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Acting · 1970–2007 · Tallinn, Harju District, Estonian SSR, USSR [now Harju County, Estonia]
Dan Põldroos (March 6, 1970 – May 5, 2007) was an Estonian stage, television and film actor who began performing on stage at age fifteen. Although mostly known for comedic roles, he was also an accomplished dramatic actor. Põldroos' career ended at age thirty-seven when he died unexpectedly.
Dan Põldroos was born in Tallinn. He was an only child from his parents' marriage, though he had a half-sibling and a step-sibling. His grandfather's brother was actor, writer, and director Priit Põldroos. As a hobby at age fifteen, he began performing with the local literary theatre Varius. He attended schools in Tallinn, graduating as a carpenter and cabinet-maker from the Tallinn 12th Vocational Secondary School in 1988 and the same year he enrolled in the Performing Arts Department of the Tallinn State Conservatory (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), studying under instruction of theatre and film director Kalju Komissarov, and graduating in 1992. Among his graduating classmates were: Merle Palmiste, Kristel Leesmend, Andres Raag, Kaili Närep, Jaanus Rohumaa, Üllar Saaremäe, Ivo Uukkivi, Sten Zupping, Tiina Mälberg and Garmen Tabor.
In 1992, Dan Põldroos appeared in his first feature-length film as the character Filip in the Lembit Ulfsak-directed family-comedy Lammas all paremas nurgas. In 1994, he played the role of Günter in the Jaan Kolberg-directed biographical drama film Jüri Rumm about the 19th-century Estonian folk hero, itinerant thief and robber Rummu Jüri. In 2006, he appeared as the character Leif in the Katrin Laur-directed family-comedy film Ruudi. Põldroos' last film appearance was a role in the Andres Maimik and Rain Tolk-directed comedy Jan Uuspõld läheb Tartusse, which Estonian actor and singer Jan Uuspõld as a down-on-his-luck caricature of himself trying to hitchhike from Tallinn to Tartu to perform in a role at the Vanemuine theatre.
Dan Põldroos was married to clothing designer Ketlin Bachmann-Põldroos. The couple had one daughter, Aleksandra, born in November 2006.
On 5 May 2007, Põldroos died in his sleep of natural causes at the family's home in Tallinn at age 37. He had struggled with alcoholism during his adult life. In 2011, author and theatre critic Pille-Riin Purje penned a biography of Põldroos titled Aitab naljast! Legend Dan Põldroosist, published by Fookus Meedia in Tallinn.
