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Isaac Asimov was born Isaak Judah Ozimov, on January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi shtetl, near Smolensk, Russia. He was the oldest of three children. His father, named Judah Ozimov, and his mother, named Anna Rachel Ozimov (nee Berman), were Orthodox Jews. Ozimov family were millers (the name Ozimov comes from the eponymous sort of wheat in Russian). In 1923 Isaac with his parents immigrated to the USA and settled in Brooklyn, New York. There his parents temporarily changed his birthday to September 7, 1919, in order to send him to school a year earlier. Their family name was changed from Ozimov to Asimov.
Asimov was an avid reader before the age of 5. He spoke Yiddish and English at home with his parents and spoke only a few word in Russian. He began his formal education in 1925 in the New York Public School system. From 1930-1932 he was placed in the rapid advance course. In 1935 he graduated from high school, in 1939 received a B.S. and in 1941 he earned his M. Sc. in Chemistry from Columbia University. From 1942-1945 Asimov was a chemist at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard's Naval Air experimental station. After the war ended, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was transfered to the island of Oahu and was destined to participate in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946. He narrowly avoided that by receiving an honorable discharge in May 1946. In 1948 he completed his post-graduate studies and earned his Ph. D. in Chemistry. In 1949 he began his teaching career at the Medical School of Boston University, becoming assistant professor in 1951, and associate professor in 1955. In 1958 Asimov became a full-time writer and gave up his teaching duties because his income from his literary works was much greater than his professor's salary. He was fired, but he retained his title and later returned as a lecturer and was promoted to the rank of full professor in 1979. Asimov was considered one of the best lecturers at Boston University.
Young Isaac Asimov was raised as a non-religious person. His parents observed the Orthodox Judaism, but did not force their belief upon young Asimov. He did not have affiliation with a temple, did not have a bar mizvah and called himself an atheist, then used the term "humanist" in his later life. He did not oppose genuine religious convictions in others but opposed superstitious or unfounded beliefs. Asimov defined his intellectual position as a Humanist and rationalist. He opposed the Vietnam war in the 1960s and was a supporter of the Democratic party. He embraced environmental issues, and supported feminism, joking that he wished women to be free "because I hate it when they charge". He was also humorous about many of his memberships in various clubs and foundations. Asimov did not approve exclusionary societies, he left Mensa after he found that many of the members were arrogant. He liked individuality and stayed in groups where he enjoyed giving speeches. As a free thinker, Asimov saw sci-fi literature serving as a pool where ideas and hypotheses are expressed with unrestricted intellectual freedom.
Young Asimov was fascinated with science fiction magazines which were sold at his parent's general store. Around the age of 11 he wrote eight chapters of a fiction about adventures of young boys in a small town. His first publication was "Marooned Off Vesta" in the Amazing Stories magazine in 1939. Asimov shot to fame in 1941 with 'Nightfall', a story of a planet where night comes once every 2049 years. 'Nightfall' has been described as one of the best science fiction stories ever written. Asimov wrote over five hundred literary works. He is credited for introducing the words "positronic", "psychohistory", and "robotics" into the English language. He penned such classics as "I, Robot" and the "Foundation" series, which are considered to be the most impressive of his writings. He also founded "Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine", which became a best-selling publication.
Asimov was afraid of needles and the sight of blood. Although he had the highest score on the intelligence test he had the lowest score on the physical-conditioning test. He never learned how to swim or ride a bicycle. The author who described spaceflights suffered from fear of flying. In his entire life he had to fly only twice during his military service. Acrophobia was revealed when he took his date and first love on a roller coaster in 1940, and was terrified. This phobia complicated the logistics and limited the range over which he traveled; it also found reflection in some of his literary works. He avoided traveling long distances. Instead he enjoyed cruise ships like the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, where he occasionally entertained passengers with his science-themed talks. He impressed public with his highly entertaining speeches as well as with his sharp sense of timing; he never looked at the clock, but he spoke for precisely the time allocated. Asimov's sense of time prevented him from ever being late to a meeting. Once he discovered that his parents changed his date of birth, he insisted that the official records of his birthday be corrected to January 2, 1920, the date he personally celebrated throughout his life.
Asimov met Gertrude Blugherman on a blind date on Valentine's Day in February of 1942, they got married in July of the same year. The Asimovs had two children, son David (born in 1951), and daughter Robyn Joan (born in 1955). Asimov had known Janet Opal Jeppson since 1959. She was a psychoanalyst and also a writer of science fiction for children. Correspondence with her convinced Asimov that she was the right kind of person for him. He and Gertrude were separated in 1970, and he moved in with Janet Jappeson almost at once. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1973. That same year he and Janet Jeppson were married at Janet's home by an official of Ethical Culture Society. Asimov had no children by his second marriage.
In 1983 Asimov contracted HIV infection from a tainted blood transfusion received during a triple bypass surgery. He eventually developed AIDS and wanted to go public about his AIDS but his doctors convinced Asimov to remain silent. The specific cause of death was heart and renal failure as complications of AIDS. He died on April 6, 1992, in Boston, Massachussets, and was cremated. His ashes were scattered.
Ten years after Asimov's death, his widow, Janet Jeppson Asimov, revealed that his death was a consequence of an unfortunately contracted AIDS.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Dina Korzun was born on 13 April 1971 in Smolensk, Smolenskaya oblast, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress and writer, known for Last Resort (2000), Forty Shades of Blue (2005) and Country of the Deaf (1998). She has been married to Louis Franck since 2001. She was previously married to Aleksey Zuev and Ansar Khalilunin.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Yuri Nikulin was a Russian film actor, comedian, mime, and circus clown who was also Artistic Director of Moscow Circus and popular TV show host.
He was born Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin on December 18, 1921, in the town of Demidov, Smolensk province, Central Russia. His father, Vladimir Andreevich Nikulin, was a writer and director who worked for theater and circus. Yuri Nikulin inherited his fathers talents and had a dream of becoming an actor. The Second World War changed his plans as he was drafted in the Soviet Army in 1939 and served in a tank unit until 1946. After the war he came out a changed man. He could not get in any Soviet acting school for a few years, until he went to the Moscow Circus. There he was admitted after presenting a pantomime as a clown. He graduated from the Circus School in 1950, and started his acting career as a clown at the Moscow State Circus.
Yuri Nikulin became best known for his roles in the comedies from director Leonid Gaidai. Their collaboration from 1961 to 1971 was one of the most productive actor-director partnerships in the history of Russian film. Their comedies were the highest-grossing box office hits ever in Russia and the former Soviet Union with the admissions of 222,800,000 in the first 15 months. The Diamond Arm (1969) was the #1 top grossing Russian box office hit ever with theatrical admissions over 76,700,000 in the Soviet Union in 1969. In a 1995 national poll in Russia, The Diamond Arm (1969), starring Yuri Nikulin was voted the best Russian comedy ever.
Nikulin's effortless style and precise delivery, as well as his mastery of timing and his hilarious masks made him an outstanding comedian, arguably the best Russian comedian ever. Nikulin showed his range in a variety of genres from slapstick comedy to romance and war drama. His most popular film partners were Georgiy Vitsin, Evgeniy Morgunov, Natalya Varley, Rolan Bykov, Anatoliy Papanov, Sergey Filippov, Mikhail Pugovkin, Aleksandr Demyanenko, Leonid Kuravlyov, Andrey Mironov, Evgeniy Evstigneev, Vasiliy Shukshin, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Sergey Bondarchuk, Nikolay Burlyaev, Viktor Pavlov, Boris Novikov, Vladimir Etush, Saveliy Kramarov, Nikolay Grinko, and many other notable Russian actors.
Yuri Nikulin received popular and critical acclaim for his leading and supporting roles in such films as 'Andrei Rublev' (1961) by director Andrei Tarkovsky, They Fought for Their Country (1975) by director Sergey Bondarchuk, 'Stariki-razboyniki' (1971) by director Eldar Ryazanov, 'Chuchelo' (1983) by director Rolan Bykov, 'Kogda derevya byli bolshimi' (1961) by director Lev Kulidzhanov, '12 stulev' by director Leonid Gaidai, 'Dvadtsat dney bez voiny' (1976) by director Aleksey German, and many other memorable works in film. Nikulin's recording of the theme song from The Diamond Arm (1969), especially his delivery of such lines as "We care less" and "We are fearless" made it a popular hit in the 60s and 70s Soviet Union.
Nikulin was among very few comedians who could continue laughing in the face of the Soviet system without any fear of being punished. Even the toughest hard-liners knew that without his humor the everyday life of many millions would be totally unbearable. His genuine talent endured the country's worst times with a smile. He could make people smile anytime and anywhere; even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the bloody communism was replaced with the no less bloody Russian capitalism. During the 1990s Nikulin hosted 'Bely Popugai' (aka.. White Parrot), a hilarious TV show where he gathered the crème de la crème of Russian comedians.
The Moscow State Circus on Tsvetnoi Bulevard was the main workplace for Yuri Nikulin, where he had a career spanning about 50 years. He was awarded the honorable title of the National Artist and received numerous decorations for his achievements as an actor. Yuri Nikulin died after an open heart surgery, on August 21, 1997, in Moscow, and was laid to rest in the Novodevichy Monastery Cemetery, among the tombs of Anton Chekhov, Mikhail A. Bulgakov, Nikolay Gogol, Nikita Khrushchev, Sergey Bondarchuk, Anatoliy Papanov, and other Russian culture luminaries and historic figures.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Anatoliy Dmitrievich Papanov was born on October 31, 1922, in Vyasma, Smolensk region, USSR. His father, named Dmitri Filippovich Papanov, was a Russian industrial worker. His mother, named Elena Bronislavovna Roskovskaya, was of Polish ancestry. Young Papanov moved to Moscow with his parents in 1929. After graduation from a secondary school in 1939, he worked as a metal worker at the 2nd Moscow Ball-bearing Factory. There Papanov was an amateur actor at the Worker's Club Theatre-studio named "Kauchuk".
In 1941 Papanov was drafted in the Red Army and served as an Artillery Sergeant. He was severely wounded in his legs in 1942, and spent six months in hospitals. At age 21, he became permanently disabled and used a cane for the rest of his life. Papanov was admitted to the acting class of the Moscow Theatre Institute (GITIS), from which he graduated in 1946. While a student, Papanov married his classmate actress Nadezhda Karataeva. From 1946-1948 he worked on stage at the Klaipeda Drama Theatre in Latvia. In 1948 Papanov was invited to the Moscow Theatre of Satire by director Andrei Goncharov. He became permanent member of the troupe and worked on stage for almost 40 years. His regular stage partners were Andrey Mironov, Tatyana Pelttser, Spartak Mishulin, Aleksandr Shirvindt, Mikhail Derzhavin, Vladimir Kozel, Olga Aroseva, Georgi Menglet, and other renown Russian actors.
Papanov made his film debut as an extra in 'Lenin v Oktyabre' (1937) by director Mikhail Romm. He played supporting roles in comedies by director Eldar Ryazanov - 'Chelovek niotkuda' (1961), where his partner was Sergey Yurskiy, and in 'Beregis avtomobilya' (1966), where his partners were Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Oleg Efremov, Andrey Mironov, Georgi Zhzhyonov, Donatas Banionis, Evgeniy Evstigneev, and others. Papanov became really famous after his impressive work in the role of General Sepilin in 'Zhivye i myortvye' (1963), for which he was awarded the Brothers Vasilyev State Prize in 1966.
Anatoli Papanov is best known for his roles in the comedies of director Leonid Gaidai. His satirical character - a gangster chief Lyolik in 'Brilliantovaya ruka' (The Diamond Arm, 1968) became one of the most popular characters in the Russian cinema. Papanov made an excellent acting ensemble with his film partners Andrey Mironov, Yuriy Nikulin, Nonna Mordyukova, Nina Grebeshkova, Svetlana Svetlichnaya, Leonid Kanevskiy, and other remarkable actors. 'Brilliantovaya ruka' was the all-time box-office leader with over 76,000,000 admissions in theaters of the Soviet Union. In a 1995 national poll in Russia, 'Brilliantovaya ruka' was voted the best Russian comedy ever.
Anatoli Papanov was awarded the Russian State Prize of Brothers Vasilyev (1966). He was designated People's Actor of the USSR (1973) and was awarded the USSR State Prize (1989, posthumously). Papanov died of a heart attack on August 7, 1987, at his Moscow apartment, a few days before the tragic collapse of his friend and partner Andrey Mironov. Anatoli Papanov's death caused a considerable mourning among his fans in the Soviet Union, he was laid to rest in the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, Russia.- Waclaw Kowalski was born on 2 May 1916 in Gzhatsk, Smolensk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Gagarin, Smolensk Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor, known for How I Unleashed World War II (1970), Prom (1970) and Adventure in Marienstadt (1954). He was married to Stanislawa Osikowska-Kowalska. He died on 27 October 1990 in Brwinów, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Julia Monteon is an actress, writer and producer from Ukraine. She started acting in musical theatre when she was fourteen. Later she got her Bachelor's Degree in the acclaimed National University Of Theatre, Film and Television in Kyiv and moved to California to study at The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts.- Vladimir Zharikov was born on 6 November 1938 in Smolensk, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He was an actor, known for Opalyonnye Kandagarom (1989), Tayny madam Vong (1986) and Nenavist (1977). He died on 10 May 2024 in Russia.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Eduard Khil was born on 4 September 1934 in Smolensk, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He was an actor, known for Cell (2016), Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) and Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (2012). He was married to Zoya. He died on 4 June 2012 in St. Petersburg, Russia.- Alexei Jawdokimov was born in 1937 in Smolensk, USSR. He was an actor, known for Firefox (1982), The Eagle Has Landed (1976) and Game, Set, and Match (1988). He died in September 2019 in London, England, UK.
- Nikolai Plotnikov was a Russian actor and director at Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow.
He was born Nikolai Sergeyevich Plotnikov on November 5, 1897, in Vyazma, Smolensk province, Russian Empire (now Vyazma, Russia). His father, Sergei Plotnikov, was a barber, his mother was a homemaker. In 1910, when Plotnikov was 12, his mother died and he was sent to him uncle in St. Petersburg. There he studied art at the Stieglitz School of Art, and also worked at the Schwartz printing company in St. Petersburg, Russia. From 1916 to 1918 he served in the Imperial Tsar's Army during the First World War, then returned to Moscow. From 1918 - 1920 he studied acting at the studio of Michael Chekhov where his classmates were Boris Babochkin and his brother, then worked with a touring troupe all over Russia for two years. From 1922 - 1934 he was member of the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT) in Moscow, then was member of the Central Theatre of the Red Army.
From 1938 to 1979 Nikolai Plotnikov was a permanent member of the troupe at Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow. There his stage partners were such actors as Mikhail Ulyanov, Ruben Simonov, Boris Zakhava, Mikhail Astangov, Vladimir Etush, Varvara Popova, Irina Kupchenko, Natalya Tenyakova, Yuliya Borisova, Lyudmila Maksakova, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Marianna Vertinskaya, Nina Ruslanova, Nikolai Gritsenko, Vasiliy Lanovoy, Yuriy Yakovlev, Vyacheslav Shalevich, Andrei Abrikosov, Grigori Abrikosov, Boris Babochkin, Nikolai Timofeyev, Aleksandr Grave, and Evgeniy Karelskikh, among others. His most memorable stage performances were such roles as Polonius opposite Mikhail Astangov_ in the Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (1958), as Doctor in "Zhivoy trup" (aka.. The Living Corpse) after the eponymous novel by Lev Tolstoy.
Nikolai Plotnikov was designated People's Actor of the USSR (1964), and was awarded the State Prize of the USSR (1951). He also taught acting at Mosfilm Studio School, at Moscow State Institue of Theatrical Art (GITIS), and at Soviet State Institute of Cinema (VGIK). Nikolai Plotnikov died of a heart failure on February 3, 1979, in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union, and was laid to rest in the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, Russia. - Boris Vasilev was born on 21 May 1924 in Smolensk, Smolenskaya guberniya, RSFSR, USSR [now Smolenskaya oblast, Russia]. He was a writer, known for Ivanov kater (1972), Korolevskaya regata (1966) and An Ordinary Trip (1958). He was married to Zorya Albertovna Pole. He died on 11 March 2013 in Moscow, Russia.
- Stepan Krylov was born on 14 February 1910 in village Gorodok, Vyazma uyezd, Smolensk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Vyazemsky District, Smolensk Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Andrei Rublev (1966), Ivan's Childhood (1962) and Anafema (1961). He died on 28 February 1998 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Yevgeni Burenkov was born on 7 December 1924 in Maloye Polozovo, Gshatsk Uyezd, Smolensk Governorate, RSFSR, USSR [now Gagarin Raion, Smolensk Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Vishnevii sad (1976), Vzorvannyy ad (1967) and Tsygan (1980). He died on 19 April 1989 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Marina Ladynina was born on 24 June 1908 in Skotinino, Smolensk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Russia]. She was an actress, known for Cossacks of the Kuban (1950), They Met in Moscow (1941) and Six P.M. (1944). She was married to Ivan Pyrev. She died on 8 March 2003 in Moscow, Russia.- Lyudmila Ivanovna Kasatkina is a Soviet and Russian theater and film actress. People's Artist of the USSR (1975). While studying in the fifth grade, choreographer Igor Lentovskiy came to her school, who selected girls for classes at the Central Music School at the Moscow Conservatory (Shatskiy Studio). So Kasatkina entered the school's choreographic department. At age 14, she was forced to stop ballet classes due to poor health and a broken leg. She studied at the Studio of Artistic Words at the Palace of Pioneers by Anna Bovshek and Anna Schneider. In 1943, on the advice of Schneider, she entered the GITIS named after A.V. Lunacharskiy in the class of Iosif Rayevskiy and Grigori Konsky. In 1947, after graduation, she was accepted into the troupe of the Central Theater of the Soviet Army, where she worked all her life. Kasatkina played more than sixty roles on the stage, among which the most famous productions include Orpheus Goes Down to Hell by Tennessee Williams, Broadway Charades by Mary Orr and Reginald Denham, Your Sister and Captive by Lyudmila Razumovskaya.
In 1954 she made her film debut, starring in the main role in the comedy Tiger Girl (1955). In 1964, she starred in the first Soviet multi-part television movie Vyzyvaem ogon na sebya (1963). She also gained fame thanks to her work on voicing cartoons, in particular, the character of Bagheera in the series The Adventures of Mowgli (1973). In 1979, together with her husband, she created a workshop at the acting faculty of GITIS (professor since 1979), which lasted 12 years and gave the professional scene dozens of actors. - Lev Sheynin was born on 25 March 1906 in village Brusanovka, Velizh uyezd, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Velizhsky District, Smolensk Oblast, Russia]. He was a writer, known for Vstrecha na Elbe (1949), Tsepnaya reaktsiya (1962) and Nochnoy patrul (1957). He died on 11 May 1967 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].
- Aleksandr Belyaev was born on 16 March 1884 in Smolensk, Russian Empire [now Russia]. He was a writer, known for The Amphibian, Amphibian Man (1961) and Zaveshchaniye professora Douelya (1984). He was married to Margarita Konstantinovna Belyaeva, Vera Belyaeva and Anna Iwanowna Stankevich. He died on 6 January 1942 in Pushkin, Leningrad, USSR.
- Director
- Writer
- Animation Department
Roman Kachanov was born on 25 February 1921 in Smolensk, Smolensk uyezd, Smolensk Governorate, RSFSR [now Smolensk Oblast, Russia]. He was a director and writer, known for The Mystery of the Third Planet (1981), Metamorphosis (1978) and Stories from My Childhood (1998). He died on 4 March 1993 in Moscow, Russia.- Evgeniya Kozyreva was born on 20 October 1920 in Smolensk, Smolensk uyezd, Smolensk Governorate, RSFSR [now Smolensk Oblast, Russia]. She was an actress, known for Ubiystvo na ulitse Dante (1956), Nepovtorimaya vesna (1957) and V stepnoy tishi (1959). She died on 6 December 1992 in Moscow, Russia.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Denis Bannikov was born on 18 August 1966 in Smolensk, Smolenskaya oblast, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor and director, known for Bolshe - Menshe (2013), Ushchelye 'dukhov' (1991) and Korabl (1988).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ilya Frez was born on 2 September 1909 in Roslavl, Smolensk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Roslavlsky District, Smolensk Oblast, Russia]. He was a director and writer, known for Love and Lies (1981), Eto my ne prokhodili (1976) and Otryad Trubachyova srazhayetsya (1957). He died on 22 June 1994 in Moscow, Russia.- Writer
- Producer
Sergey Volkov was born on 2 August 1969 in Smolensk Oblast, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. Sergey is a writer and producer, known for Chikatilo (2021), Muzhskoe slovo (2024) and Robo (2019).- Sound Department
- Soundtrack
Olga Voronets was born on 12 February 1926 in Smolensk, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is known for Mechte navstrechu (1963), Machekha (1973) and Legend No. 17 (2013). She was married to Vladimir Sokolov and Raphael Babkov. She died on 2 August 2014 in Moscow, Russia.- Marina Popovich was born on 20 July 1931 in Leonenki, Smolensk Oblast, USSR. She was a writer, known for Nebo so mnoy (1975), Buket fialok (1983) and Sightings (1991). She was married to Pavel Popovich and Boris Alexandrovich Zhikhorev. She died on 30 November 2017 in Krasnodar, Russia.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
George Shdanoff was born on 5 December 1905 in Smolensk, Russia. He was an actor and director, known for Specter of the Rose (1946) and From Russia to Hollywood: The 100-Year Odyssey of Chekhov and Shdanoff (2002). He died on 14 August 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.