Pyotr Velyaminov

Pyotr Velyaminov was a Russian character actor known as Zakhar Bolshakov in the popular Russian TV series Teni ischezayut v polden (1971). He was born Pyotr Sergeyevich Velyaminov on 7 December 1926, in Moscow, into a family of ancient Russian Nobility. His father, Sergei Velyaminov was a descendant of the Norwegian Royals who in 1027 formed the oldest Russian dynasty of landed Gentry who later competed with the Romanovs for the throne of the Russian czars. At the age of 16, Pyotr Velyaminov was arrested for anti-Soviet activity and served 10 years in GULAG prison-camps under dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. At the same time, his father was fighting in WWII against the Nazis and was decorated for his courage, but after the war, he was also arrested and imprisoned. Father and son Velyaminov reunited only after the death of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. However, due to Soviet discrimination rules, Pyotr Velyaminov was restricted to living in Siberia. There he started acting at various stage productions for prisoners. Eventually he became a professional actor and worked with various troupes across Russia, such as, Dzerzhinsk City Drama Theatre (1950s), Novocherkassk Drama Theatre (1962-1963), then had gigs with drama companies in Cheboksary, Ivanovo and finally got a steady gig at Sverdlovsk Drama Theatre (1970). There he was spotted by film directors Valeriy Uskov and Vladimir Krasnopolskiy and they cast him in the leading role as Bolshakov in the popular Russian TV series Teni ischezayut v polden (1971). Pyotr Velyaminov never had a formal acting education, however, he played over two hundred roles on stage, in film, and on television during his acting career spanning over 50 years. From 1974 to 1994 he was member of the Moscow Studio of Film Actors. From 1995 to 2009, he was member of the troupe at the Theatre of Comedy in St. Petersburg. Pyotr Velyaminov was designated People's Artist of Russia (1985) and was awarded the State Prize of the USSR (1978). He also was a reputable professor and taught acting at the Baltic Institute in St. Petersburg. Pyotr Velyaminov died of pneumonia and a heart failure on 14 June 2009, in St. Petersburg, and was laid to rest in the Necropolis of Masters of Art "Literatorskie Mostki" at the Volkovo Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is survived by his son, Sergei Velyaminov, also an actor.