Timo Koivusalo

Life and career

Koivusalo was born in Pori, and trained as a chef and a mental nurse, before getting a breakthrough into the entertainment industry with his character Pekko Aikamiespoika, developed while he was working as a stand-up comedian. As Pekko Aikamiespoika, Koivusalo twice won the Finnish joketelling championships and made two comedy cassettes. In 1992, Koivusalo appeared in the TV series Pekko Aikamiespoika, followed by a full-length movie the following year entitled Pekko Aikamiespojan poikamiesaika. Five Pekko movies were made in total, with Koivusalo producing, directing and writing the script as well as playing the lead role.

Other work

Koivusalo has also worked as a television presenter. From 1992 to 2002, he co-hosted the TV2 show Tuttu Juttu Show, with Joel Hallikainen. Hallikainen left the show in the spring of 2000, after which Koivusalo co-hosted with various presenters. The show originated from Elämäntoveri, a comedy routine that Hallikainen and Koivusalo used to perform on ships travelling between Finland and Sweden. From 2002 to 2006, Koivusalo also hosted a game show on TV2 called Leikin varjolla.

Koivusalo has written two books: Pekko ja outolintu (1997) and Rysän päältä – siikahyvä ruokakirja (2005). The latter was written with restaurateur Jani Lehtinen and reporter Mikko Peltola. He has also had a column in the Helsingin Sanomat.