’s rule over the world.

Movie - 1992, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
When the doorbell rang late night during the Soviet times, if was often the sign of military recruitment. The chain of events in the film begins from the fatal ring at the door, putting the marriage of a young photographer and his beautiful wife to the test. Being afraid of the army, the young family try to escape the situation. However, they are drifting away from freedom.

Movie - 1997, 2h 15m • as German General
Young and active nationalist Aleksander Kesküla makes up his mind to use Lenin, the Bolsheviks' leader, in order to start a revolution in Russia with German money and create a new national state of Estonia in the north-east of Russia. For security reasons, five doubles will be found and trained for Lenin. All of them are finally sent to Russia to instigate the revolution. How will the real Lenin put up with all this?

Movie - 1986, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Typhus has killed the father, mother and older son of Palanumäe farm. Hind, younger son, realizes that he won't be able to manage the shabby farm alone. Paabu, the wife of older son, is good at housework and Hind likes her; however, more help than that is needed for maintaining the farm. Jaak, the farmhand, does more harm than good. The rumour is around that when converting to orthodoxy one will lead better life in a warm country - this, of course, attracts Hind, but angers the estate owners. How come this young inexperienced man wants something else than serving the Livonian feudals?

Movie - 1991, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
A historical costume drama where the fragments of the adventurous lives of Bernt Notke, one of the most influential Late Gothic painters, and carpenter Michel Sittow are brought together by the story of the panel painting "Danse Macabre" by Notke and the way the painting reached Tallinn, Estonia from Lübeck.

Movie - 2006, 2h 15m • as Koby
As a young woman, Claire left her hometown in disgrace. Now she is old and unimaginably rich, as for the first time she returns. The town is nearly bankrupt and in urgent need of money. Everybody hopes Clara will come to the rescue. And she will. However, there is a condition: somebody must kill the man who was her lover all those years ago.

Movie - 2013, 2h 15m • as Peedu Ojamaa (voice)
The Gold Spinners is a story about the birth, glory, and disappearance of a peculiar, invisible, and mighty business empire, the film studio Eesti Reklaamfilm, the only company producing commercials in the Soviet Union.
