Hugo Malmsten (pseudonym Hugo Maldre; November 7, 1907 Narva – November 26, 1991 Tallinn) studied at Narva city school until 1923. He studied singing with a private teacher in Narva, Pärnu and Armanda degli Abbati in Tallinn, and from 1936 to 1941 at the Tallinn Conservatory. In the years 1924-1928, Hugo Malmsten played in the companies of Narva, 1931-1933 in the Narva Theater, 1928-1931 in Ugala, 1930-1931 and 1933-1935 in the Endla theater (where he was also the director), 1936-1944 in the Tallinn Töölistheater and 1944-1971 in the Estonia theater (where was also assistant stage manager from 1944 to 1946).
His brother was the actor Franz Malmsten, his sister was the actress Lydia Bock.