Quick Facts
Biography
Todor Petrov Kolev (Bulgarian: Тодор Колев; 26 August 1939 – 15 February 2013) was a leading Bulgarian film and stage actor, singer, comedian and TV presenter.
Born in Shumen, his first major film was Tsar i General (Tsar and General) in 1966. He has appeared in more than 30 films. He is best known to the Bulgarian audience by his roles in comedies such as Gospodin za edin den (King for a day), Dvoynikat (The Double), Prebroyavane na Divite Zaytsi (The Hare Census), Tsarska Piesa (Royal Play), Posledniyat Ergen (The Last Bachelor), Opasen Char (Dangerous Charm).
During the Communist rule, he was temporarily exiled from Sofia to Sliven for a joke he made in public that there were three Toshkos who made Bulgarians laugh ("Toshko" is the diminutive form of the name Todor in Bulgarian): the Communist leader Todor Zhivkov, the clown Toshko Kozarev and himself. However in his biography Varnenskoto Sofianche Ot Shumen, Todor Kolev denies having ever said this.
He died on 15 February 2013 in Sofia, after serious illness of lung cancer.
Selected filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Koziyat rog / The Goat Horn | Deli | Bulgarian: Козият рог |
| 1973 | Prebroyavane na Divite Zaytsi / The Hare Census | the young hunter | Bulgarian: Преброяване на дивите зайци |
| 1974 | Posledniyat ergen / The Last Bachelor | Tsokov | Bulgarian: Последният ерген |
| 1978 | Toplo / Warmth | master-builder | Bulgarian: Топло |
| 1980 | Dvoynikat / The Double | associate professor Denev, cousin Ivan | Bulgarian: Двойникът |
| 1983 | Gospodin za edin den / King for a Day | Purko | Bulgarian: Господин за един ден |
| 1984 | Opasen char / Dangerous Charm | Bulgarian: Опасен чар | |
| 1987 | Samo ti, sartze / Only You, My Heart | managing director Milchev | Bulgarian: Само ти, сърце |
| 1988 | Noshtem po pokrivite/On the Roofs at Night | Kosta Rashkov | Bulgarian: Нощем по покривите |