- Born
- Died
- Birth nameNikolai Konstantinovich Cherkasov
- Height6′ 6″ (1.98 m)
- The preeminent Russian actor, at least in Western eyes, of the first half of the twentieth century. He became interested in the theatre as a teenager and joined the Teatr Mariinskij as a stagehand in 1918. He apprenticed with various traveling companies and therein learned ballet, pantomime, and acrobatics. He studied at the St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Theater Institute and made his stage debut in 1926. The following year, he entered films and his commanding presence soon brought him leading roles and enormous acclaim, as well as the approbation of the Soviet leadership, which elected him a deputy of the Supreme Soviet. His greatest fame world-wide came with his work in the films of Sergei Eisenstein. Following the masterpieces _Aleksandr Nevsky (1938)_ and _Ivan Groznyj I (1945)_ he was named to the Order of Lenin and made People's Artist of the USSR, respectively. He died in 1966. He should not be confused with the actor Nikolay P. Cherkasov who starred in many Russian films.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
- Nikolai Konstantinovich Cherkasov was born on July 27, 1903, in St. Petersburg, Russia. His birth was complicated and he had to be pulled by the head with forceps that left permanent marks and visible impressions on his head. His father, Konstantin Aleksandrovich Cherkasov, was an official at the Imperial Department of Railroads of Russia. His mother, Anna Andrianovna, was a homemaker. The Cherkasovs lived in the prestigious area of St. Petersburg near the Mariinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Young Cherkasov studied at the St. Petersburg Gymnazium. He was fond of opera and attended many performances of the famous basso Feodor Chaliapin Sr. at Mariinsky Theatre. In 1919 Cherkasov graduated from Gymnazium and applied to Medical-Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg, but was not accepted for political reasons.
In May of 1919 Cherkasov was hired as an apprentice in the troupe of Mariinsky Theatre and was admitted to acting class of mime A. Klark. After a month of studies he was hired as a mime in the troupe of Mariinsky Theatre. Cherkasov was the tallest actor in the theatre and soon he was given a chance to prove his acting talent. In 1919, at the premiere of opera 'Vrazhia sila', Cherkasov played his first small silent role. He was so excited after his brief stage appearance that continued acting off-stage and appeared with his comic movements and tricks on the balcony among the audience. At that moment Feodor Chaliapin Sr. himself appeared on stage to sing his main aria, but the audience turned their heads to Cherkasov on the balcony. After the show Chaliapin, who was the boss of Mariinsky Theatre, ordered Cherkasov to show all his tricks again to Chaliapin and his theatre managers. Cherkasov was almost frightened, but performed his pantomime again, and his acting was so good that he was forgiven.
From 1923-1927 Cherkasov studied at the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Institute of Theatre and Cinema. In 1925 he created a show called 'Charley Chaplin, Pat and Patachone' together with comedians Boris Chirkov and Pyotr Berezov. His comedy show became extremely popular and Cherkasov was hired by the Theatre for Young Audiences in Leningrad. In 1929 he was invited to work at the Leningrad Music Hall. Next year he was invited to Moscow Music Hall, but soon returned to his home town of St. Petersburg and joined the troupe of Leningrad Comedy Theatre. He settled down after five years of touring about the cities and towns of the Soviet Union. In 1929 Cherkasov married a young actress, named Nina Nikolaevna Veitbrekht, and the couple had one daughter born in 1931.
Cherkasov made his film debut in a silent film 'Poet i tsar' (A Poet and a Tsar 1927). After several more silent films he played in the first Soviet sound film 'Vstrechniy' (1932) and soon made a stellar film career. Cherkasov shot to fame after the role of professor Paganel in Capt. Grant's Family (1936) (aka.. Capt. Grant's Family) where he also performed popular songs by Isaak Dunaevskiy. His role of professor Polezhaev in 'Baltic Deputy' (1937) and his portrayal of Prince Alexei, the son of Peter the Great in 'The Conquests of Peter the Great' (1937 and 1938) got him the attention of Joseph Stalin himself. Stalin also examined the first version of 'Alexander Nevsky' (1938) and ordered changes to the film by deleting the scenes of poisoning and death of Alexander Nevsky, who was betrayed by his host the Khan of Mongol-Tatar. Stalin wanted a propaganda effect and the film was altered to Stalin's liking. In 1941 Cherkasov received Stalin's Prize for the film. Cherkasov had a son born in the same year.
During the Second World War Cherkasov lost his first daughter who died of hunger in Leningrad under the Nazi siege. He rushed to besieged Leningrad and performed for the defenders of the city during the hard times of the winter of 1942-1943. In Apil of 1943, Sergei Eisenstein invited Cherkasov to work on Ivan the Terrible, Part I (1944) (aka.. Ivan the Terrible, Part One. 1944). In the role of Tsar Ivan the Terrible Cherkasov used all of his large arsenal of acting techniques ranging from voice, mimics and gestures, to masterful timing. Stalin personally approved the film and awarded the Stalin's Prize to both Cherkasov and Eisenstein. They continued collaboration on 'Ivan the Terrible, Part Two' but in the process they came to a major disagreement. In February of 1947, Stalin invited both to Kremlin and listened to the argument between Cherkasov and Eisenstein. Stalin saw the film and banned it because it alluded to bloody dictatorship. Some scenes were ordered to be destroyed. The film was shelved for eleven years and was released only in 1958, after Nikita Khrushchev initiated the "Thaw" in Soviet cultural and political life. At that time Cherkasov collaborated with Grigoriy Kozintsev in 'Don Quixote' (1957).
Cherkasov had also a stellar career as a stage actor. From 1933-1964 he was the leading actor of the Pushkin Drama Theatre in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). There his stage partners were such remarkable actors as Yekaterina Korchagina-Aleksandrovskaya, Illarion Pevtsov, Yuri Yuryev, Boris Babochkin, Nikolai Simonov, Vasiliy Merkurev, Konstantin Skorobogatov, Konstantin Adashevsky, Yuriy Tolubeev, Aleksandr Borisov, and other notable Russian actors. Cherkasov's stage career ended because he quit in protest after his wife was fired from the Pushkin Drama Theatre upon the order by the Soviet authorities. This became the final blow to his health and career.
Outside of his acting career Cherkasov was known as a strong supporter of retired and disabled actors and writers. He personally donated substantial sums of money to many less fortunate actors and cinematographers who suffered under the communist regime. Once he found that Lily Brik was left homeless in Moscow, Cherkasov used his star power to pressure the Soviet authorities, he wrote a strong letter requesting "good care about the wife of writer Vladimir Mayakovsky" and made sure that Lily Brik was provided with a decent place to live.
Nikolai Cherkasov was awarded the Lenin's Prize and five Stalin's Prizes. He was twice decorated with the Order of Lenin and received many other awards and decorations. He was designated the People's Artis of the USSR (1947). Cherkasov died of a heart failure on September 14, 1966, in Leningrad (St. Petesburg) and was laid to rest in the Literatorskie Mostki of the Volkovo Cemetery in Leningrad. His burial service was attended by many thousands of his fans. In 1975 a memorial monument to Nikolai Cherkasov was made by sculptor Mikhail Anikushin in the Necropolis of Masters of Arts in Tikhvinskoe Cemetery of St. Aleksandr Nevsky Convent in St. Petersburg, Russia.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Steve Shelokhonov - An outstanding Soviet theater and film actor. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1937). People's Artist of the RSFSR (03/11/1939). People's Artist of the USSR (02.26.1947). He graduated from the Institute of Performing Arts (1926). Since 1919 - a mimic artist of the Petrograd Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater, the Bolshoi Drama Theater and other theaters. In the years 1926-1929 - actor of the Leningrad Youth Theater. In 1929-1931 - artist of the Leningrad and Moscow music halls. In the years 1931-1933 - artist of the Leningrad Mobile Theater "Comedy". In 1933-1965 - artist of the Leningrad Academic Drama Theater named after Pushkin. Nikolai Cherkasov is the only actor whose face is imprinted on the order. Stalin personally chose and approved the portrait of Cherkasov for one of the highest state awards - the Soviet Order of Alexander Nevsky. Member of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR 1-2 convocations. Member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR 3-4 convocations (1950-1958). Chairman of the Leningrad branch of the WTO (since 1948). Member of the Soviet Peace Committee (since 1949). Member of the CPSU (b) since 1940. September 14, Nikolai Konstantinovich died at the 64th year of life. When the great actor passed away, one of his students said that he died not from heart failure, but from insufficient heartiness ... The actor was buried in the Necropolis of Artists of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Leningrad. July 27, 1970 the name of Cherkasov was assigned to one of the streets in Leningrad.- IMDb Mini Biography By: zoroman2008
- SpouseNina Nikolaevna Veitbrekht(1929 - September 14, 1966) (his death, 1 child)
- He was Luchino Visconti's choice for the lead role in "The Leopard" (1963). The producers were concerned about his age and health, and had wanted to cast a name American actor. Also, Cherkasov reportedly turned down the role. The role was eventually filled by American actor Burt Lancaster.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content