{{Short description|Estonian actor and theater director (1879–1964)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Leopold Hansen | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1879|11|27|mf=y}} | birth_place = Iravere, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire | death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|2|15|1879|11|27|mf=y}} | death_place = Elva, then part of Estonian SSR, Soviet Union<ref>{{cite news |title=Leopold Hansen surnud |url=https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=meiekodu19640312.1.1&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=Meie Kodu |issue=11 |date=March 12, 1964 |page=1}}</ref> | resting_place = Elva Cemetery<ref>{{cite news |title=Näitleja Leopold Hansen suri okupeeritud Eestis |url=https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=estdagbladet19640224.1.1&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=Eesti Päevaleht |issue=45 |date=February 24, 1964 |page=1}}</ref> | alma_mater = | occupation = Actor and theater director | spouse = | children = | relatives = }}

'''Leopold-Ottomar Hansen''' (November 27, 1879 – February 15, 1964)<ref name="Anton">{{cite news |last1=Anton |first1=H. |title=Leopold Hansen ja Iravere |url=https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=punalippjogeva19791127.2.15&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=Punalipp |issue=139 |date=November 27, 1979 |page=3}}</ref> was an Estonian actor and theater director.

==Early life== Leopold Hansen was born at the Antsu farm in Iravere,<ref name="Anton"/> the son of Mart Hansen (1846–1907) and Maria née Tido (1856–1951). In 1886, the family moved to Jõgeva.<ref name="Anton"/> Hansen attended school for only a few years, and he worked as a shepherd as a child.<ref name="Obit2">{{cite news |title=Leopold Hansen |url=https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=sirpjavasar19640221.1.8&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=Sirp ja Vasar |issue=8 |date=February 21, 1964 |page=8}}</ref>

==Career== Hansen started his career in the theater in 1899 as a choir singer in the theater troupe of August Wiera.<ref name="Anton"/><ref name="Obit2"/><ref name="Obit1">{{cite news |title=Leopold Hansen |url=https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=kodumaanadalaleht19640226.2.19&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=Kodumaa |issue=9 |date=February 26, 1964 |page=6}}</ref> From 1903 to 1905, he acted in and directed the {{ill|Imanta (society)|lt=Imanta|et|Imanta (selts)}} company in Riga.<ref name="Obit2"/> He worked at the Vanemuine Theater in Tartu from 1906 to 1928.<ref name="Obit1"/> Among his best-known roles were Pliuhkam in Oskar Luts's comedy {{ill|Kapsapea|lt=''Kapsapea''|et}} (The Cabbage), and Piibeleht in Eduard Vilde's comedy ''Pisuhänd''.<ref name="Obit1"/>

In the 1920s, he also worked as a theater director. He worked at the Drama Studio Theater in Tallinn from 1933 onward,<ref name="Obit1"/> and from 1944 to 1961 again at the Vanemuine Theater.<ref name="Obit1"/><ref name="Obit2"/>

==Works== Hansen published poems (under the pseudonyms Nõmmelill and L.H.) and stories, and he wrote plays, couplets, and farces for parties and memoirs. *1903: ''Uus Kain. Algupäraline jutustus kaugelt minewikust'' (The New Cain. An Original Tale from the Distant Past). Tallinn, 96 pages *1917: ''Abielu vaenlane. Naljamäng lauludega 1 vaatuses'' (The Enemy of Marriage. A Play with Songs in 1 Act). Music by Juhan Simm; mimeographed reproduction. Yuryev (Tartu), 24 pages *1917: ''Rõõmuhallikas: kerjuste nali 1 vaatuses'' (A Source of Joy: A Beggars' Comedy in One Act)<ref>{{cite news |title=Wõitleja |url=https://dea.digar.ee/?a=d&d=meieelu19170330.1.4&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 26, 2024 |work=Meie Elu |issue=10 |date=March 30, 1917 |page=4}}</ref> *1924: ''Karjeristid. Naljamäng kolmes waatuses'' (The Careerists. A Comedy in Three Acts). Tartu, 72 pages *1925: ''Ühewaatuslised (naljamängud)'' (One-Act Play: Comedies). Tartu, 98 pages *1925: ''Vahilaari valge tuvike: naljamäng lauludega 1 vaatuses'' (The White Dove of the Guardian: A Comedy with Songs in One Act). Music by Juhan Simm<ref>{{cite news |title=Hõbepäine noorhing teatrilaval. Leopold Hansen 60-aastane |url=https://dea.digar.ee/?a=d&d=uuseesti19391212.2.100&srpos=1&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA-%22Vahilaari%22+%22hansen%22------------ |access-date=July 26, 2024 |work=Uus Eesti |issue=339 |date=December 12, 1939 |page=8}}</ref> *1935: ''Kaunismäe. Näidend 4 vaatuses'' (Kaunismäe. A Play in Four Acts). Tartu: Noor-Eesti Kirjastus, 111 pages *1940: ''Minu tee teatrisse. Märkmeid oma 60-nda sünni- ja 40-nda lavategevuse aasta puhul'' (My Way to the Theater. Notes on the Occasion of My Sixtieth Birthday and Fortieth Year of Stage Activity). Tallinn, 178 pages *1960: ''"Vanemuise" radadelt. Mälestusi teatriteelt'' (From the Paths of Vanemuise. Memories from the Road to the Theater), literary adaptation by Paul Rummo of the book ''Minu tee teatrisse'' (My Way to the Theater). Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 208 pages *1963: ''Karjapoiss on kuningas. Mälestuspilte elust ja inimestest'' (The Shepherd Boy is the King. Memories of Life and People). Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 140 pages

==Filmography== *1927: ''Noored kotkad''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mägi |first1=Riina |title='Noored kotkad' tegi läbi noorenduskuuri |url=https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=vooremaa20080223.1.10&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=Vooremaa |issue=23 |date=February 23, 2008 |page=10}}</ref>

==Awards and recognitions== *1946: {{ill|Meritorious Artist of the Estonian SSR|et|Eesti NSV teeneline kunstnik}} *1957: People's Artist of the Estonian SSR *First {{ill|Honorary Citizen of the Town of Elva|et|Elva linna aukodanik}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Veldi |first1=Sirje |title=Õhkamise allee hävimisohus |url=https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=elvapostip20120825.1.1&e=-------et-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA------------- |access-date=July 29, 2024 |work=Elva Postipoiss |issue=30 |date=August 25, 2012 |page=1}}</ref>

==Legacy== From 1969 to 2012, the {{ill|Leopold Hansen Home Museum|et|Leopold Hanseni majamuuseum}} operated in the house that he built.<ref>{{cite news |title=L. Hanseni majamuuseum |url=https://dea.digar.ee/?a=d&d=kodumaanadalaleht19691217.2.7.7&srpos=2&e=-------en-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA-Leopold+Hanseni+Majamuuseum------------ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |work=Kodumaa |issue=53 |date=December 17, 1969 |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tartumaa muuseum lõpetab tegevuse |url=https://www.delfi.ee/artikkel/65041444/tartumaa-muuseum-lopetab-tegevuse |access-date=July 30, 2024 |work=Delfi |date=October 1, 2012}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Leopold}} Category:1879 births Category:1964 deaths Category:People from Jõgeva Parish Category:People from Kreis Dorpat Category:Estonian theatre directors Category:Estonian male stage actors Category:People's Artists of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Category:Honoured Artists of the Estonian SSR Category:Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour