Oleg Yankovsky

Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky (Russian: Оле́г Ива́нович Янко́вский; February 23, 1944 – May 20, 2009) was a Soviet/Russian actor who has excelled in psychologically sophisticated roles of modern intellectuals. In 1991, he became, together with Alla Pugacheva, the last person to be named a People's Artist of the USSR.

Born into a noble family of Russian, Belarusianand Polish stock, son of Life-Guards Semenovsky regiment's Stabskapitän, Oleg Yankovsky formed an ambition to emulate his brother Rostislav and joined the Saratov Drama Theatre in 1965. His film career was launched two years later, when he was cast in two movies about World War II, namely The Shield and the Sword (Shchit i mech) (1968) by director Vladimir Basov and Two Comrades Were Serving (Sluzhili dva tovarishcha) (1968) by Yevgeni Karelov.

During his remarkably prolific screen career, Yankovsky appeared in many film adaptations of Russian classics, notably My Sweet and Tender Beast (1977) and The Kreutzer Sonata (1987). A leading actor of Mark Zakharov's Lenkom Theatre since 1975, he starred in the TV versions of the theatre's productions, An Ordinary Miracle (1978) and The Very Same Munchhausen (1979) being the most notable. For his role in Roman Balayan's Flights in Dreams and Reality (1984) Yankovsky was awarded the USSR State Prize. He has been better known abroad for his parts in Tarkovsky's movies The Mirror (as the father) and Nostalghia (in the main role).

In the early 1990s Oleg Yankovsky also played quite different roles in Georgi Daneliya’s tragic comedy The Passport (1990) and in Karen Shakhnazarov’s historical and psychological drama The Assassin of the Tsar (Tsareubiytsa) (1991). In 1991 he was the President of the Jury at the 17th Moscow International Film Festival.

Starting in 1993, Yankovsky ran the Kinotavr Film Festival in Sochi. He continued to receive awards for his work with several Nika Awards from the Russian Film Academy for his directorial debut Come Look At Me (2001) and Valery Todorovsky's Lyubovnik (2002). He appeared as Count Pahlen in Poor Poor Paul (2004) and as Komarovsky in a TV adaptation of Doctor Zhivago (2006), directed by Oleg Menshikov.

The last film Yankovsky appeared in was Tsar, which was released in 2009 and demonstrated at the Cannes Film Festival on the 17th of May 2009, just three days before his death. Yankovsky played the sophisticated role of Metropolitan Philip in his last film.

• Two Comrades Were Serving (Служили два товарища) (1968) as Andrei Nekrasov
• The Shield and the Sword (Щит и меч) (1968) as Heinrich Schwarzkopf
• Wait for me, Anna (Жди меня, Анна) (1969) as Sergei Novikov
• I am Francysk Skaryna (Я, Франциск Скорина) (1969) as Francysk Skaryna
• About love (О любви) (1970) as Andrew, a friend of Nicholas
• Atonement (Расплата) (1970) as Alexis Platov
• Those who have kept the fire (Сохранившие огонь) (1970) as Semen
• Operation "Holtsauge" (Операция "Хольцауге") (1970) as Frank Ritter
• Racers (Гонщики) (1972) as Nikolai Sergachev
• Unexpected joy (Нечаянные радости) (1974) as Alexei Kanin (The film was not finished)
• Wrath (Гнев) (1974) as Leonte Chebotaru
• The Mirror (Зеркало) (1974) as the father
• Under a stone sky (Под каменным небом) (1974) as Jacob
• Bonus (Премия) (1974) as Lev Solomahin
• Police sergeant (Сержант милиции) (1974) as Criminal nicknamed Prince
• Trust (Доверие) (1975) as Georgy Pyatakov
• The Captivating Star of Happiness (Звезда пленительного счастья) (1975) as Kondraty Ryleyev
• Theater - this is my home (Мой дом - театр) (1975) as Dmitri A. Gorev, provincial tragedian
• Retired colonel (Полковник в отставке) (1975) as Alexei, son of colonel
• Other people's letters (Чужие письма) (1975) as Zhenya Priakhin
• Seventy-two degrees below zero (Семьдесят два градуса ниже нуля) (1976) as navigator Sergey Popov
• Long criminal case (Длинное, длинное дело) (1976) as attorney Vladimir Vorontsov
• Sentimentalnyy roman (Сентиментальный роман) (1976) as Ilya Gorodetsky
• Sweet Woman (Сладкая женщина) (1976) as Tikhon Sokolov
• Word for protection (Слово для защиты) (1976) as Ruslan Shevernev
• Feedback (Обратная связь) (1977) as Leonid Sakulin
• A Hunting Accident (Мой ласковый и нежный зверь) (1978) as Sergey Kamyshev
• An Ordinary Miracle (Обыкновенное чудо) (1978) as The Wizard
• Turnabout (Поворот) (1978) as Victor Vedeneev
• The Very Same Munchhausen (Тот самый Мюнхгаузен) (1979) as Baron Munchausen
• Open book (Открытая книга) (1979) as Raevski
• We are the undersigned (Мы, нижеподписавшиеся...) (1981) as Gennady Semenov
• The Belkin Tales. The Shot (Повести Белкина. Выстрел) (1981) as Count
• The Hound of the Baskervilles (Собака Баскервилей) (1981) as Jack Stapleton
• Hat (Шляпа) (1981) as Dmitri Denisov
• The House that Swift Built (Дом, который построил Свифт) (1982) as Jonathan Swift
• Vlyublyon po sobstvennomu zhelaniyu (Влюблен по собственному желанию) (1983) as Igor Bragin
• Nostalghia (Ностальгия) (1983) as Andrei Gorchakov
• Kiss (Поцелуй) (1983) as staff captain Michael Ryabovitch
• Flights in Dreams and Reality (Полёты во сне и наяву) (1984) as Sergey Makarov
• Two hussar (Два гусара) (1984) as Count Fyodor Turbin
• Keep me, my talisman (Храни меня, мой талисман) (1986) as Alexey
• The Kreutzer Sonata (Крейцерова соната)(1987) as Vasily Pozdnyshev
• Tracker (Филёр) (1987) as Vorobyov
• To Kill a Dragon (Убить Дракона) (1988) as Dragon
• My 20th Century (Мой двадцатый век) (1989) as Z
• Mado, demand deposits (Mado, poste restante) (1990) as Directed Jean-Marie
• Passport (Паспорт) (1990) as Boris
• The Assassin of the Tsar (Цареубийца) (1991) as Dr.Smirnov / Tsar Nicholas II
• Dreams of Russia (Сны о России) (1992) as Erik Laxmann
• Dark (Тьма) (1992) as Terrorist
• Me Ivan, You Abraham (Я - Иван, ты - Абрам) (1993) as Count
• Mute Witness (Немой свидетель) (1994) as Larsen
• The Fatal Eggs (Роковые яйца) (1995) as Vladimir Ipat'evich Persikov
• The Government Inspector (Ревизор) (1996) as Judge Lyapkin-Tyapkin
• Paradise apple (Райское яблочко) (1998) as George
• Chinese service (Китайский сервиз) (1999) as Count Stroganov
• Town Musicians of Bremen&Co (Бременские музыканты и Со) (2000) as Old Troubadour
• Come Look at Me (Приходи на меня посмотреть) (2000) as Igor
• The Man Who Cried (Человек, который плакал) (2000) as Father
• Lover (Любовник) (2002) as Dmitry Charyshev
• Poor, Poor Pavel (Бедный, бедный Павел) (2003) as Count Pahlen
• Doctor Zhivago (Доктор Живаго) (2006) as Komarovsky
• Birds of Paradise (Райские птицы) (2008) as Nicholas
• Guilty Without Fault (Без вины виноватые) (2008) as Gregory Muroff
• Stilyagi (Стиляги) (2008) as Fred's father
• Anna Karenina (Анна Каренина) (2009) as Alexei Karenin
• Tsar (Царь) (2009) as Metropolitan Philip Kolychev

On May 20, 2009 Yankovsky died from pancreatic cancer in Moscow, aged 65. A civil funeral took place at Lenkom theater. His burial was held on May 22, 2009, at Novodevichy Cemetery in presence of his close relatives only.

Soviet and Russian awards

• 1977 - Honoured Artist of the RSFSR
• 1984 - People's Artist of the RSFSR
• 1987 - USSR State Prize - for his role in "Flights in dream and reality"
• 1989 - Vasiliev brothers State Prize of the RSFSR - for role in "The Kreutzer Sonata"
• 1991 - People's Artist of the USSR
• 28 December 1995 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th class - for services to the state, many years of fruitful work in the arts and culture
• 1996 - State Prize of the Russian Federation - the main role in Anton Chekhov's play "The Seagull" at the Moscow State Theatre, "Lenk"
• 2002 - State Prize of the Russian Federation - the main role in the play "Jester Balakirev" of the Moscow State Theatre, "Lenk"
• 11 August 2007 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd class - for his great contribution to the development of theatrical art, and many years of fruitful activity
• 23 February 2009 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class - for outstanding contributions to the development of domestic theatrical and cinematic arts

Cinematic and public awards

• 1977 - Lenin Komsomol Prize - "for talented contemporary incarnation of the images in the movie"
• 1983 - Best Actor of the Year - for starring in the film "In love of their own accord" (according to a poll of the magazine "Soviet Screen")
• 1983 - Winner of the category "Best actor" of the All-Union Film Festival
• 1988 - Prize for Best Actor (in the film "Filer") at Valladolid International Film Festival
• 1989 - Award "for outstanding contributions to the profession" at the "Constellation" film festival for his role in "To Kill a Dragon"
• 1991 - Nika Award, three times; in the "Actor", for Best Actor in the film "Regicide" and for Best Actor in the film "Passport"
• 2001 - Award for Best Actor at the Sochi Open Russian Film Festival Kinotavr - for the film "Come and look at me"
• 2001 - Prize of the Russian Cultural Foundation at ORFF Kinotavr in Sochi
• 2001 - Grand Prix "Gold" Listapad at the Minsk International Film Festival "Listapad" - for his role in "Come look at me"
• 2001 - First place in the competition "Vyborg Account" at the film festival "Window to Europe" in Vyborg - for the film "Come and look at me"
• 2001 - Stanislavsky Theatre Prize - for the main role in the play "Jester Balakirev" of the Moscow State Theatre, "Lenk" [74]
• 2002 - Nika Award - for Best Actor in the film "The Lover"
• 2002 - The award "Golden Aries" - for Best Actor in the film "The Lover"
• 2002 - Award for Best Actor at the ORFF "Kinotavr" in Sochi - for her role in "The Lover"
• 2002 - Award for Best Actor at the festival "Constellation" - for his role in the movie "The Lover"
• 2002 - Winner of "Idol" in the "Idol of the Year" - for the main role in the play "Jester Balakirev" of the Moscow State Theatre, "Lenk" and for his role in "Come look at me"
• 2003 - Golden Eagle Award - for Best Supporting Actor in the film "Poor, Poor Pavel"
• 2003 - Special Award from the Administration of Krasnodar Krai ORFF "Kinotavr" in Sochi
• 2005 - Theatre Prize "Hit of the Season" - for the play "Tout payé", or "Paid by all"
• 2006 - Golden Eagle Award - for Best Actor on Television (in multiserial film "Doctor Zhivago")
• 2006 - Prize of the Russian Television Academy TEFI - for best actor on television (in multiserial film "Doctor Zhivago")
• 2007 - Award "Triumph"
• 2008 - public award - the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, "For Fatherland and work"
• 2009 - Award "Triumph"
• 2009 - Prize of the Stanislavsky "I Believe" (posthumously)
• 2009 - Prize "long-term president" Kinotavr "- for outstanding contribution to Russian cinema" (posthumously)
• 2009 - Award for Best Actor at the festival "Constellation" - a starring role in "Anna Karenina" (posthumously)]
• 2010 - Golden Eagle Special Prize for his contribution to the development of national cinema (Posthumously)
• 2010 - Nick Award for 2009 - "Best Actor" (posthumously), for the combination of roles in the film "Anna Karenina" and "King"