Esa Pakarinen Jr. (12 December 1947 – 12 February 2026) was a Finnish actor.

The son of actorEsa Pakarinen, he was known for his roles asPekka Puupää in thePekka and Pätkä films. Like his father, Esa Pakarinen Jr. acted in Finnish films. He also made a special contribution to the development of Finnishpuppet theater as both an actor and a director.^[1]

After graduating from theHelsinki Theatre Academy, Pakarinen first worked at the Joensuu City Theater inJoensuu, after which he moved to the Kotka City Theatre inKotka andHelsinki City Theatre. After the drama theater season, Pakarinen turned to puppet theater. In 1989, Pakarinen moved back to his childhood town ofVarkaus, where he performed his own solo puppet theater. Pakarinen also studied to be areflexologist.^[1]

Pakarinen was granted a State's Artist Pension in 2014.^[2]

Pakarinen died on 12 February 2026, at the age of 78.^[3]

• The Year of the Hare (Jäniksen vuosi, 1977)
• Poet and Muse (Runoilija ja muusa, 1978)
• The Test-tube Adult and Simo's Angels (Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit, 1979)
• Sign of the Beast (Pedon merkki, 1981)
• That Kiljunen Family (Kiljusen herrasväki, 1981)
• Jon (1983)
• The Home Street (Kotikatu, 1995–2012)

• Esa Pakarinen Jr. atIMDb

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