Nikolai Sergeyevich Lebedev (russian: Николай Сергеевич Лебедев, link=no; 15 December 1921 – 21 August 2022) was a Soviet and Russian actor,
People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of the Russian Federation (russian: Народный артист Российской Федерации, ''Narodnyy artist Rossiyskoy Federatsii''), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the Russian Federation, is an h ...
in 2018. A former soldier of the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
, he also fought in the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, where he was captured by the
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...
, during the
Battle of Uman
The Battle of Uman (15 July – 8 August 1941) was the World War II German offensive in Uman, Ukraine against the 6th and 12th Soviet Armies. In a three-week period, the Wehrmacht encircled and annihilated the two Soviet armies.
The battle oc ...
.
Early life and career
Nikolai Sergeyevich Lebedev was born in Moscow on 15 December 1921.Николай Лебедев на сайте театра им. Моссовета During the
Great Patriotic War
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe (Baltics), and Sout ...
, he was drafted to the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
in April 1941, to fight as a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
machine gunner
A machine gun is a fully automatic, rifled autoloading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automatic firearms such as automatic shotguns and automatic rifles (including assault rifles and battle rifles) ar ...
. He was contused and captured by the
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...
in July–August 1941, during the
Battle of Uman
The Battle of Uman (15 July – 8 August 1941) was the World War II German offensive in Uman, Ukraine against the 6th and 12th Soviet Armies. In a three-week period, the Wehrmacht encircled and annihilated the two Soviet armies.
The battle oc ...
. After his release by the enemy, he was tested by the Soviet counter-intelligence agency,
SMERSH
SMERSH (russian: СМЕРШ) was an umbrella organization for three independent counter-intelligence agencies in the Red Army formed in late 1942 or even earlier, but officially announced only on 14 April 1943. The name SMERSH was coined by Josep ...
, and was ultimately cleared and let go. After the war, he acted at the Moscow Theater of the Young Spectator for two years until deciding to combine his studies and work, entering the
Moscow Art Theatre School
Moscow Art Theatre School is the studio school of the Moscow Art Theatre. It is a state educational institution that has existed since 1943. The initiator of the studio school was Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.
Lebedev graduated from the school in 1950, in the course of
Viktor Stanitsyn
Viktor Yakovlevich Stanitsyn (russian: Ви́ктор Я́ковлевич Стани́цын; 1897–1976) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor.Riley p.73 He appeared in a number of Soviet era films including portraying Winston Churchill ...
. As it was known that he had been a prisoner during the war, Lebedev was banned from acting at the
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre (or MAT; russian: Московский Художественный академический театр (МХАТ), ''Moskovskiy Hudojestvenny Akademicheskiy Teatr'' (МHАТ)) was a theatre company in Moscow. It was f ...
, despite both parties agreeing to it at first.
Yuri Zavadsky
Yuri Aleksandrovich Zavadsky (russian: Юрий Александрович Завадский; 12 July 1894, Moscow — 5 April 1977, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian theater director, actor and pedagogue. People's Artist of the USSR (1948) and ...
introduced him to the
Mossovet Theater
Mossovet State Academic Theatre (Государственный академический театр имени Театр Моссовета) is one of the oldest theatres of Moscow, opened in 1923 and based at Bolshaya Sadovaya, 16.
History
Mos ...
instead, where Lebedev ultimately acted for more than 60 years.
Personal life and death
Lebedev's wife, Anna Kasenkina, was also an actress. They lived together for more than half a century. Anna and Nikolai had no children together, although Kasenkina had a son from her first marriage, whom Lebedev raised as his own. After the death of Anna, he lived with his son's family.
Lebedev turned 100 in December 2021, and died on 21 August 2022.
Yevdokiya
''Yevdokiya'' (russian: Евдокия) is a 1961 Soviet melodrama film directed by Tatyana Lioznova.
Plot
The film tells about the worker Yevdokim and his wife Yevdokiya, who live in a small town in the province and raise foster children. Their ...
'' (1961) as Yevdokim
* ''
Silence
Silence is the absence of ambient audible sound, the emission of sounds of such low intensity that they do not draw attention to themselves, or the state of having ceased to produce sounds; this latter sense can be extended to apply to the ce ...
'' (1963) as episode
* ''
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 ...
Eternal Call
''Eternal Call'' (russian: Вечный зов, Vechnyy zov) was a Soviet 1973–1983 epic TV series directed by Vladimir Krasnopolsky and Valery Uskov by the eponymous novel of Anatoli Ivanov shot by Mosfilm. Plot
The series traces the fates ...
The Captivating Star of Happiness
''The Captivating Star of Happiness'' (russian: Звезда пленительного счастья, Zvezda plenitelnogo schastya, The Star of Fascinating Happiness) is a 1975 Soviet Union, Soviet historical drama. The title is an allusion to a ...
'' (1975)
* ''
Air Crew
''Air Crew'' (russian: Экипаж, Ekipazh, crew, link=no) is a 1980 disaster film directed by Alexander Mitta. Inspired by the ''Airport'' movie series, it was the first disaster film shot in the Soviet Union.
Plot
The first part of the film ...
'' (1980) as Professor of Medical Commission
* ' (1985) as
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...
* ''
Vagrant Bus ''Vagrant Bus'' (russian: Бродячий автобус, Brodyachiy avtobus) is a 1990 Soviet drama film, filmed at the studio Lenfilm by the director Iosif Kheifits.
Story
The film tells about the artists one theater. This is a wandering troupe ...
'' (1989) as episode
* ''
King Lear
''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane an ...