Kari Kyösti Väänänen (born 17 September 1953 in Ivalo) is a Finnish actor and director. Domestically he is a member of the Ryhmäteatteri group of actors. He was introduced to international audiences by Aki Kaurismäki, and belongs to the list of his "trusted" stable of actors.
Väänänen has acted in more than 60 movies. He has received two Jussi awards, for best male actor in Jon (1983) and for best supporting male actor in Trench Road (2004).
In 1992–1998 Väänänen was a professor at the Helsinki Theatre Academy.