Yuriy Lyubimov

Yuri Lyubimov is a Russian actor and director best known as the founder and leader of the legendary Taganka Theatre company in Moscow, Soviet Union. He was born Yurii Petrovich Lyubimov on September 30, 1917, in Yaroslavl, Russia. His father, Petr Lyubimov, was a grocer, his paternal ancestors were Russian peasants. Lyubimov's mother was a music teacher, and his maternal ancestors were Gypsies. Lyubimov's parents were arrested during the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin, and young Lyubimov was deprived of his civil rights. However, he later reunited with his parents in Moscow. Young Lyubimov was fond of reading, acting and singing.

In 1934 he entered the acting Studio of Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT - 2) in Moscow; there he made his acting debut appearing in stage play 'Molba o zhizni' (aka. . Prayor for life).

From 1936 - 1940 he studied acting at the Theatrical School (now Shchukin Theatrical School) of Vakhtangov Theatre, graduating in 1940 as an actor and director.

From 1936 to 1940 and from 1946 to 1964 Yuri Lyubimov was a member of the troupe at Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow. There his stage partners were such actors as Boris Shchukin, Mikhail Ulyanov, Ruben Simonov, Boris Zakhava, Mikhail Astangov, Vladimir Etush, Varvara Popova, Alla Kazanskaya, Yuliya Borisova, Lyudmila Maksakova, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Nikolai Plotnikov, Vasiliy Lanovoy, Yuriy Yakovlev, Vyacheslav Shalevich, Andrei Abrikosov, Grigori Abrikosov, Boris Babochkin, Aleksandr Grave, Nikolai Gritsenko, and Nikolai Timofeyev, among others.

In 1938, Lyubimov made his stage acting debut at Vakhtangov Theatre opposite Boris Shchukin in 'Chelovek s ruzhyem'.

In 1941 Lyubimov was drafted in the Red Army and served at the NKVD (the Soviet Commissariat for Secret Service) as a stand-up comedian and announcer with the NKVD Choir and Dance Ensemble.

In 1959, Lyubimov made his directing debut at Vakhtangov Theatre wit his staging of 'Mnogo li cheloveku nado' (aka. . How much does a man need) by playwright Aleksandr Galich.

Created in 1962 the Moscow Theatre on Taganka from graduates of his actors class and was its first legendary main stage director until his banishment from the Soviet Union in 1976.

He was awarded the 1983 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Director for Crime and Punishment.