Famous Russian Film & Theater Personalities

Regarded as one of the first American movie stars, Yul Brynner became known for his performance as King Mongkut in the musical The King and I. He became identified with the role, so much so that he continued shaving his head after having shaved it for the role. A statue of Brynner was unveiled at Yul Brynner Park in 2012.

Andrei Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian writer, theatre director, filmmaker, and film theorist. Renowned for making movies that explored metaphysical and spiritual themes, Tarkovsky is often regarded as one of the most influential and greatest directors in the history of world cinema. The recipient of many prestigious awards, Andrei Tarkovsky's work continues to influence several filmmakers around the world.

Danila Kozlovsky is a Russian actor best known for his portrayal of Max Andreev in the 2012 black comedy-drama film Soulless, for which he won the Golden Eagle Award in 2012. Also known for his good looks, Kozlovsky was named Man of the Year by GQ Russia in 2013. He was also regarded as a sex symbol for many years.

Legendary Soviet and Russian theatre-practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski, who played an instrumental role in promoting new Russian drama of his time, is best-known for co-founding the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre and developing the Stanislavski's system of training and preparing actors. Sergeyevich was considered one of the prominent theatre directors of his day and also earned repute as a remarkable character actor.

Best known for his performances as Viktor Goraya in the series Years and Years and Stepan in the film Mr. Bean's Holiday, Russian-origin English actor Maxim Baldry also played Liam Donovan in the British series Hollyoaks. The London-born actor spent his youth in Moscow and Warsaw, before returning to London.

Svetlana Khodchenkova is a Russian actress best known for playing Irina in the 2016 film, Viking. She is also known for playing Vera in Bless the Woman, for which she received a nomination for Best Actress at the Nika Award. In 2008, she received the award for Best Actress at the Polish Film Festival for her performance in the movie Little Moscow.

Olesya Rulin is a Russian-American actress best known for acting in the High School Musical film franchise. Even though she was interested in the show business from a young age, she began her career as a nurse assistant. She eventually became an actress and found tremendous success with the release of the High School Musical films.

Eugene Mirman is a Russian-American actor, writer, and comedian. He is best known for his portrayal of Yvgeny Mirminsky in the American television series, Delocated. He is also known for his voice role in the animated TV sitcom, Bob's Burgers, in which he voices Gene Belcher. As a comedian, Eugene Mirman has performed in many festivals, including Just for Laughs.

Best known for playing detectives such as The Falcon and Sherlock Holmes, British actor Tom Conway also appeared in 2 Tarzan movies and a few Val Lewton cult horror movies. His performance in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents was appreciated by critics. He also voiced a role in 101 Dalmatians.

Timur Bekmambetov is a Russian-Kazakh screenwriter, film producer, director, and tech entrepreneur. He is best known for directing films like Night Watch and Wanted. He is also credited with pioneering Screenlife filmmaking. Timur Bekmambetov is also known for founding a production company called Baselevs.

Alla Nazimova was a Russian-American actress who had an extensive career on Broadway. She acted in the classic plays of playwrights like Ibsen, Chekhov, and Turgenev. She eventually moved on to films and had an equally successful stint in cinema as well. She was openly bisexual and had sexual relationships with women while being married to a man.

The son of Communist author Sergey Mikhalkov, Nikita Mikhalkov is best known for his Academy Award-winning direction in the movie Burnt by the Sun. He has also been a versatile actor and has been involved in Russian politics, too. He is also a 3-time winner of the State Prize of the Russian Federation.

Aliona Vilani is a Russian-Kazakh dancer and TV personality best known for appearing as a professional dancer in the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing. She started training in different forms of dance as a child and joined the Kaiser Dance Academy. She later turned professional and appeared in several TV shows. She also performs in stage musicals. 

Initially a talented football player, Russian actor Alexander Petrov switched to theater after an injury. Known for his roles in films such as Attraction, Invasion, and the Gogol franchise, he also played the lead in the Russian Netflix criminal drama Fartsa. He has also won prestigious awards, such as the Golden Eagle.

Konstantin Yurievich Khabensky, PAR, counted among the most acclaimed actors in Russia, gained international attention playing protagonist, Anton Gorodetsky in the film Night Watch and its sequel Day Watch. As a theatre actor Khabensky remained part of Saint Petersburg Lensoviet Theatre and is presently associated with Moscow Art Theatre. The Russian war-drama film Sobibor marked the directorial debut of Khabensky.

Soviet and Russian stage and film actor, director, writer and producer Vladimir Mashkov gained-attention of Western audiences performing in the blockbuster-hit American films Behind Enemy Lines and Mission: Impossible–Ghost Protocol. He directed and starred in the Russian drama film Daddy that entered into the 26th Moscow International Film Festival. Mashkov publicly supports Vladimir Putin and Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Best known for his role of Styr in the iconic fantasy series Game of Thrones, Russian actor Yuri Kolokolnikov also played Gennadi Bystrov in the spy series The Americans. While he initially aspired to become an actor in Hollywood, he returned to Moscow after he failed to make a breakthrough in the US.

Popular Russian actor Aleksei Serebryakov made his acting debut at age 13. His performance in Accidental Waltz won him a Locarno Film Festival award, while the drama Leviathan won him an IFFI award. He later moved to Canada, stating he was unhappy with the political situation in Russia.

Andrei Konchalovsky is a Russian filmmaker. Renowned for his versatility, Konchalovsky has worked on telefilms, motion pictures, stage productions, and documentaries. Over the years, Andrei Konchalovsky's films have won numerous prestigious awards, such as Golden Eagle Awards and Nika Awards. 

Armenian-origin American film and TV actor Akim Tamiroff is best remembered for his Academy Award-nominated performances in The General Died at Dawn and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Considered the first big Armenian-American star, he also appeared in several series, such as Naked City and Tales of the Vikings.

Russian actor Pasha D. Lychnikoff started his career in the Moscow stage circuit before moving to the US. Apart from appearing in series such as NYPD Blue and The Big Bang Theory, and movies such as Chernobyl Diaries, he also played lead roles in HBO’s Deadwood and in the Russian series Fizruk.

Markus Dupree is a Russian porn actor and director. The recipient of the prestigious AVN Award for Male Performer of the Year, Dupree is considered an influential figure in the porn industry. He has received more than three dozen industry award nominations so far.

Dziga Vertov was a Soviet documentary filmmaker and cinema theorist. His theories and filming practices had a significant impact on the cinéma vérité style of documentary filmmaking. Dziga Vertov's independent and exploratory style of filmmaking inspired and influenced numerous filmmakers including Guy Debord.

Starting his career with the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia, actor Michael Chekhova later moved to the US, making a successful career in Hollywood. His role of Dr. Alex in Spellbound earned him an Academy Award nomination. He also had his own drama studio, where he taught acting by mingling movement and imagination.

Vera Glagoleva was a Russian and Soviet film director and actress. She is best remembered for playing important roles in romantic comedies and melodramas. Some of her best known films include To Marry a Captain, Do Not Shoot at White Swans, and Poor Sasha. In 2011, Vera Glagoleva was honored with the People's Artist of Russia award.

Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė is а Lithuanian actress who appears predominantly in Russian films. She achieved popularity in 1994, when she won the Nika Award for Best Actress. Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė is аlso a recipient of the State Prize of the Russian Federation.

Sergei Bondarchuk was a Soviet and Russian actor, screenwriter, and film director. One of the leading personalities of Russian cinema during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Bondarchuk is best remembered for his period dramas, including War and Peace and Waterloo. Sergei Bondarchuk's work earned him numerous international accolades, including the Golden Globe Award.

Michael Lucas is a Russian-Israeli-American film director, businessman, journalist, and gay pornographic film actor. He is credited with founding Manhattan's largest gay-adult-film company Lucas Entertainment where he also serves as the CEO. Lucas has also contributed as a columnist for publications like HuffPost and The Advocate. Michael Lucas was made an inductee of the GayVN Hall of Fame in 2009.

Viktoriya Agalakova is a Russian actress best known for her portrayal of Nastya in the 2017 film The Bride. She achieved international fame in 2019 when she started playing Polina in the popular Netflix series To the Lake.

Soviet and Russian actor Aleksei Yevgenyevich Kravchenko, PAR,  gained attention starring in his debut film, the Soviet anti-war movie Come and See, counted among the greatest films of all time. He worked on his next acting-project after over a decade and meanwhile served in the Navy and graduated from Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute. He later joined the Moscow Art Theatre.   

Initially part of the Moscow Art Theatre, Russian director-actor Vsevolod Meyerhold is remembered for pioneering avant-garde theories of symbolism in theater. He also paved the path for biomechanics in Russian theater and created masterpieces such as The Magnificent Cuckold. He was executed, and his wife was murdered, during the Great Purge.

The son of Russian film director Sergei Bodrov, Sergei Bodrov Jr. started his career with his father’s movies, such as Prisoner of the Mountains. His performance in Brother made him a star in Russia. He went missing along with his crew after an avalanche hit them in the Caucasus while directing The Messenger.

Lev Gorn is a Russian-born American actor best known for his work in the American film and TV industry. Gorn achieved popularity when he played Arkady Ivanovich Zotov in the popular period spy drama television series, The Americans. Lev Gorn has also played supporting roles in films like Ace the Case and Café Society.

Natalya Goncharova was a Russian avant-garde painter, writer, illustrator, costume designer, and set designer. A member of avant-garde groups like Jack of Diamonds and Donkey's Tail, Goncharova influenced several unconventional artists in Russia and Paris. Goncharova also had a successful career as a costume designer; she designed costumes for the Ballets Russes.

Alexey Vorobyov is a Russian actor and singer best known for his performances in the English and Russian languages. Alexey Vorobyov is also known for his appearance on the Russian version of the popular music competition show, The X Factor.

Silver Bear-winning Soviet actor Anatoly Solonitsyn is best known for his roles in the films of legendary director Andrei Tarkovsky. Known for his signature reddish beard, he was an unknown theater actor before being discovered by Tarkovsky. Mirror and Solaris remain 2 of his best-known films.