Actor.
Born in 1929, the only child of Finnish immigrants Lauri and Saimi, he grew up in Winnipeg’s North End and attended Daniel McIntyre Collegiate. In 1953 he married his wife Margaret, with whom he had five children. To support them he worked for 40 years in sales while also cultivating his film and stage career. He became a well-known Winnipeg personality, performing for many years at the Hollow Mug (a now-closed dinner theatre near the Winnipeg airport), and participating in more than 200 movies, television shows, and commercials. Film credits include Capote (2005), The Stone Angel (2007), The Battle of Mary Kay (2002) and My Winnipeg (2007) amongst others. In 2013 he was awarded the Victor Cowie Award from the ACTRA Manitoba. He died at the Victoria General Hospital on 1 September 2016.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 10 September 2016.
“The mighty and the colourful,” Winnipeg Free Press.
“Olie Alto Tribute Page,” ACTA Manitoba.
This page was prepared by Mallory Light.
Page revised: 27 March 2020
Memorable Manitobans
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