Mikhail Alexandrovich Ulyanov (; 20 November 1927 – 26 March 2007) was a

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

and

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

who was one of the most recognized persons of the post-

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

and

cinema Cinema may refer to: Film * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking ** Filmmaking, the process of making a film * Movie theate ...

. He was named a

People's Artist of the USSR People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. The term is confusingly used to translate two Russian language titles: Народный арти ...

in 1969 and a

Hero of Socialist Labour The Hero of Socialist Labour () was an Title of honor, honorific title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries from 1938 to 1991. It represented the highest degree of distinction in the USSR and was awarded for exceptional achievem ...

in 1986 and received a special prize from the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...

in 1982.

Biography

Mikhail Alexandrovich Ulyanov spent his childhood and youth in the town of

Tara, Omsk Oblast Tara (; Siberian Tatar: ) is a town in Omsk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tara and Irtysh Rivers at a point where the forested country merges into the steppe, about north of Omsk, the administrative center of the oblast. ...

. Although he had failed his exams in Schepkinskoe School and for the Moscow Art Theatre School, he moved to Omsk in 1944 to become an actor. After two years of studies in the studio at Omsk Drama he went to Moscow and entered the Schukin Theatre School in 1946. Ulyanov worked in the

Vakhtangov Theatre The Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre () is a drama theatre in Moscow. It was founded in 1913 as the Student Drama Studio, headed by Yevgeny Vakhtangov. The official opening date of the 3rd Studio of the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT) is considered to ...

from 1950 and directed it from 1987. He played a wide range of characters on stage, with Rogozhin in

Dostoevsky Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. () was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. He is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in both Russian and world literature, and many of his works are considered highly influenti ...

's ''Idiot'' being the most remarkable of them. In 1979 he staged

Vasily Shukshin Vasily Makarovich Shukshin (; 25 July 1929 – 2 October 1974) was a Soviet Russian writer, actor, screenwriter and film director from the Altai region who specialized in rural themes. A prominent member of the Village Prose movement, he beg ...

's epic novel ''I have come to give you freedom'', where he starred as

Stepan Razin Stepan Timofeyevich Razin (, ; c. 1630 – ), known as Stenka Razin ( ), was a Don Cossack leader who led a major uprising against the nobility and tsarist bureaucracy in southern Russia in 1670–1671. Early life Razin's father, Timofey Ra ...

. In 1985 Mikhail Ulyanov staged the satirical pamphlet ''The Child Buyer'' by the American playwright

John Hersey John Richard Hersey (June 17, 1914 – March 24, 1993) was an American writer and journalist. He is considered one of the earliest practitioners of the so-called New Journalism, in which storytelling techniques of fiction are adapted to no ...

. As regards movies, he was frequently cast in the parts of staunch Communist leaders like

Vladimir Lenin Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov ( 187021 January 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, politician and political theorist. He was the first head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 until Death and state funeral of ...

and

Marshal Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov ( 189618 June 1974) was a Soviet military leader who served as a top commander during World War II and achieved the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. During World War II, Zhukov served as deputy commander-in-ch ...

. His well-known character Yegor Trubnikov in '' Predsedatel'' (Chairman) (1964) became a Soviet classic and his most emblematic role. ''

The Brothers Karamazov ''The Brothers Karamazov'' ( rus, Братья Карамазовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy, ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ), also translated as ''The Karamazov Brothers'', is the last novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky spent nearly ...

'', a 1969 film he co-directed, was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

and was entered into the

6th Moscow International Film Festival The 6th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 7 to 22 July 1969. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Cuban film ''Lucía'' directed by Humberto Solás, the Italian film ''Serafino (film), Serafino'' directed by Pietro Germi and the ...

. He also starred in ''Tema'' (1979) and '' Private Life'' (1982), the films that won top awards at the

Berlin Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...

and

, respectively. More recently, he was acclaimed for the roles of

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...

in the screening of Shakespeare's play (1990),

Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate (; ) was the Roman administration of Judaea (AD 6–135), fifth governor of the Judaea (Roman province), Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD. He is best known for being the official wh ...

in the film adaptation of ''

The Master and Margarita ''The Master and Margarita'' () is a novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, written in the Soviet Union between 1928 and 1940. A censored version, with several chapters cut by editors, was published posthumously in ''Moscow (magazine), Moscow'' magazine in ...

'' (1994), and an avenging veteran marksman in ''

The Rifleman of the Voroshilov Regiment ''The Voroshilov Sharpshooter'' (, translit. ''Voroshilovskiy strelok'', named after a badge for marksmanship; also translated as ''The Rifleman of the Voroshilov Regiment'') is a 1999 Russian vigilante drama film directed by Stanislav Govo ...

'' (1999), directed by

Stanislav Govorukhin Stanislav Sergeyevich Govorukhin (; 29 March 1936 – 14 June 2018) was a Soviet Union, Soviet and Russians, Russian film director, actor, screenwriter, producer and politician. He was named People's Artist of Russia in 2006. His movies often fe ...

. He died on March 26, 2007, of intestinal disease.

Selected filmography

* '' They Were the First'' (1956) as Aleksey Kolyvanov * '' Ekaterina Voronina'' (1957) as Sutyrin * '' The House I Live In'' (1957) as Dmitry Fedorovich Kashirin * ''

Volunteers Volunteering is an elective and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergenc ...

'' (1958) as Nikolai Kaitanov A Simple Story'' (1960) as Andrey Egorovich Danilov * ''

A Simple Story (1960 film)">A Simple Story'' (1960) as Andrey Egorovich Danilov * ''Baltic Skies'' (1961) as Rassokhin * ''Battle on the Way'' (1961) as Dmitriy Bakhiryev * ''Young and Green'' (1962) as Lizlov * ''This Happened in the Рolice Station'' (1963) (voice) * ''Silence (1963 film)">Silence Silence is the absence of ambient hearing, audible sound, the emission of sounds of such low sound intensity, intensity that they do not draw attention to themselves, or the state of having ceased to produce sounds; this latter sense can be exten ...

'' (1964) as Pyotr Ivanovich Bykov * ''The Alive and the Dead'' (1964) as Sergei Filippovich, Army Commander * ''The Chairman (1964 film), The Chairman'' (1964) as Yegor Trubnikov * ''Solange Leben in mir ist'' (1965) as Frolow * ''Frozen Flashes (film), Frozen Flashes'' (1967) as general

Alexander Gorbatov Alexander Vasilyevich Gorbatov (; 21 March 1891 – 7 December 1973) was a Russian and Soviet officer who served as an officer in the Imperial Russian Army during the First World War and as a colonel-general in the Red Army during the Secon ...

* ''

'' (1969) as Dmitri Karamazov * ''Unterwegs zu Lenin'' (1969) as

Lenin Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov ( 187021 January 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, politician and political theorist. He was the first head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 until Death and state funeral of ...

* ''

Liberation Liberation or liberate may refer to: Film and television * ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War * "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode * "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode Gaming * '' Liberati ...

'' (1969-1971, part 1-5) as Marshall

Georgy Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov ( 189618 June 1974) was a Soviet military leader who served as a top commander during World War II and achieved the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. During World War II, Zhukov served as deputy commander-in-ch ...

* '' The Flight'' (1970) as general Gregory Lukyanovich Charnota * ''Anflug Alpha I'' (1971) as General Arkatow * ''Trotz alledem!'' (1972) as Lenin * ''The Sea is on Fire'' (1972) as Zhukov * '' Yegor Bulychyov and Others'' (1972) as Yegor Bulychov * '' The Last Day'' (1973) as Semyon Kolvalyov * ''Siege of Leningrad'' (1974, 1977, part 1, 2) as Zhukov * '' Take Aim'' (1975) as Georgy Zhukov * ''The Legend of Til'' (1977) as Klaas * ''

Soldiers of Freedom ''Soldiers of Freedom'' () is a four-part 1977 film epic directed by Yuri Ozerov and starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Yevgeny Matveyev, Vasily Lanovoy. It is a World War II historical drama and the sequel to 1970-71's '' Liberation''. Plot The film ...

'' (1977, TV Mini-Series) as Zhukov * '' Call Me from Afar'' (1978) as Nikolay * '' Wrong Connection'' (1978) as Ignat Maksimovich Nurkov * ''

The Theme ''The Theme'' () is a 1979 Soviet comedy film directed by Gleb Panfilov. It tells the story of an egotistical playwright who thinks of himself as an artist, but who allows the system to make him write conformist plays. The film was heavily cens ...

'' (1979) as Kim Yesenin, writer * ''The Last Escape'' (1981) as Kustov * ''February Wind'' (1981) as Filimonov * ''Facts of the Рast Day'' (1981) as Mikheev * '' Private Life'' (1982) as Sergei Nikitich Abrikosov * '' Without Witness'' (1983) as He * ''If the Enemy Doesn't Give Up...'' (1983) as Zhukov * ''Day of Commander of Divisions'' (1983) as Zhukov * ''Victory'' (1985) as Zhukov * ''Marshal Zhukov, biography pages'' (1985) as Zhukov * ''

Battle of Moscow The Battle of Moscow was a military campaign that consisted of two periods of strategically significant fighting on a sector of the Eastern Front during World War II, between October 1941 and January 1942. The Soviet defensive effort frustrated H ...

'' (1985) as Zhukov * ''Choice'' (1988) as Vladimir Vasilyev * ''The Law'' (1989) as Zhukov * '' Our Armed Train'' (1989) * ''

Stalingrad Volgograd,. geographical renaming, formerly Tsaritsyn. (1589–1925) and Stalingrad. (1925–1961), is the largest city and the administrative centre of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. The city lies on the western bank of the Volga, covering an area o ...

'' (1990) as Zhukov * ''House Under the Starry Sky'' (1991) as Andrey Nikolaevich Bashkirtsev, academician * ''I Myself am a Vyatka Native'' (1992) as Alexandr Kirpikov * ''Cooperative "Politburo", or It Will Be A Long Goodbye'' (1992) as Ivan Ivanovich * '' Everything Will Be Fine!'' (1995) as Grandpa * ''Great Commander Georgy Zhukov'' (1995) as Zhukov * ''Poor Liza'' (1998) as Liza's dad * ''

Composition for Victory Day Composition for Victory Day () is a Russian film in 1998. The director is Sergei Ursuliak. Oleg Yefremov's the last role. Plot They had not seen for twenty-five years the crew of heroic fighters, three front-line friends. Life they have devel ...

'' (1998) as Dyakov * ''

'' (1999) as Ivan Fyodorovich Afonin * '' Northern Lights'' (2001) as Old man in the country house * ''

Antikiller ''Antikiller'' () is a 2002 Russian crime film directed by Egor Konchalovsky. It portrays a brutal war between obnoxious crime gangs and a one-man vigilante, a former police officer. The movie is based on Danil Koretsky’s novel of the same name ...

'' (2002) as Father, criminal boss * ''

'' (2006) as

(final film role)

Honours and awards

Ulyanov has won the following awards: *

(1986) *

Order of Merit for the Fatherland Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * A socio-political or established or existing order, e.g. World order, Ancien Regime, Pax Britannica * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * ...

, 3rd class (17 October 1996) - For services to the state and an outstanding contribution to theatrical art * Two

Orders of Lenin The Order of Lenin (, ) was an award named after Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution. It was established by the Central Executive Committee on 6 April 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet ...

(1986) *

Order of the October Revolution The Order of the October Revolution (, ''Orden Oktyabr'skoy Revolyutsii'') was instituted on 31 October 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was conferred upon individuals or groups for services furthering communis ...

(1977) *

Lenin Prize The Lenin Prize (, ) was one of the most prestigious awards of the Soviet Union for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was originally created on June 23, 1925, and awarded until 1934. During ...

(1966) for his performance as Yegor Ivanovich Trubnikov in the feature film "The Chairman" * Stanislavsky RSFSR State Prize (1975) for his role in the play ''Day in And Day Out'' *

USSR State Prize The USSR State Prize () was one of the Soviet Union’s highest civilian honours, awarded from its establishment in September 1966 until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. It recognised outstanding contributions in the fields of science, mathem ...

(1983) for playing Sergei Nikitich Abrikosov in the movie ''Private Lives'' (1982) *

People's Artist of the RSFSR People's Artist of the RSFSR (, ''Narodnyj artist RSFSR'') was an honorary title granted to Soviet Union artists, including theatre and film directors, actors, choreographers, music performers, and orchestra conductors, who had outstanding achiev ...

(1965) *

(1969) * Honoured Worker of Culture of the Polish People's Republic (1974) * "Golden Lion" (

, 1982) for starring in the movie ''Private Lives'' * Order "For honour and valour for service to the Russian people and the badge "Golden Olympus" (2005) * Sole honorary title of "Superstar" (2005) *

Kinotavr Kinotavr (), also known as the Sochi Open Russian Film Festival was an open film festival held in the resort city of Sochi, Russia annually in June since 1991, until it was cancelled in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.Crystal Turandot Award (1997) * Golden Mask (1999) * Award "Idol" (1999) * In 2008, Russia's new arctic oil tanker has been named "Mikhail Ulyanov"

References

External links

*
Biography

Mikhail Ulyanov at the Vakhtangov Theatre website

Actor Mikhail Ulyanov died in Moscow
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ulyanov, Mikhail 1927 births 2007 deaths People from Muromtsevsky District Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery Soviet male actors Russian male actors Soviet film directors Deaths from digestive disease Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class Recipients of the Lenin Prize People's Artists of the USSR Heroes of Socialist Labour Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the USSR State Prize People's Artists of Russia Recipients of the Meritorious Activist of Culture badge Members of the Central Auditing Commission of the 25th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Members of the Central Auditing Commission of the 26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Members of the Central Auditing Commission of the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Members of the Central Committee of the 28th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Recipients of the Golden Mask