Tõnu Kilgas

Born August 13, 1954
Tartu, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union
Died May 25, 2021 (aged 66)
Tallinn, Estonia
Resting place Metsakalmistu, Tallinn
Occupations Singer, Actor
Years active 1976–2021
Spouse(s) Novella Hanson (divorced)
Tatjana Bassova (divorced)
Partners Katrin Karisma
Children 4, including Hedvig Hanson and Piret Krumm
Parent(s) Ellen Kaarma
Lembit Mägedi

Tõnu Kilgas was born in Tartu, the only child of Vanemuine theatre actors Lembit Mägedi and Ellen Kaarma. His parents were in a long-term relationship but not married and he took his mother's surname from her earlier marriage to actor Gunnar Kilgas. Both parents were largely absent from Kilgas' life during his childhood and he was primarily raised by his aunt. His mother battled alcoholism and died in 1973 when Kilgas was eighteen. Kilgas attended Tartu 3rd Secondary School (currently Tartu Raatuse School) and the Heino Eller Tartu Music School, graduating in 1977.

Before joining the stage as an actor, Kilgas performed as a singer with the Estonian rock ensemble Fix from 1972 until 1974. The band released a large number of successful singles and albums. The band also included Kilgas' first wife, singer Novella Hanson.