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- Actor
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Anton Yelchin was an American actor, known for playing Bobby in Hearts in Atlantis (2001), Chekov in the Star Trek (2009) reboot, Charlie Brewster in the Fright Night (2011) remake, and Jacob in Like Crazy (2011).
He was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, USSR, to a Jewish family. His parents, Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin, were a successful pair of professional figure skaters in Leningrad, and his grandfather was also a professional sportsman, a soccer player. Anton was a six-month-old baby when he immigrated to the United States, where his parents settled in California and eventually developed coaching careers. He demonstrated his strong personality from the early age of four, and declined his parents' tutelage in figure skating because he was fond of acting and knew exactly what he wanted to do in his life.
Yelchin attended acting classes in Los Angeles, and eventually was noticed by casting agents. In 2000, at the age of 10, he made his debut on television, appearing as Robbie Edelstein in the medical drama ER (1994). At the age of 11, he shot to fame as Bobby Garfield, co-starring opposite Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis (2001), and earning himself the 2002 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film as Leading Young Actor. Over the course of his acting career, Yelchin has already played roles in more than 20 feature films and television productions, including Pavel Chekov in the hugely successful reboot Star Trek (2009), and its sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).
Outside of his acting profession, Anton loved reading, and was also fond of playing chess. He wrote music and performed with a band, where he also played piano and guitar.
Anton lived in Los Angeles, California, until his death on the evening of June 19, 2016, outside his LA home, when his parked Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled backward on his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick pillar and security fence. This was due to badly designed shifter that indicated park when it was in neutral. This death, along with reports of other near-misses, resulted in a recall of that model.- Margarita Levieva is an American actress. Born in Leningrad, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (now Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation), at age three she began the rigorous training program of a competitive rhythmic gymnast. Levieva continued to train for the next 13 years, winning competitions in Russia and eventually going on to compete in the United States after emigrating. When she was 11, Levieva's mother moved her and her twin brother to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn in New York City. She attended high school in Secaucus, New Jersey. Levieva majored in economics at NYU and worked as a fashion buyer. Her continuing interest in acting led her to be accepted into the Meisner Training Program at the William Esper Studio. In 2005, New York Magazine featured her as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in New York.
- She was born in Leningrad, former Soviet Union. Her parents moved with her from Russia to New York when she was 17 years old, and she continues to reside in New York.
While working as a hairdresser at a salon, she was discovered by Luc Besson, the co-writer of Transporter 3, in New York, when she crossed a street. He gave her acting lessons and cast her as the female lead in Transporter 3. - Actress
- Soundtrack
Ania Bukstein is an Israeli actress, singer, song-writer, pianist and voice actress. She was born in 1982 in Moscow, USSR, to Jewish parents. As a child in Moscow, she studied classical piano. Her family immigrated to Israel in the early 1990s. She began her acting career at age 12, appearing in the film Eretz Hadasha (A New Country). As a teenager, she attended Telma Yalin Arts High School in Givatayim, Israel. She served for two years in the Israeli Air Force. She married Israeli real estate developer Dotan Vainer in 2013. In Game of Thrones, she portrays Kinvara in the sixth season.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ravil Isyanov was born in 1962 in the Soviet Union in Greater Moscow area, the city of Voskresensk. Throughout childhood, Ravil attended classes in music, ballet, theatre, as well as going for sports - ice hockey, boxing and soccer among them. After completing his two years national service in the Soviet Air Force, Ravil worked for two seasons in Khabarovsk Theatre. Then, he studied in the Moscow Art Theatre School for four years. He simultaneously studied three summers at the Oxford branch of the British American Drama Academy. In 1990 Ravil went to the UK at the invitation of Theater Clwyd, Wales. After the collapse of the USSR, he stayed in Britain and continued working there. In 1998 he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his film career, where he worked and lived for the rest of his life.- Valeri Bure was born on 13 June 1974 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He has been married to Candace Cameron Bure since 22 June 1996. They have three children.
- A Russian comedian who gave up a successful film career in his homeland for religious freedom and bit parts in the United States. He made 42 films in the former Soviet Union before he was allowed to leave in the early 1980's.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Aleksey German was born on 20 July 1938 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor and writer, known for Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998), Hard to Be a God (2013) and Moy drug Ivan Lapshin (1985). He was married to Svetlana Karmalita. He died on 21 February 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia.- Actress
- Director
- Soundtrack
Kseniya Rappoport was born on 25 March 1974 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She is an actress and director, known for The Double Hour (2009), The Unknown Woman (2006) and Yurev den (2008). She is married to Dmitriy Borisov.- Lyudmila Shiryaeva was born on 11 January 1981 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She is an actress, known for Summer Lover (2008), Trassa M8 (2008) and Ne dumay pro belykh obezyan (2008).
- Actor
- Director
- Music Department
Andrei Mironov was a Soviet comedian known for The Diamond Arm (1969)
He was born Andrei Aleksandrovich Menaker on March 8, 1941, in Moscow. His father, Aleksandr Semenovich Menaker, and his mother, Mariya Mironova, were famous actors in the Soviet Union. From 1958-1962 he studied acting at the Moscow Shchukin School. From 1962-1987 Mironov was a permanent member of the trope at the Moscow Theatre of Satire.
In 1961, while being a student of acting school, Mironov made his film debut in 'A esli eto lyubov?', by director Yuli Raizman. He became famous after his roles in My Younger Brother (1962), written by Vasiliy Aksyonov and directed by Aleksandr Zarkhi, and in '3+2' (1962), directed by Genrikh Oganisyan. Mironov did a nice performance in a supporting role in Watch Out for the Automobile (1966) (Watch Out for the Automobile 1966), by director Eldar Ryazanov. In it Mironov worked with the stellar acting ensemble, including such actors, as Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Oleg Efremov, Anatoliy Papanov, Georgi Zhzhyonov, Evgeniy Evstigneev, Olga Aroseva, Donatas Banionis, and others.
Andrei Mironov is best known for his brilliant performance in supporting role as Kozodoev, a sloppy tourist turned involuntary jewel-smuggler in popular comedy The Diamond Arm (1969) (The Diamond Arm 1968), by director Leonid Gaidai. After this film Mironov became a superstar in the Soviet Union. He worked with an outstanding ensemble of stars, such as Yuriy Nikulin, Anatoliy Papanov, Nina Grebeshkova, Nonna Mordyukova, and other popular Russian actors. The film became the biggest box-office hit ever in the Soviet Union with theatrical admissions over 76,000,000 in the year 1969. It still remains popular after many decades. In the 1995 national poll The Diamond Arm (1969) (The Diamond Arm 1968) was voted the best Russian-Soviet film of all time.
Andrei Mironov was among the most popular Russian actors during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He was highly regarded for his distinguished contribution to comedy. Among his best works was his interpretation of the classic character Ostap Bender in _"12 stulev" (1977) (mini)_ (Twelve chairs 1977), by director Mark Zakharov. There his partners were Anatoliy Papanov, Rolan Bykov, Georgiy Vitsin, Oleg Tabakov, Aleksandr Abdulov, and others. Mironov also worked with Mark Zakharov in An Ordinary Miracle (1979) (An Ordinary Miracle 1978), where his partners were Aleksandr Abdulov, Irina Kupchenko, Evgeniy Leonov, Evgeniya Simonova, Yekaterina Vasilyeva, and Oleg Yankovskiy.
Andrei Mironov was designated People's Artist of Russia, and also received awards at Soviet film festivals. He had a apoplexy and collapsed during his performance on stage, in the arms of his friend and partner Aleksandr Shirvindt, just minutes before the end of the show. Mironov died of a brain hemorrhage aged 46, on August 16, 1987, only thirteen days after the death of his best film partner Anatoliy Papanov. Andrei Mironov was laid to rest in the Vagankovo Cemetery in Moscow, Russia. He was survived by his wife, actress Ekaterina Golubkina, and their daughter, actress Maria Mironova.- Vladimir Burlakov was born in 1987 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor, known for In the Face of Crime (2010), Deutschland 83 (2015) and Marco W. - 247 Tage im türkischen Gefängnis (2011).
- Producer
- Director
- Actor
Vitaliy Versace was born in Russia and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. His mother's name is Anna Versace. His father, Anatoly Versace, worked in management at a law firm in Russia. He has a younger brother, George and a younger sister Yanna. At Chernovti High School, Versace was involved in sports, debating, student government and school musicals. He left college two credits short of graduating to move to California. Before he became successful at acting and producing, Versace supported himself by driving UPS, and working as background actor.- Nikita Efremov was born on 30 May 1988 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor, known for Tetris (2023), Ballada o bombere (2011) and Ballada o bombere (2011).
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Aleksandr Abdulov, one of Russian cinema's best known sex symbols and was one of the most celebrated Russian film stars.
He was born Aleksandr Gavrilovich Abdulov on May 29, 1953, in Tobolsk, Siberian Russia, into the family of a theatre director from Fergana, Uzbekistan. His father, named Gavriil Abdulov was a wounded veteran of the Second World War decorated for his courage at the front-line tank battles against the Nazis. Abdulov's mother was a make-up artist at several Russian theatres. Young Abdulov grew up in Uzbekistan, where he finished high school and also became the Master of Sports in fencing. He was admitted to a local college where he had the chance of becoming a sports coach.
His dream of becoming an actor was almost ruined when he failed the admission tests at the Moscow State Institute of Theatrical Arts (GITIS). He could not go back to Uzbekistan so he stayed in various gloomy dorms in Moscow, working hard labor jobs at railway stations just to survive. He then studied acting at GITIS, made very little money working as an extra, and still was a hard laborer in order to pay for his living in Moscow. In 1975 he graduated from GITIS and was hired by the Lenkom Theatre director Mark Zakharov.
Abdulov revealed the full range of his talent in popular films An Ordinary Miracle (1979) and S lyubimymi ne rasstavaytes (1980). The public adored Abdulov and he became the first big sex-symbol in the former USSR. Millions of his pictures has been decorating homes and student dorms in every big and small town of the former Soviet Union. The public loved Abdulov - the actor and the man - for his sincere talent and for his devotion to his ideas.
He played his best roles under the direction of Mark Zakharov in such films as 'Obyknovennoe Chudo (1978), 'Tot samyi Munchgausen (1979), 'Formula Lyubvi' (1984), and Ubit drakona (1988). His best film partners were Oleg Yankovskiy, Evgeniy Leonov, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Evgeniy Evstigneev, Leonid Bronevoy, Andrey Mironov, Irina Kupchenko, Leonid Yarmolnik, Semyon Farada, Aleksandr Zbruev, Sergey Nikonenko, Irina Alfyorova and others. This ensemble of fine actors and directors evolved into a special and uniquely Russian milieu, where Abdulov's multifaceted talent was supported by other actors.
His range and nuanced acting reached a new level in the films made in the late 1980s and 1990s. Abdulov created powerful roles in a tandem with the masterful Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy in the innovative film 'Geniy' (1991) by director Viktor Sergeev. At that time, Abdulov also received a Nika Award nomination for supporting role in Sukiny deti (1991) by director Leonid Filatov. Abdulov made two equally interesting works in collaboration with director Sergey Solovyov in 'Chyornaya roza - emblema pechali, krasnaya roza - emblema lyubvi' (1989) and in 'Dom pod zvyozdnym nebom' (1991). Both works were awarded, acclaimed by critics, and loved by the public.
Abdulov showed his gift for transformation in the devilish character Korov'ev in 'Master i Margarita' (2005), a TV-series from director Vladimir Bortko based on the eponymous book by Mikhail A. Bulgakov. Abdulov's energy helped the film making him the most lively nerve in the group of 'super stars' (some say super old stars). His acting became more classic and restrained in the traditionally Russian period-film 'Anna Karenina' (2005) based on the eponymous novel by Lev Tolstoy from director Sergey Solovyov. Later Abdulov worked with director Aleksandr Buravskiy in the epic film Leningrad (2009), about the historic siege during the Second World War; where his acting partners were Gabriel Byrne, Mira Sorvino, Kirill Lavrov, Mikhail Efremov, Donatas Banionis and other notable actors.
Aleksandr Abdulov was designated People's Artist of Russia. He received numerous awards and nominations for his performances in film and on stage. He was a permanent member of the troupe at Lenkom Theatre in Moscow. He also directed several films as well as stage productions. Aleksandr Abdulov died of lung cancer, on January 3, 2008, and was laid to rest in Vagankovskoe cemetery in Moscow, Russia.- Actress
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Natalya Andreychenko was born on 3 May 1956 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress and writer, known for Wartime Romance (1983), Meri Poppins, do svidaniya (1984) and Ledi Makbet Mtsenskogo uezda (1989).- Actress
- Producer
- Make-Up Department
Vera VanGuard was born in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is known for Breaking Barbi (2019), Apocalypse Love and Realm of the Waterfall.- Mariya Mironova was born on 28 May 1974 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for Night Watch (2004), Day Watch (2006) and The Courier (2020). She has been married to Andrey since 2018. They have one child. She was previously married to Aleksey Makarov, Igor Udalov and Dmitriy Klokov.
- Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov born 20 September 1988 is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, having held the title from April 2018 to March 2021. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. With 29 wins and no losses, he retired with an undefeated record.
A two-time Combat Sambo World Champion, Nurmagomedov has a background in the disciplines of Sambo, Judo and Wrestling. Nurmagomedov was ranked #1 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings at the time of his retirement, until being removed following his title vacation in March 2021. Fight Matrix ranks him as the #1 lightweight of all time.
Hailing from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia, Nurmagomedov is the first Muslim to win a UFC title. He is the most-followed Russian on Instagram, with more than 33 million followers as of February 2022. He is also a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, known for promoting the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC). Since retirement, he has transitioned to a mixed martial arts coach and corner-man. - Evgeniy Tsyganov was born on 15 March 1979 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor and director, known for The Man Who Surprised Everyone (2018), Rayskie kushchi (2015) and Battle for Sevastopol (2015).
- Actress
- Writer
Yekaterina Golubeva was born on 9 October 1966 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She was an actress and writer, known for I Can't Sleep (1994), 977 (2006) and Projection. She was married to Sharunas Bartas. She died on 3 August 2011 in Paris, France.- Yuliya Rudina was born on 12 September 1974 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR. She is an actress, known for Supergirl (2015), Russian Ark (2002) and Uboynaya sila (2000).
- Tatyana Babenkova was born on 21 June 1991 in Voronezh, Russian SFSR, USSR. She is an actress, known for Ten. Vzyat Gordeya (2022), Politseyskiy s Rublyovki (2016) and Drakulov (2021).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Communist Party. He initiated the changes known as "perestroika" and "glasnost".
He was born Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev into a peasant family on March 2, 1931, in the village of Privolnoe, Stavropol province, Southern Russia. His father, named Sergei Gorbachev, was a tractor driver. His mother, named Maria Panteleyeva, was a peasant. His grandparents were deported and sentenced for nine years under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin, for their success in becoming richer independent farmers known as kulaks. Young Gorbachev witnessed the destruction of traditional farming and degradation of villages, that caused massive exodus of people from their land and to gloomy industrial Soviet cities, where they were doomed to become brainwashed by propaganda and live in small flats under restricting political and economic conditions for the rest of their lives. During the Second World War Gorbachev survived the Nazi occupation of his land in Stavropol province in 1942-1943. After the war, Gorbachev chose to remain on his land, although it was now taken by the Communist Government, the ranks of which he would penetrate later. Gorbachev privately described his life and work on a Soviet collective farm as serfdom.
In 1947 Gorbachev shot to fame at the age of 16, after helping his father, a combine harvester operator, to harvest a record crop on a collective farm. For this achievement he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and was promoted to the Communist Party at the age of 21. From 1950 - 1955 he studied law on a State scholarship at Moscow State University. There he met his future wife, Raisa Maksimovna Gorbacheva (nee Titarenko), they married in September 1953, and their daughter, Irina, was born in January 1957. After a brief stint as a Government Lawyer in Stavropol, Gorbachev made a career as a ranking leader of Komsomol (Union of Young Communists), then as a Communist Party leader of Stavropol province, climbing to the ranks as Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. At that time Gorbachev made his first travels outside of the Soviet Union. While the Soviet leaders were manipulating their own people into submission through fear and control, the West Europeans enjoyed freedom and prosperity that attracted East Germans and other Soviet satellites. Gorbachev learned his first lesson on his tour in East Germany, witnessing their rapid recovery after the Second World War. At the same time, in 1956, Yuri Andropov and Georgi Zhukov led the attack on Hungarian Revolution, and killed thousands of Hungarians who opposed the Soviet-imposed regime. Then Soviet leadership made more aggressive international actions by spreading military support to pro-communist regimes across the world and also by building the Berlin Wall and enforcing Soviet military and political domination in Eastern Europe. These Soviet actions alienated Europeans.
Open political discussions in the Soviet Union were not allowed under threat of prosecution, freedom of speech was never guaranteed, all media was owned and controlled by the Soviet government and independent activity was suppressed, and only some fragmented information was made available to ranking provincial communists, such as Gorbachev. In 1961 he attended the important 22nd Congress of the Communist Party in Moscow, where Nikita Khrushchev announced his Utopian plan to surpass the USA per capita income in 20 years. At the same 22nd Congress, upon Khrushchev's instruction, Gorbachev, among other top communists received a copy of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's anti-Stalin publication "One day of Ivan Denisovich" which criticized the brutality of Gulag prison-camps and the Soviet regime in general. That gave Gorbachev and some other young communists a hope that Khrushchev may change the brutal Soviet regime. However, in 1964, Nikita Khrushchev was arrested and dismissed by pro-Stalin group led by Leonid Brezhnev who eventually established a remake of Stalinism for the next 18 years, albeit in a more grotesque and senile version of Soviet regime. Then Brezhnev's regime crushed the Prague Spring of 1968, fought the Chinese Army over a border dispute in 1969, sent Soviet Tanks and Air Force to Egypt and Syria against Israel in the 1970s, as well as in North Vietnam against the French and Americans. At that time Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa Maksimovna, were allowed to travel to the Western Europe and see the difference between reality in European countries and its distorted depiction by the Soviet propaganda. In 1972 he headed the Soviet official delegation to Belgium, then, in 1974 was made Member of the Supreme Soviet in charge of the Commission on Youth Affairs. During the 1970s Gorbachev enjoyed a highly privileged life of a ranking communist, having many perks such as a villa in a suburb of Moscow, a special limo with a chauffeur and guards, and regular luxurious vacations in Italy and in the South of France, all at the expense of the Communist Party. However, this allowed him to see the striking difference between the quality of life in the Western Europe and gloomy survival of masses in the Soviet Union.
Gorbachev witnessed that people were living hopeless lives having no choice. Workers of collective farms lived without identification documents up until the 1970s. Undocumented citizens at collective farms were disposable. Migrants were used as industrial slaves, for symbolic pay. Wages were set by the state and did not depend on productivity or quality. The economy was governed by the state 5-year plan. This mostly ignored the world and domestic market signals; and lacked the incentives for innovation and efficiency. Teachers were forced to indoctrinate children of all ages from kindergartens through schools and universities. Total control and manipulation was demonstrated twice a year at annual May Day parades and Great Revolution parades on November 7. Military parades were accompanied by marching masses of industrial workers and managers, doctors and scientists, as well as teachers and students from all schools and universities. Exemplary obedient people were rewarded with better food and perks. Taming millions to obedience by fear and hunger led to a massive degradation of human rights, poor spirituality, lack of initiative and creativity, and the decay of public health and vitality. The country of almost three hundred million people was stuck in stagnation, inefficiency, and apathy. Brighter students were taken into the military-industrial system, brainwashed and locked there for life with little choices. Opponents were locked in the "Gulag" prison-camps, mostly in Siberia. There, millions were working various hard labor jobs in grand-scale economic projects; like the Baikal-Amur railroad (BAM). Since the Communist Revolution of 1917, people had been continually stripped of their land and property. Under Khrushchev and Brezhnev the destruction of independent farming was finalized. By the 1960s and 1970s massive poverty and anxiety pushed millions to migrate to cities. Mass-construction of cheap panel buildings was lagging behind. Millions of families shared poor housing, hostels, and dorms in cities. Villages were deserted. Collective farms decayed. Agricultural output fell below the levels of the Tsar's age. Tens of thousands of churches and monasteries were destroyed across the Soviet Union, and many churches were replaced by offices and halls of the Communist party. Spiritual life was dominated by ugly propaganda. People were blinded by fear and pushed to wrong values. Meaningful human virtues were replaced with fake ideals of ruthless Soviet communism. Propaganda idolized members of the Soviet Politburo, their portraits were decorating every school and factory along with countless portraits and statues of the first Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.
In November 1979 Gorbachev was promoted Candidate Member of the Politburo, then less than a year later, he was made Full Member of Politbureau, the highest rank in the Communist Party which gave him unlimited direct access to Brezhnev and Andropov. The latter also promoted Gorbachev to sub for him at several Politburo meetings, and gave him a huge power in decision-making. Gorbachev developed a personal friendship with another Politburo member, Eduard Shevardnadze, and the two were vacationing together at the prestigious Black sea resort of Pitsunda. At that time the invasion of Afghanistan, ordered by senile Brezhnev in 1979, seriously undermined international credibility of the Soviet Union. Andrei Sakharov wrote an open letter to Brezhnev calling for a stop to the war. 50 nations boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Crackdown on intellectual freedom and human rights included the use of psychiatric terror, arrests, and the exile of dissidents. The head of the KGB Yuri Andropov declared Andrei Sakharov the "enemy No. 1." Sakharov was forcefully exiled from Moscow to the militarized 'closed' city of Gorky. He was placed under tight surveillance and restricted from any contacts. His wife was also under tight surveillance. By his 70th birthday Brezhnev's health declined dramatically; but he made himself a Generalissimus Marshal of the Soviet Union, similar to that of Joseph Stalin. Brezhnev accepted over 200 decorations and awards, including awards from all pro-Soviet governments, except China. Brezhnev accepted countless expensive gifts and amassed a collection of vintage cars and other bribes. His personal vanity and behavior was replicated at all levels of the Communist Party and led to massive corruption. The old Brezhnev lost his acting abilities and couldn't even read the script. Massive disillusionment was reflected in cynical jokes about the Soviet life. The ugly reality in the Soviet Union was reflected in its senile leader. Gorbachev saw that outdated economic and political system in the Soviet Union was doomed, but propaganda was still brainwashing the minds of millions, because it was controlled by the privileged few top communists who lived in denial of the big reality.
The youngest Politburo Member, Mikhail Gorbachev, was contemplating reforms. Leonid Brezhnev died on November 10, 1982, and was succeeded by Yuri Andropov who died just 16 months later. He was replaced by Konstantin Chernenko, who died in just 13 months. In 1983 Politbureau member Rashidov committed suicide, then, in 1984 the powerful Defence Minister Ustinov died. While the Soviet Union was in a dying mode, the real world was rapidly growing into computer age that reshaped global community. The rigid Soviet System was incompatible with the constantly innovating world. USSR failed to respond to rapidly changing reality and alienated forward-thinking people even in the pro-Soviet countries. During the early 1980s Soviet Politbureau was torn between two viciously fighting groups of Communists, one was made of the old hard-liners led by Andrei Gromyko, the apprentice of Joseph Stalin. The other, pro-democracy group, was made of the forward-thinking members of the Politbureau who chose Gorbachev as their leader along with Aleksandr Yakovlev who was the brain behind Gorbachev's moves. With Gorbachev's support Yakovlev managed to change all hard-liners in the Soviet media and propaganda system. In March 1985 Gorbachev was made the Secretary General of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, becoming the first Soviet leader to have been born after the disastrous Russian Revolution of 1917. He announced reforms called 'perestroika' (aka.. restructuring) and 'glasnost' (aka.. opening up), and lifted the walls of propaganda and denial. However, Gorbachev's first reform on regulations related to manufacturing and trade of alcohol became an economic disaster, causing a serious economic damage to the Soviet Union's State budget with annual losses exceeding tens of billions of dollars. Although his reforms were supported by public, many communist hard-liners openly opposed Gorbachev. Eventually, by the late 1980s Gorbachev's push for economic liberalization resulted in emergence of co-operatives and other forms of independent businesses, making the movement to freedom irreversible.
In December of 1986, Gorbachev personally contacted Andrei Sakharov in his exile. Gorbachev ordered that the KGB should release Sakharov and return him to Moscow. Back in Moscow Sakharov continued his work as a humanitarian. A few months before his death, he was elected as a representative of the Academy of Sciences to the Supreme Soviet in 1989. Sakharov showed to the World what an independent thinker can do by going to the extremes of science. He invented a bomb that could bring the most horrible extermination of life, and then took a stand to ban his own invention for the salvation of planet Earth. Gorbachev had important meetings with Ronald Reagan culminating in their summit in Reikjavik, Iceland, and leading to a more stable political and military situation in the world, that resulted in reunification of Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall in November of 1989. At that time the Soviet hard-liners criticized Gorbachev's international moves, saying that he was not a leader, but rather a follower of Ronald Reagan's instruction: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall" when the state of world affairs did not allow Gorbachev to disobey without a risk of losing his face. He also followed recommendations by Margaret Thatcher on opening the "Iron Curtain" to allow the Russian people to see the world and learn about the diverse international reality and travel freely on their own. A first, Gorbachev skillfully used hidden buttons within the rigid structure of the Soviet power tainted by the long tradition of obedience, fear and intimidation, which was installed by dictator Joseph Stalin within the ranks of Communist bureaucracy. That fear of the man in Kremlin served Gorbachev's plans well, as he managed to overcome the resistance of hard liners in ending the ruling powers of the Communist Party. Soon Gorbachev began giving away many power buttons in Moscow, which allowed his rivals to gain strength and independently form opposition groups. Andrei Gromyko, the last living member of Joseph Stalin's old Politbureau, had criticized Gorbachev's methods as "weak leadership" and also said "He (Gorbachev) is unfit for the Hat" (where the Hat means Kremlin, or an allusion to the Tsar's crown of power). Such criticism was ignored by most of the younger members of the Communist Politbureau and Central Committee, because weak central leadership allowed provincial bosses to privatize state property at a fraction of its real value.
Gorbachev replaced his hard-line critic Andrei Gromyko with Eduard Shevardnadze as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, and both Gorbachev and Shevardnadze pushed for international détente and withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. In another effort to add weight to his gradually eroding power, in March of 1990 Gorbachev updated his official title by adding a newly created post as President of the Soviet Union, albeit he was not really a democratically elected president. He surrounded himself with the political council of 15 top politicians, but he was lacking the grass-roots connections with masses and mid-level bureaucracy across the country. At that time Gorbachev began to experience powerlessness in his efforts to change the gigantic Soviet system, he was known for expressing his powerlessness by using profanities and anger at his meetings with the ranks of Soviet Government and industrial leaders. Gorbachev was facing an impossible task of modernizing the brittle structure of the Soviet Communism, especially the massive and inefficient Soviet military-industrial complex where opposition to reforms was the most organized, and inefficiency was dissembled as a military secret, like a catch-22, thus making it unreformable. Gorbachev himself was still perceived as the Secretary General of the Soviet Communist Party, and that stigma became the weakest part of his image in the eyes of many open-minded and quickly learning people in the Soviet Union. His effort to gain political weight by adding a figure of Vice-President of the Soviet Union had failed and soon backfired. Gorbachev's fatal mistake was letting the Members of Politbureau to chose the Vice-President of the Soviet Union behind closed doors in Kremlin; the "chosen" one was a career communist Gennadi Yanayev who would very soon betray Gorbachev during the coup.
Eventually Gorbachev became overshadowed by a much stronger figure of Boris Yeltsin, who gained more popular support by pushing further economic and political reforms, and also criticized Gorbachev's manner of restructuring of the Soviet system as slow, indecisive and inefficient. The rivalry between two former Communist comrades ended in the August 1991 coup, when still powerful KGB and Soviet Army leaders tried to take the power away from both Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Their coup failed just a couple days later, after the entire country watched Gennady Yanayev and his coup members on TV. "Let me say that Mikhail Gorbachev is now on vacation. He is undergoing treatment, himself, in our country. He is very tired after all these years and he will need time to get better." said Gennadi Yanayev before the cameras, and his hands were visibly trembling from fear. Gorbachev's disappearance during the coup was also seen as his grave weakness. Boris Yeltsin disposed his Communist ID card in front of the cameras and publicly denounced Gorbachev. Then all ranks of communists deserted the Communist Party in a massive exodus, and that was the end of the Soviet Union. All regional leaders were anxious to rule as presidents of their own independent states, and Yeltsin was already elected the president of Russia, the biggest part of the Soviet Union. Yeltsin met with the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus and they made a treaty as independent states. By the end of December 1991 the Soviet Union became obsolete and Gorbachev retired after a formal signing of dissolution of the USSR.
Mikhail Gorbachev is still regarded in the Western world for his input in ending the Cold War and helping the reunification of Germany. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1990) and received numerous international awards, decorations and privileges, such as the Honorary German Citizenship. However, in Russia Gorbachev's political standing failed to gain any substantial public support. He received less than 1% of popular vote in the 1996 presidential elections in Russia, when his former rival Boris Yeltsin was elected for his second presidential term. In 2001 Gorbachev founded the Social Democratic Party of Russia, but later, in 2003, he had resigned from the party leadership and stayed away from most of the current Russian political forces and media. In contrast to Gorbachev's popularity all over the world, he fell in obscurity in Russia, largely because in the new era of the wild Russian capitalism his outdated views and experience became obsolete. Instead he turned to business of giving lecture tours and speeches internationally and selling photo-ops with him for money that goes to humanitarian causes; he also sold his name and image to commercials such as the Pizza Hut and other businesses. He has been running the business of the Gorbachev Foundation, which handles his international appearances, while keeping a low profile in the current political life of Russia. In 2005 he was awarded the Point Alpha Prize for his role in re-unification of Germany. In 2006 Gorbachev underwent a carotid artery surgery in Munich, Germany.- He made his stage and screen debut in mid 1970's as schoolboy. In 1982-1984 Yefremov served in Soviet Army. In 1987 he graduated from the Moscow Art Theatre School.
Yefremov was married four times, has six children. His first wife was the editor Asya Vorobieva, their son Nikita Efremov is a Sovremennik Theatre actor. His second wife was the actress Evgeniya Dobrovolskaya, their son Nikolay Efremov is also an actor. His third wife was actress Kseniya Kachalina, they have a daughter Anna Mariya. His fourth wife is audio engineer Sofiya Kruglikova, they have daughters Vera and Nadezhda, and son Bori.
From 2009 on Yefremov presents Channel One show Zhdi Menya (1998), dedicated to search of long lost relatives and friends.
In 2010's he collaborated Dmitry Bykov over their project "Citizen Poet" (a pun on Nikolai Nekrasov's poem "Poet and Citizen"). Yefremov reads poems, written by Bykov, which are usually satirical comments on the contemporary Russian society, politics and culture. Each poem parodies the style of a famous poet of the past, e.g. Pushkin, Nekrasov, Kipling, among others. It was originally broadcast on Dozhd TV channel, but the original project was closed, because the poems were too critical towards Russian government. Currently, the show is hosted in audio format by Echo of Moscow radio station. - Actor
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Aleksei Vladimirovich Batalov was born on November 20, 1928, into the family of famous Russian theatrical actor Vladimir Batalov. He was born in the city of Vladimir, near Moscow, where his grandmother was the Doctor General at the Vladimir city hospital. His parents, Vladimir Petrovich Batalov and Nina Antonovna Olshevskaya, were both actors of the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT), under the directorship of Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko. His uncle, named Nikolay Batalov, was a distinguished film actor.
The Batalov family lived in the actor's apartments building at the Moscow Art Theatre. There young Aleksei got early exposure to the acting profession. He then moved with his mother to the home of her second husband writer Viktor Ardov, who was the neighbor of Osip Mandelstam. Young Batalov became a good friend of poet Anna Akhmatova who stayed in his room during her many visits to Moscow. Later, in the 1960's, Aleksei Batalov painted an oil portrait of Anna Akhmatova. Writers Mikhail A. Bulgakov, Mikhail Zoschenko, Boris Pasternak were among the closest friends of the Batalov's family, being also the colleagues of his stepfather Viktor Ardov.
In 1945, upon his return from evacuation in Tatarstan, Aleksei Batalov made his film debut as a cameo in 'Zoya'. He studied acting professionally at the Moscow Art Theatre's Acting Studio-School of Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko from which he graduated in 1950, as an actor. That same year he was drafted in the Red Army and worked as an actor with the Central Theatre of the Soviet Army from 1950-1953. He then returned to the Moscow Art Theatre and was a permanent member of the troupe through 1957.
Batalov shot to fame with his role in 'Bolshaya Semya' (The Big Family 1954) directed by 'Iosif Kheifets'. For that role he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, which he shared with his partners Sergei Lukyanov, Boris Andreyev, Nikolai Gritsenko, Pavel Kadochnikov, and others; the whole ensemble of actors and actresses were awarded for that film at Cannes, in 1955.
Aleksei Batalov received more international acclaim for his memorable acting opposite Tatyana Samoylova in The Cranes Are Flying (1957) (aka.. The Cranes Are Flying) for which director Mikhail Kalatozov won the Golden Palm at Cannes, in 1958. Batalov won the Jussi Diploma of Merit (1962) for the supporting role in 'Dama s sobachkoi' (aka.. The Lady with the Dog), a story by Anton Chekhov directed by Iosif Kheifits. Batalov also worked with Kheifits in 'V gorode S.' (In the Town of S.), another story by Anton Chekhov. Alrksei Batalov himself directed three films; 'Shinel' (1960) on the story by Nikolay Gogol, 'Tri tolstyaka' (1966) by Yuriy Olesha, and 'Igrok' (1973) (aka.. The Gambler), an adaptation of the eponymous book by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Aleksei Batalov earned the State Prize of the USSR for a strong and difficult leading role in '9 dney odnogo goda' (1961), for which director Mikhail Romm won Crystal Globe. Batalov's performance in the leading role of a Russian intellectual in 'Beg' (1970) based on the play by Mikhail A. Bulgakov, was somewhat overshadowed by the brilliant duo of his film partners Mikhail Ulyanov and Evgeniy Evstigneev. However, after a few years of his hiatus, Batalov made a successful comeback in 'Moskva slezam ne verit' (1979), which won an Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film (1981).
In addition to his numerous international awards Batalov was honored with the title of the People's Artist of the USSR (1976). He was decorated and received many Soviet and Russian awards from the state. Batalov was the Dean of the Actors Studio at the Moscow State Film Institute (VGIK) from 1975 to 2005. He taught over 20 acting seminars in the USA and Canada. He also made notable works for the Moscow Radio.
Aleksei Batalov resided and worked in Moscow, Russia, where he died on June 14, 2017.- Actress
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Anastasia Vertinskaya is a popular Russian actress and public figure best known for her roles as Assol in Alye parusa (1961) and Ophelia in Hamlet (1964).
She was born Anastasia Aleksandrovna Vertinskaya on December 19, 1944, in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union (now Moscow, Russia). Her father, Aleksandr Vertinskiy, was a famous Russian actor, singer and songwriter, who returned from his emigration in China to Moscow during the Second World War. Her mother, Lidiya Vertinskaya (née Lidia Vladimirovna Tsirgvava), was also a Russian émigré who was born into a Georgian-Russian family in Kharbin, and her older sister, Marianna Vertinskaya, was born in 1943, in Shanghai, China. Young Anastasia Vertinskaya had a happy childhood together with her sister Marianna. She was brought up in a multi-lingual family where she enjoyed an intellectually stimulating environment, and a highly cultural atmosphere of her parents circle. Anastasia Vertinskaya was fond of her father, who invested much of his talent and energy in his daughter's education. Her famous father died when Anastasia Vertinskaya was 14, and she suffered from emotional trauma that cast influence on her most important roles in film, that she played at the age of 15 to 19, such as Assol, Gutierre, and Ophelia.
In 1961, at age 15, Vertinskaya made her film debut starring as love-torn Assol who has a dream about her hero, Vasiliy Lanovoy. She became an instant celebrity in the Soviet Union with her first film, Alye parusa (1961), by director Aleksandr Ptushko, a popular adaptation of the eponymous book by Alexander Grin. Next year she co-starred as Gutierre in Amphibian Man (1961) Vertinskaya shot to international fame starring as Ophelia opposite Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy in Hamlet (1964), by director Grigoriy Kozintsev. Meanwhile, she attended the Shchukin Theatrical School, graduating in 1967, as an actress. She played supporting roles as Lisa Bolkonskaya in War and Peace (1965), by director Sergey Bondarchuk and as Kitty in Anna Karenina (1967), by director Aleksandr Zarkhi. She also starred as Margarita in Master i Margarita (2006), an adaptation of the eponymous book by Mikhail A. Bulgakov.
Anastasiya Vertinskaya was member of several theatrical companies in Moscow, such as Theatre of Vakhtangov, Taganka, Theatre Sovremennik, Pushkin Theatre, and Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT). Her most acclaimed stage appearances were as Nina in 'The Seagull' and as Elena in 'Uncle Vanya', both plays by Anton Chekhov. In a unique theatrical experiment by director Anatoli Efros at Taganka, she appeared in two roles: as Prospero and Ariel in the Shakespeare's Tempest. In 1989 she portrayed her father, Aleksandr Vertinskiy, in a show that she also wrote and directed to mark the centennial birthday anniversary of her father.
Outside of her film career A. Vertinskaya taught acting in Oxford and in the European film school in Switzerland; she also held a master class at Comédie-Française (Théâtre de la Républic) and at Chekhov's school in Paris. She was designated People's Actress of Russia. Since 1991 Anastasiya Vertinskaya has been running the Charitable Foundation for Actors, which supports such cultural landmarks as the home of Boris Pasternak and the museum of Anton Chekhov as well as many other cultural projects and individual actors and filmmakers. During the 1990s she completed restoration of her father's historic recordings for a CD release. Anastasiya Vertinskaya was married to director Nikita Mikhalkov and their son, Stepan Mikhalkov, is also a filmmaker.- Actor
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Vyacheslav Tikhonov was one of Russian cinema's best known faces, he survived hardship during the Second World War, and became renown for his portrayal of Russian aristocrats and intellectuals in several award-winning films, such as War and Peace (1965) and White Bim Black Ear (1977).
He was born Vyacheslav Vasilevich Tikhonov on February 8, 1928, in a small town of Pavlovsky Posad near Moscow, USSR (now Moscow, Russia). His father, Vasili Romanovich Tikhonov, was a technician at a local garment factory. His mother, Valentina Vyacheslavovna, was a kindergarten teacher. Tikhonov's first profession was that of a metal-worker during the Second World War. The war later became the main theme in some of his most notable film works. Young Tikhonov was obsessed with movies, his favorite actors were Nikolay Cherkasov as Aleksandr Nevsky, and Boris Babochkin as Chapaev. From 1945-1950 Tikhonov studied at the State Institute of Cinema (VGIK). He made his film debut in The Young Guard (1948) by director Sergey Gerasimov. During the filming of Molodaya Gvardiya Tikhonov met his first wife, Nonna Mordyukova. Their son, Vladimir Tikhonov, also became an actor, however, he suffered from a drug dependency and died. Vyacheslav Tikhonov met his second wife during the filming of We'll Live Till Monday (1968).
In the course of his career Tikhonov worked with some of the best Russian directors. He worked with director Stanislav Rostotskiy in five films, starting in Delo bylo v Penkove (1957). Their collaboration was especially fruitful in Dozhivem do ponedelnika (1969) and White Bim Black Ear (1977), which received an Academy Award-nomination. Before that, Tikhonov appeared in the leading role as Prince Bolkonsky in War and Peace (1965), an eight-hour epic film by actor-director Sergey Bondarchuk. In 1969 the film won the Academy Award as the best foreign-language film.
Tikhonov's most notable role on television was as Russian spy Stirlitz (Col. Maxim Isayev) in Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973), a popular TV series about a Russian intelligence agent operating in Berlin during WWII. The dual identity of Tikhonov's character is well played, and the film has won him millions of loyal fans. Tikhonov's consistent popularity made his character, Stirlitz, a hero in hundreds of jokes. After the role as Stirlitz, Tikhonov became typecast as a Soviet military character, and played heroic KGB officers and generals in several Soviet films during the 70s and 80s. In 2002 Vyacheslav Tikhonov suffered a heart attack. However, he soon recovered and returned to acting. In 2004 he played a role in a film produced by his daughter Anna Tikhonova. His last film-work was in Andersen. Zhizn bez lyubvi (2006) by director Eldar Ryazanov.
Vyacheslav Tikhonov was awarded the State Prize of the USSR and the State Prize of Russian Federation. He received numerous government awards and decorations and was designated People's Actor of the USSR (1974). Vyacheslav Tikhonov was residing in his country house in the prestigious village of Nikolina Gora, a suburb of Moscow. He died of a heart failure on the 4th of December, 2009, and was laid to rest in Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow, Russia.- Maria is an International Celebrity, the winner of the first Beauty Pageant in Russia. A spokesperson, a businesswomen and a celebrity, Maria encountered the technique of Kundalini Yoga to help being successful in personal life, career and in life fulfillment in general. Her classes are filled with humor and deep understanding of the human psyche.
- Lyubov Tolkalina was born on 16 February 1978 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for Once Upon a Time in the Provinces (2008), Antikiller (2002) and Antikiller 2: Antiterror (2003).
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Nikolay Karachentsov was one of the most popular Russian actors, known for his intense dramatic roles. His mother was a ballet dancer. As a child, Nikolay's favorite activity was reading - he read even by nights, disguised under a blanket with a flashlight. He became popular in 1974 after playing starring in "Til" drama at Lenkom theatre. He was well-known for his incredible will and ability to work 18-20 hours a day; "I can't do my job another way", he said. His son Andrey studied at the Institute of International Relationships in Moscow.- Actor
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Vasili Borisovich Livanov was born on July 19, 1935, in Moscow, into the family of famous Russian actors. His grandfather, named Nikolai Livanov, was a notable theatre actor in Moscow. His father, named Boris Livanov, was a leading actor of the Moscow Art Theatre and a personal friend of Boris Pasternak, Aleksandr Dovzhenko, Nikolay Cherkasov, Olga Knipper-Chekhova and other Russian cultural figures. His mother, named Evgenia Kazimirovna, was a professional artist.
Young Livanov was brought up in a highly intellectual environment. He was reading voraciously and also demonstrated his gift of an artist in numerous drawings and portraits. From 1950-1954 he studied as an artist at the Moscow Art School at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1954 he passed the admissions exams to the Surikov Art Institute, but then he decided to become an actor, like his father. From 1954-1958 he studied acting under Boris Zakhava at Shchukin Theatrical School, from which he graduated with honors in 1958. After graduation he joined the troupe of Vakhtangov Theatre for two seasons. From 1960-1964 Livanov was a permanent member of Moscow Theatre-Studio of Film Actors. He studied directing under Mikhail Romm for two years at the Supreme School of Directing at Goskino USSR, from which he graduated as an animation film director in 1966.
Livanov made his film debut in 1959, in a supporting role of a geologist in 'Neotpravlennoe pismo' (The Unmailed Letter 1959). Director 'Mikhail Kalatozov' was filming Livanov's scenes during a cold Russian winter storm, recording Livanov's voice live in the wind of a snowstorm, after which Livanov suffered a sore throat and obtained his hallmark hoarse voice. His breakthrough role came in 'Kollegi' (Colleagues 1962), an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Vasiliy Aksyonov. He enjoyed a steady film career as a supporting actor during the 60's and 70's. Livanov's hoarse voice became the hallmark voice of the famous Russian cartoon characters - Karlsson and Crocodile Gena. He also contributed to over a hundred other Russian cartoon productions made at Soyuzmultfilm Studio in Moscow. Livanov wrote several film scripts and plays, of which the animated 'Bremenskie muzikanty' (1970) became a popular hit. His story 'Moy lyubimy kloun' (My Favourite Clown) was adapted into an eponymous film starring Oleg Menshikov.
Vasili Livanov shot to international fame during the 1980's, when he was starring as Sherlock Holmes in the popular Russian TV series by director Igor Maslennikov. Livanov portrayed Sherlock Holmes as a refined intellectual, who is very elegant and English-looking in both demeanor and facial appearance. In 2000 Livanov and his co-star Vitali Solomin were voted the best impersonators of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in a poll by English press. For his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, Livanov was decorated with the Order of the British Empire of the second degree (2006), becoming the first Russian film actor to receive such an honor.
Vasili Livanov was designated with the title of People's Artist of Russia (1988) and received numerous awards for his works in film and television. From 1988-1992 he was Artistic Director of Moscow Experimental Theatre "Detective" in collaboration with Yulian Semyonov. During the 1990's he wrote a series of fairy-tales for children. In 2002 Livanov published a comprehensive book about Boris Pasternak based on his own research and meetings with the writer. Vasili Livanov is living in Moscow, Russia.- Anna Snatkina was born in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR to Aleksei Snatkin and Elena Snatkina. She is the oldest child in her family and has a younger sister.
At age 4, Anna did gymnastics.
In 2004, Anna graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography.
Anna is married and has a daughter. She lives and works in Moscow, Russia. - Ludmila Berlinskaya was born on 30 December 1960 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for The Big Space Travel (1975) and Chudak iz pyatogo B (1972).
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Inna Mikhailovna Churikova was born on October 5, 1943, in Belebey, near Ufa, Bashkiria Republic, Russia (at that time USSR). Her parents were from peasant families. Her father, Mikhail Kuzmich Churikov, was a veteran of the Second World War, he worked at Academy of Agriculture. Her mother, Elisaveta Zakharovna (nee Mantrova), was a Ph.D in Biochemistry. Young Inna Churikova was brought up in Moscow by her mother. During her school years she was fond of theatre and attended an acting class at Stanislavsky Theatre in Moscow. From 1960 - 1965 she attended Schepkin Theatrical School at Maly Theatre, graduating in 1965 as an actress.
In 1961 Churikova made her big screen debut in 'Tuchi nad Borskom', then she played bit parts in 'Ya shagayu po Moskve' and in several other films. She shot to fame with the leading role as Tanya Tetkina in _V ogne broda net (1968)_ by director Gleb Panfilov. Churikova's next role in The Beginning (1970), as Pasha Stroganova, a provincial amateur actress who is invited to play Joan of Arc in a big film, was arguably her best work in film. After having a big success with 'Nachalo', Churikova and her husband, director Gleb Panfilov, worked on development of an epic film about Joan of Arc, but their work on the project was obstructed by the Soviet officials. However, Churikova continued her successful film career. In 1984 she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival for the leading role as Vera in 'Voenno-polevoy roman', by director Petr Todorovsky. She starred as Vera in 'God Sobaki', and as Asya in Ryaba, My Chicken (1994), among her other film works.
Since 1974 Inna Churikova has been a member of the troupe at Lenkom Theatre in Moscow under directorship of Mark Zakharov. There her stage partners were such actors as Nikolay Karachentsov, Gennadi Khazanov, Oleg Yankovskiy, Leonid Bronevoy, Aleksandr Abdulov, Armen Dzhigarkhanian, Aleksandr Zbruev, and other notable Russian actors. Among Churikova's most memorable stage performances were such roles as Sara in 'Ivanov' and as Arkadina in 'Seagull', both plays by Anton Chekhov. She also appeared as Ophelia in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', and as Commissar in Vishnevsky's 'Optimisticheskaya tragedia', among her other stage works.
Inna Churikova has been loved by the public and earned critical acclaim for her range and effortless style. Churikova was designated Peoples Artist of the USSR (1991) and People's Artist of Russia. She was awarded the Golden Mask, and also received the State Prize of Russia (1985) and the Stanislavsky Prize for her contribution to theatre and film. She is residing in Moscow, Russia.- Fumi has appeared in the Number 1 Soap Opera, "Hotel Caesar" (English translation) in Norway! She has a great charisma that is very rare, and i think Norway and Europe for that matter is looking forward to seeing her talent, which is Fresh, New and exciting and make her their next Scandinavian Super Star. The world has changed a lot, and Fumi is a great part of that change.
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Vladimir Vysotsky was an iconic Russian actor, singer-songwriter and public figure, who wrote over 700 songs and gave over 2000 public and private performances as an anti-establishment singer of the 60s and 70s in the former Soviet Union. He was one of the Soviet Union's boldest and most celebrated actors who promoted individual freedom and helped lift Russian youth out of the state of apathy and fear under the Soviet dictator Brezhnev. In the movies, Vysotsky was best known as nifty detective Zheglov in The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (1979) by director Stanislav Govorukhin.
He was born Vladimir Semenovich Vysotsky on 25 January 1938, in Moscow, then the capital of the Soviet Union. His father, Semen Volfovich Vysotsky, was Jewish; he served in the Red Army during WWII, and was decorated for his courage rising to the rank of a Colonel. His mother, Nina Maximovna Seregina, was Russian; she worked as Russian-German interpreter. During WWII, Vladimir Vysotsky with his mother escaped from the advancing Nazis by evacuation from Moscow to Orenburg province in Siberia. After the war, the parents divorced and he was living with his father and stepmother in a Soviet Military garrison in East Germany. There, from 1947 to 1949, Vladimir Vysotsky was taking piano lessons; he also became an avid movie watcher.
Upon returning to Moscow in the fall of 1949, he settled on Bolshoi Karetny, and went to the all-boys school No 186, from which he graduated in 1955. While at school, he attended the drama class of V. Bogomolov, an actor of the Moscow Art Theatre. From 1956 to 1960, he studied acting under Pavel Massalsky and Boris Vershilov at the Moscow Art Theatre Studio, graduating in 1960 as actor. He briefly worked at Moscow Pushkin Drama, then joined the troupe at the Taganka Theatre. Vysotsky made his film debut in Sverstnitsy (1959).
In 1961, in Leningrad, during filming of 713 prosit posadku (1962) Vladimir Vysotsky met actress Lyudmila Abramova who became his wife and mother of his two sons Arkady Vysotsky (born 1962) and Nikita Vysotskiy (born 1964). He was later married to the French-Russian actress Marina Vlady. During the 70s, he toured all over the former USSR and also made stage appearances in France, USA, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Yugoslavia.
Breaking all traditions, Vysotsky appeared as Hamlet with the guitar in the Shakespare's play directed by Yuriy Lyubimov. Vysotsky's Hamlet, dressed as a contemporary young man and playing his guitar, shook the Moscow establishment by overthrowing the traditional interpretation of the Shakespearean character. Vysotsky's shows was always sold out, and tickets to his performances were the most demanded "currency" in Moscow.
His opposition to Soviet authorities resulted in periodic bans of his songs. In 1968 Vysotsky wrote an open letter to the leading Soviet newspaper "Pravda" asking for fairness and equal rights; he requested that the official ban on his songs shall be lifted. That same year the first official recording of Vysotsky's songs from the film Vertikal (1966) was released on Melodia label and quickly became the best-selling record in the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet authorities stubbornly suppressed Vysotsky's film and music career, causing him much moral pain and suffering.
During the late 60s and 70s Vysotsky had problems with drugs and alcohol and suffered of a severe heart disorder which sent him into cardiac arrests on several occasions. In one case, his wife, Marina Vlady, noticed that he collapsed at home and saved his life by calling an ambulance, so he was hospitalized. He died while asleep at his home in Moscow, on 25 July, 1980. His death caused a considerable mourning in Russia. Thousands lined up to attend his funeral at Vagankovskoe Cemetery in Moscow. His numerous fans across Russia and the world continue the tradition of memorial concerts and gatherings on the 25th of July every year. His flower-adorned grave is a site of pilgrimage for his fans.
Vladimir Vysotsky's remarkable voice and style has been a lasting influence on many of Russia's actors and musicians. Though he was ostracized by the Soviet officialdom, he achieved remarkable fame during his lifetime, and remains a towering figure in Russian popular culture. Among his most notable followers and devotees are Mikhail Boyarskiy and Yuriy Shevchuk.- Irina Skobtseva was a Russian film actress known for playing Helen Kuragina in epic film War and Peace (1965), a powerful adaptation of the eponymous masterpiece by Lev Tolstoy by director Sergey Bondarchuk.
She was born Irina Konstantinovna Skobtseva on 22 August 1927, in Tula, USSR (now Russia). Her father, Konstantin Skobtsev, was a meteorology scientist, her mother, julia Nikolaevna, was an archive researcher. While a student of art department at the Moscow State University, she was active with student drama, From 1951 to 1955 she studied acting at the Moscow Art Theatre Studio, graduating as actress. She made her film debut as Desdemona opposite Sergey Bondarchuk in the Shakespearian drama Othello (1956) by director Sergei Yutkevich.
Irina Skobtseva shot to fame as Helen Kuragina in epic film Voina i mir (1967) by director Sergey Bondarchuk. The eight-hour epic became the most expensive film ever made, War and Peace (1965) was produced over seven years, from 1961 to 1968, at an estimated cost of $100,000,000 (about one billion dollars adjusted for inflation in 2010). The film set several records, such as involving over three hundred professional actors from several countries and also tens of thousands extras from the Red Army in filming of the 3rd two-hour-long episode about the historic Battle of Borodino against the Napoleon's invasion, making it the largest battle scene ever filmed. War and Peace (1965) won the 1969 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Skobtseva was designated People's Artist of Russia (1974) and also received awards at Russian and international film festivals, including two awards at the Cannes. Her natural beauty and effortless style won her numerous accolades form international critics. She was chosen by the Soviet Union's communist government to represent the country at various film festivals across the world. Irina was married to actor and director Sergey Bondarchuk and the couple had two children, Alyona Bondarchuk and Fedor Bondarchuk. She was teaching at Moscow State Film Institute (VGIK) during the 70s; she semi-retired in the 1980s, but made some appearances on television since.
Irina Skobtseva died in Moscow, Russia on October 20, 2020. She was 93. - Nastia Liukin was born on 30 October 1989 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for Beijing 2008: Games of the XXIX Olympiad (2008), Stick It (2006) and Dancing with the Stars (2005).
- Natalya Negoda was born on 12 November 1963 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for Little Vera (1988), Buben, baraban (2009) and Back in the U.S.S.R. (1992).
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Aleksandr Shirvindt was born on 19 July 1934 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He was an actor and director, known for Twelve Chairs (1977), Chao! (1977) and Bezumnyy den ili zhenitba Figaro (1974). He was married to Natalya Nikolaevna Belousova . He died on 15 March 2024 in Moscow, Russia.- Anna Semyonovna Kamenkova is Soviet and Russian theater, film and dubbing actress. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1985). For the first time in cinema, the actress played at the age of six in the film Devochka ishchet otsa (1959), based on the eponymous novel by Evgeniy Ryss about the daughter of a Belarusian partisan. For this film, Anya received her first award - for the best performance of a children's role at the II International Film Festival in Argentina (Mar del Plata, 1960). After that, the parents, although they did not allow the daughter to continue the career that had begun at such a young age, did not let her abilities fade. The girl visited the artistic word studio in the Palace of Pioneers under the direction of Galina Khatsrevin and even performed on the stage of the Bolshoy Theater. In 1970, Anna entered the Higher Theater School named after M. Shchepkin, on the course of M. Tsarev. As a student, she made her debut on the stage of the Malyy Theater in the play "The Means of Makropoulos" based on the play by Karel Capek. After receiving a diploma (1974), the actress was accepted into the troupe of the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya. Anna Kamenkova served in the Malaya Bronnaya Theater until 1992. Among her most significant works in the theater is the role of Verochka in the play "A Month in the Village" (Ivan Turgenev, director A. Efros). After 1992, the actress went into a reprise. Collaborated with theaters 'Benefis', 'School of modern play', 'Theater named after Ruben Simonov'.
After a long break in the movie, Anna Kamenkova returned in 1975 (Lesnyye kacheli (1975), Belarusfilm, Svetlana). The following year, the shooting of the army melodrama Vesenniy prizyv (1978) (Irina) took place. Real recognition came to the actress after the role of Manya in Leonid Menaker's melodrama Molodaya zhena (1979). At the XIII All-Union Festival in Dushanbe she was awarded the Prize for Best Actress, and then recognized as an actress of the year. In 1987, she partnered with Sergey Shakurov in the film Vizit k Minotavru (1987). In 1989, the film Sofya Petrovna (1989) was released, which was based on the eponymous novel by L. Chukovskiy. For this difficult role, the actress received a prize at the All-Union Television Film Festival (Dushanbe). In the 1990s, Anna Kamenkova worked with foreign directors, in particular, in 1998 she starred in Pawel Pawlikowski's film The Stringer (1998), took an active part in dubbing foreign films. - Ilia Kulik was born on 23 May 1977 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor, known for Center Stage (2000), Michelle Kwan Skates to Disney's Greatest Hits (1999) and The 18th Olympic Winter Games (1998). He was previously married to Ekaterina Gordeeva.
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Anna Mikhalkova was born on 14 May 1974 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress and producer, known for An Ordinary Woman (2018), Svyaz (2006) and Chuvstva Anny (2023). She has been married to Albert Bakov since April 2008. They have one child. She was previously married to Albert Bakov.- Music Artist
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Helene Fischer was born on 5 August 1984 in Krasnoyarsk, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is a music artist and actress, known for Die Helene Fischer Show (2011), Tatort (1970) and Das Traumschiff (1981).- Iya Savvina is a Soviet and Russian actress of Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT).
She was born Iya Sergeevna Savvina on March 2, 1936, in Voronezh, Russia, Soviet Union (now Russia). From 1954 - 1958 she studied Journalism at Moscow University, graduating in 1958 as a journalist. While a student, Savvina was active in student drama club of Moscow University. There she was spotted by casting directors from Lenfilm studios and made her film debut in Leningrad: Savvina shot to fame with the leading role opposite Aleksey Batalov in The Lady with the Dog (1960) by director Iosif Kheifits. From 1960 - 1977 Iya Savvina was member of the Mossoveta theatre in Moscow. There her stage partners were such actors as Rostislav Plyatt, Georgi Zhzhyonov, and Aleksandr Lazarev among others.
Since 1977 Iya Savvina has been a permanent member of the troupe at Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT). There her stage partners were such renown Russian actors as Olga Androvskaya, Angelina Stepanova, Mark Prudkin, Anastasiya Georgievskaya, Vasili Toporkov, Mikhail Bolduman, Pavel Massalsky, and the next generation of MKhAT actors - Oleg Efremov, Tatyana Doronina, Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Oleg Tabakov, Alla Pokrovskaya, Kira Golovko, Tatyana Lavrova, Iya Savvina, Nina Gulyaeva, Elena Panova, Darya Moroz, Olga Litvinova, Natalya Rogozhkina, Ekaterina Semyonova, Olga Yakovleva, Raisa Maksimova, Irina Miroshnichenko, Evgeniya Dobrovolskaya, Kristina Babushkina, Anastasiya Voznesenskaya, Andrey Myagkov, Stanislav Lyubshin, Vladimir Kashpur, Vladlen Davydov, Viktor Sergachyov, Vyacheslav Nevinnyy, Evgeniy Kindinov, Vladimir Krasnov, Sergei Desnitsky, Dmitriy Nazarov, Sergey Sazontev, Avangard Leontev, Igor Vasilev, Igor Vernik, Sergei Sosnovsky, Mikhail Porechenkov, Konstantin Khabenskiy, Valeri Khlevinsky, Aleksei Agapov, Valeriy Troshin, Mikhail Trukhin, Eduard Chekmazov, Aleksey Kravchenko, and Evgeniy Mironov among others. In the 1970s - 1990s Savvina made her best known stage appearances in Anton Chekhov's classic plays. She shone as Anfisa in 'Tri Sestry' (aka.. The Three Sisters), and as Sharlotta in 'Vishnevy sad' (aka.. The Cherry Orchard). She also made acclaimed performances as Sofia opposite Natalya Tenyakova in 'Rozhdestvenskie grezy' (aka.. Christmas dreams) by director Pyotr Shteyn, and as Khlestova in Aleksandr Griboyedov's 'Gore ot Uma' (aka.. Woe From Wit).
Iya Savvina was designated People's Actress of the USSR. She was awarded the State Prize of the USSR twice (1983, 1990), and received numerous awards from the Soviet and Russian government. - Director
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Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov was born on November 18, 1927 in Samara, Russia. He graduated with honors from the Soviet State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in 1950, as a film director. He was making documentaries for five years. In 1955 Ryazanov came to work at the Mosfilm Studios under the direction of Ivan Pyrev, who produced Ryazanov's first feature film 'Karnavalnaya Noch' (Carnival in Moscow, 1956). It was an instant box office hit starring Lyudmila Gurchenko and Igor Ilyinsky.
Ryazanov's early comedies 'Devushka bez adresa' (1957), 'Gusarskaya ballada' (1962), 'Dayte zhalobnuyu knigu' (1963) were popular in the time of the cultural "Thaw" which was initiated by Nikita Khrushchev. However Ryazanov's film 'Chelovek niotkuda' (1961) was banned by the Soviet censorship, regardless of the fine acting by Sergey Yurskiy and Anatoliy Papanov. 'Beregis avtomobilya' (Watch Out for the Automobile, 1966) is arguably the most popular of Ryazanov's comedies. In that film Ryazanov worked with the stellar cast, including such actors, as Innokenti Smoktunovsky , Oleg Yefremov, Anatoli Papanov, Georgi Zhzhyonov, Yevgeni Yevstigneyev, Andrei Mironov (I), Olga Aroseva, Donatas Banionis, and other Russian film stars. The music score for the film was written by the brilliant composer Andrey Petrov.
Ryazanov created his own style of lyrical comedy with a soft satire on the Soviet life. His 'Zigzag udachi', with Evgeniy Leonov in the leading role, was a nice fairy tale for the Soviet people. 'Stariki-razboyniki', starring Yuriy Nikulin, Evgeniy Evstigneev, and Andrey Mironov was a crime-parody. His extremely popular TV-movie 'Ironiya sidby, ili S lyogkim parom!' (Irony of Fate, 1975 TV) was a big hit of the 70's and later turned into a nostalgic cult. It is shown every New Year's Eve as a tradition in the former Soviet Union. Actors Andrey Myagkov, Yuriy Yakovlev, Barbara Brylska, and Aleksandr Shirvindt are working together as one acting ensemble. Two years later Ryazanov directed another hit, 'Sluzhebny roman' (1977), where Andrei Myagkov made a nice duet with 'Alisa Freindlikh'.
Eldar Ryazanov wrote and directed 'Garazh' (1979). Ryazanov delivers a dazzling array of Soviet characters and situations in this film, ranging from funny, bitter, and sarcastic, to greedy, manipulative, and scary stupid. In somewhat a departure from comedy, Ryazanov brings the theme of "Gulag" prison-camp in 'Vokzal dlya dvoikh' (1982). Still the film is full of Ryazanov's warm humor and also benefits from the performances of Lyudmila Gurchenko and Oleg Basilashvili. 'Ruthless Romance' (1984) is the Ryazanov's adaptation of the 19th century story by 'Aleksandr Ostrovsky'. His latest film is Andersen. Zhizn bez lyubvi (2006).- Actress
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Ekaterina Volkova was born on 16 March 1974 in Tomsk, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for Rikoshet (2020), Pickwick and Guardians of the Night (2016).- Actress
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Klara Rumyanova is Honored Artist of the RSFSR (29.12.1979). In 1953 she graduated from the acting department of VGIK (workshop of S.A. Gerasimov and T.F. Makarova). Rumyanova started to act in films while she still was a student. At some point, directors actually stopped shooting her, but the actress found her vocation in the work behind the scenes. She was an actress of the Moscow theater-studio of the actor. Since 1962 she worked at the Soyuzmultfilm studio (debut - The Miraculous Garden). "The Golden Voice of Animation," a unique sound production, the master of the sound of animation films, the heroine of animated films "Cheburashka", "Well, wait!", "Wizard of the Emerald City", "Baby and Carlson". Her voice sounds in almost every second animation more than 100 films), many of which were included in the Golden Fund of the national animation. Rumyanova died in Moscow on September 18, 2004, just a few months before she reached her 75th birthday. She is buried at the Don Cemetery in Moscow.- Anya was born on January 3, 1989, in St. Petersburg, Russia. At age four, she was adopted by a Hawaiian family, and then raised in Oahu. Modelling started early for Anya who, at age seventeen, did (non-haute couture) shows by Chanel, Fendi, Jeanie Chun, and Louis Vitton, to name a few. She auditioned for (and successfully attained) a finalist spot on Cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model (2003).
Throughout the competition, Anya was never in the bottom 2. She received the first call-out (meaning, she was the first contestant that Tyra Banks handed a photo to during eliminations) five times, and she won three challenges: a posing contest (the reward was a nude shoot by photographer/judge Nigel Barker, which received much praise at the panel), working a "green" carpet and mingling well at a party (the rewards were a photo-shoot for a 7-Up advertisement, and $10,000), and runway walking (the reward was a "red carpet" dress by Gay Mattiolo). With all of these accomplishments, plus a sweet disposition, Anya made it all the way to the final 2, with Whitney Thompson. Anya eventually lost to Whitney, because the panel deemed Anya's walk somewhat "boring" (although Paulina Porizkova loved it, and thought Whitney's walk was "hamming it up").
Recently, Anya changed her last name from Kop to Rozova, to better reflect her Russian heritage. However, she still kept her Hawaiian middle name.