Ivo Uukkivi is an Estonian stage, film, radio, and television actor, television producer and, under the nickname Munk, founder of and singer with the punk band Velikije Luki.
Early life and education
Ivo Uukkivi was born in Tallinn. He was one of two siblings. He is a 1980 graduate of Tallinn 2nd Secondary School. Afterward, he attended Tallinn Polytechnic School, graduating in 1984. He is a 1992 graduate of the Tallinn Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. Uukkivi's diploma production roles include Snug in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Man in Purple in Mati Unt's Emperor Nero's Private Life. Among his graduating classmates were Merle Palmiste, Kristel Leesmend, Andres Raag, Kaili Närep, Jaanus Rohumaa, Üllar Saaremäe, Dan Põldroos, Sten Zupping, and Garmen Tabor.
Ivo Uukkivi made his television debut on the Eesti Televisioon series Salmonid in 1993. From 1995 until 1996, he appeared on the EVTV series V.E.R.I.. Other television appearances on Estonian television series in the 1990s include the TV3 series Waba Riik in 1997 and the TV3 series Kired from 1998 until 2000. Uukkivi has also appeared in several teleplays; in 1996 he appeared in the Talvo Pabut directed teleplay Trimalhio pidu, adapted from the 1935 Betti Alver penned poem Viletsuse komöödia; and in 1999, he appeared in the Ain Prosa directed teleplay Nukumaja ehk Norbert, an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's 1897 play A Doll's House. In 2003, Uukkivi made an appearance as Kaido on the popular TV3 drama series Kodu keset linna. In 2004, he played the role of Toomas in the Jussi Niilekselä directed television film Taksirengit. In 2007, he played a small role in the Andri Luup directed television film Kinnunen. Ivo Uukkivi is possibly best recalled for his role of Post in the Kanal 2 crime-drama television series Kelgukoerad, a role he would play in approximately eighty-five episodes from 2006 until 2009. Another prominent television role for Uukkivi was the character Martin Kütt in the 2012 ETV thriller series Alpimaja; Uukkivi also acted as a producer on five episodes of the series. Apart from Alpimaja, Uukkivi has also worked as a television producer on the 2012 Kanal 2 suspense-thriller series Süvahavva in 2012, and thirteen episodes of the 2012 TV3 comedy-drama series Nurjatud tüdrukud.
Film
Ivo Uukkivi has also appeared in a number of feature-length films. His first substantial role was as Moppe in the 1993 Pekka Karjalainen-directed comedy filmHysteria. This was followed by the starring role of Toivo in the Ilkka Järvi-Laturi-directed satirical political thriller Tallinn pimeduses the same year. The following year he appeared in the Jaan Kolberg-directed biographical drama filmJüri Rumm about the 19th-century Estonian folk hero, itinerant, thief and robber Rummu Jüri. In 1998, he played a small role in the Rao Heidmets-directed comedy-family film Kallis härra Q. In 2003, he appeared in a small role in the Sulev Keedus-directed period drama Somnambuul. The following year, he played the role of Kuldar in the Ilmar Taska-directed thriller Täna öösel me ei maga for Taska Film. Täna öösel me ei maga is notable for Estonian model Carmen Kass appearing in a starring role. In 2007, he appeared in three films; as Laura's boyfriend in the Veiko Õunpuu-directed drama Sügisball; which was an adaptation of the 1979 Mati Unt novel of the same name; as Ants in the Rainer Sarnet-directed teen drama Kuhu põgenevad hinged; and a minor voice role for the Åke Lindman and Sakari Kirjavainen-directed Finnish World War II drama Tali-Ihantala 1944. In 2012, Uukkivi appeared as a tough crook in the Andres Kõpper and Arun Tamm-directed dark comedy-crime film Vasaku jala reede. In 2015, he played role of Rudolf Kask in the Elmo Nüganen-directed World War II drama film 1944. The film is set in the year 1944 and is shown through the eyes of Estonian soldiers who had to choose sides and thus fight against their fellow countrymen. 1944 was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated. In 2016, Uukkivi appeared in three films; a small role in the Anu Aun-directed drama Polaarpoiss; as Lembit in the Toomas Hussar-directed political thriller Luuraja ja Luuletaja; and a starring role as Andres in the Mart Kivastik-directed romantic drama Õnn tuleb magades opposite actress Katariina Unt. In addition to feature films, Uukkivi has also appeared in a number of short films.
Radio
Uukkivi has also performed in a number of radio plays. Among his more memorable radio role performances were as Kaval-Ants in a 1992 radio theatre production of Juhan Kangilaski's Kaval-Ants ja Vanapagan, and Luis in a 2001 radio theatre production of Petri Salin's Rännukutse.
Music
In the early 1980s, Ivo Uukkivi was the vocalist of a short-lived Tallinn-based punk rock band called Kopli Otell. After the band folded in 1982, Uukkivi and Allan Vainola and Peep Männil, who were formerly members of the equally short-lived band Ajutine Valitsus, formed a new band called Velikije Luki. Vainola and Männil would leave the band shortly after its inception and new members Kuldar Hanstin, Raivo Pilt, Raik Kuusemets and guitarist Villu Tamme would round out the ensemble. Velikije Luki would release three albums: "Jõuluks koju" in 1989, "Velikiye Luki 15" in 1997, and "Tallinn põleb" in 2002. Tamme would go on to found the seminal Estonian punkrock band J.M.K.E. in 1986.
Personal life
Ivo Uukkivi currently resides in Tallinn with his partner, actress Mari-Liis Lill. The couple have a son, born in 2011. He was previously in a relationship with actress Kristel Leesmend, with whom he has a daughter, Ulrike Brett, born in 1995.
