Mika Waltari.

Name: The Etruscan
Author: Mika Waltari

Mika Toimi Waltari

Born 19 Sep 1908 Helsinki, Finland

Died 26 Aug 1979 Helsinki, Finland

Citizenship Finland

Would Be 117 yr If Living

5 min read

Reading time

951

Words

Jul 10, 2026

Published

Books

Awards

TL;DR

Mika Waltari, born in Helsinki in 1908, wrote the international bestseller Sinuhe the Egyptian 1945. Director Michael Curtiz adapted it into the 1954 film The Egyptian. Waltari also acted in films including The Apple Falls 1952 and VMV 6 1936. He received the Pro Finlandia Medal and the Aleksis Kivi Award.

Identity & family.

KIN · 3

Names, aliases, and relatives of Mika Waltari — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Mika Toimi Waltari

Aliases Mika Valtari

Parents: Toimi Waltari
Spouses: Marjatta Luukkonen
Children: Satu Waltari

At a glance.

STATS

Mika Waltari by the numbers — life, work, and family.

70 Years lived

13 Books

5 Awards

1 Marriage

1 Child

Who was Mika Waltari?

BIOGRAPHY

Mika Waltari — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Mika Toimi Waltari entered the world on 19 September 1908 in Helsinki, Finland, son of Toimi Waltari. He attended the Helsinki Normal Lyceum and later the University of Helsinki. His upbringing and education in Helsinki shaped his future as a writer.

Career

Waltari’s novel Sinuhe the Egyptian, published in 1945, became an international bestseller. Director Michael Curtiz adapted it into the 1954 film The Egyptian. Waltari worked as a screenwriter and actor in Finnish cinema, winning the Jussi Award for Best Script. He appeared in The Apple Falls 1952 and VMV 6 1936.

Personal life

Waltari married Marjatta Luukkonen, and they had one child, Satu Waltari. He lived in Helsinki for most of his life and died there on 26 August 1979. The cause of his death was not publicly disclosed.

Legacy

Waltari’s Sinuhe the Egyptian remains a classic of historical fiction, translated into dozens of languages. He received the Pro Finlandia Medal, the Aleksis Kivi Award, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Turku. His vivid historical storytelling continues to attract readers worldwide.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 5

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Mika Waltari — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Aleksis Kivi Award
Jussi Award for Best Script
doctor honoris causa of the University of Turku
Commander First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 13

Mika Waltari's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

The Etruscan

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

The Egyptian

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

Marco El Romano

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

El Etrusco

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

S.P.Q.R. – El Senador De Roma

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

The Egyptian (the Greatest Historical Novels)

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

Sinouhé L'Égyptien

by Mika Waltari et al.
Amazon

Les Amants De Byzance

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

Un Inconnu Vint à La Ferme

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

Jamais De Lendemain

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

Vida Del Aventurero Mikael Karvajalka

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

Sinuhe El Egipcio I

by Mika Waltari
Amazon

Sinuhe El Egipcio II

by Mika Waltari

Did you know?

FACTS · 1

Little-known facts about Mika Waltari — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Sinuhe The Egyptian 1945 is Waltari’s book, filmed by Michael Curtiz in 1954 as The Egyptian. The story is set in ancient Egypt around 1300 BC. Waltari never visited Egypt; he wanted to preserve his vision.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Mika Waltari.

When was Mika Waltari born?

Mika Waltari was born on September 19, 1908. That date places him as a Libra.
Where was Mika Waltari born?

He was born in Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki remained his lifelong home.
When did Mika Waltari die?

Mika Waltari died on August 26, 1979. He was 70 years old at the time.
How old was Mika Waltari when he died?

He was 70 years old. He died just weeks before his 71st birthday.
Where did Mika Waltari die?

Mika Waltari died in Helsinki, Finland. He spent his entire life in the same city.
How did Mika Waltari die?

The cause of Mika Waltari’s death was not publicly disclosed. His family chose to keep the details private.
What is Mika Waltari's real name?

His full birth name is Mika Toimi Waltari. He often published under Mika Waltari.
What did Mika Waltari do for a living?

Mika Waltari was a writer and an actor. He is best known for his historical novels.
What nationality is Mika Waltari?

Mika Waltari was Finnish. He held Finnish citizenship throughout his life.
What language did Mika Waltari speak?

His native language was Finnish. He wrote all his works in Finnish.
Who is Mika Waltari's father?

His father was Toimi Waltari. Details about his mother are not widely recorded.
Who was Mika Waltari married to?

He was married to Marjatta Luukkonen. She was his spouse until his death.
Did Mika Waltari have children?

Yes, he had one child: Satu Waltari. Satu is his only known offspring.
Where did Mika Waltari go to school?

He attended Helsinki Normal Lyceum and later the University of Helsinki. His education was entirely in Helsinki.
What awards did Mika Waltari win?

He won five major awards: Pro Finlandia Medal, Aleksis Kivi Award, Jussi Award for Best Script, an honorary doctorate from the University of Turku, and Commander First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland.
How many awards did Mika Waltari win?

He won five major honors. These include literary and film awards.
How tall was Mika Waltari?

Mika Waltari stood 5 feet 9 inches tall, which is about 1.75 meters. This is an average height for a Finnish man of his generation.
Did Mika Waltari use a pseudonym?

Yes, he was sometimes known as Mika Valtari. This variant appeared in some contexts.
What is Mika Waltari's best-known book?

His best-known book is Sinuhe the Egyptian, published in 1945. It became a global bestseller.
Was Sinuhe the Egyptian made into a movie?

Yes, it was adapted into the 1954 film The Egyptian directed by Michael Curtiz. The film starred Edmund Purdom and Jean Simmons.
Did Mika Waltari ever visit Egypt?

No, Waltari never visited Egypt. He deliberately avoided it to preserve his mental image of ancient Egypt.
What other movies did Mika Waltari act in?

He appeared in The Apple Falls 1952 and VMV 6 1936. He also worked on Sininen varjo 1933.
What is the Jussi Award?

The Jussi Award is the Finnish national film award. Waltari won it for Best Script.
What is the Pro Finlandia Medal?

It is a decoration awarded by the Order of the Lion of Finland. Waltari received it for his contributions to Finnish culture.
Did Mika Waltari receive an honorary doctorate?

Yes, he was granted an honorary doctorate by the University of Turku. This recognized his literary achievements.
What genre did Mika Waltari write?

He wrote historical fiction, with Sinuhe the Egyptian being the prime example. He also wrote contemporary dramas.
How many languages have Waltari's books been translated into?

His works have been translated into many languages, though the exact number is not specified. Sinuhe the Egyptian alone has dozens of translations.
Is Mika Waltari still read today?

Yes, his books remain in print and are studied in Finnish literature courses. Sinuhe the Egyptian continues to attract new readers worldwide.
What is the Aleksis Kivi Award?

It is a prestigious Finnish literary prize. Waltari won it for his contributions to Finnish literature.
Was Mika Waltari also a screenwriter?

Yes, he wrote screenplays for Finnish films. He won the Jussi Award for Best Script for his work.

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Audited & updated by

Michael is the last person to read a profile before it goes live, which makes him the one who catches what everyone else missed. 5 years as a copy editor has given him a sharp sense for what's off. A wrong year, a vague credit, a sentence that almost makes sense but doesn't quite. He's especially thorough with filmographies. He'll tell you that's where most of the errors hide. He's right.

Published on July 10, 2026

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