Viktor Pavlov

Viktor Pavlov, one of the most popular Russian actors of the 1970s and 1980s, was in more than 150 films and played over 100 roles on stage. He was born Viktor Pavlovoch Pavlov on October 6, 1940, in Moscow, Russia. Pavlov's mother convinced his father to make a move to Moscow from Siberia, at the end of her pregnancy, because she wanted a better future for her son. Young Viktor Pavlov finished eight grades, got a job as an industrial metal-worker, and became involved in amateur acting class at the House of Teachers. From 1959-1963 he studied acting at Schchepkin School of Maly Theatre where his classmates were Oleg Dal, Vitali Solomin, Mikhail Kononov, and Sergey Nikonenko. In 1963 he graduated from Schchepkin School as an actor from the class of Nikolai Annenkov. From 1962-1965 Pavlov was a member of the legendary troupe at "Sovremennik" Theatre in Moscow, then he worked with other theatre companies in Moscow. Viktor Pavlov was still a student in 1961, when he made made his big screen debut in When the Trees Were Tall (1962) by director Lev Kulidzhanov. He shot to fame after playing a supporting role in popular comedy Operation 'Y' & Other Shurik's Adventures (1965) by director Leonid Gaidai. During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s he was one of the best known actors of the Soviet and Russian cinema. Pavlov's talent shines in his best known works in film and on television such as his roles in Trial on the Road (1986), 'Major Vikhr', Dauriya (1972), '12 stulev', Adyutant ego prevoskhoditelstva (1970), Ukhodya - ukhodi (1979) and other popular Russian films. Pavlov played roles in more than 150 films and television productions. He earned admiration of millions of viewers for his sincere individuality, light humor, and effortless style. From 1976-1985 and from 1990-2006 Pavlov was a permanent member of the troupe at Academic Maly Theatre in Moscow. There his stage partners were such stars as Yelena Gogoleva, Elina Bystritskaya, Rufina Nifontova, Mikhail Zharov, Mikhail Tsaryov, Igor Ilyinsky, Nikolai Ryzhov, Vitali Solomin, Yuriy Solomin and many other notable Russian actors. Pavlov was awarded for his outstanding stage performance in the role of Arkasha Schastlivtsev, a charming character in Aleksandr Ostrovskiy's play 'Les'. Viktor Pavlov was also a famous pigeon fancier: since 1984 he was homing pigeons in the attic of the Maly Theatre building in Moscow. He named his pigeons after the famous actors and actresses of Maly Theatre and also told humorous stories about his pigeons. Viktor Pavlov was designated People's Artist of Russia (1994). He was awarded the prestigious Stanislavsky Prize for his work on stage. Viktor Pavlov died at his home on August 24, 2006, of a heart failure following the complications of a stroke. He was laid to rest in Kuntsevskoe Cemetery in Moscow, Russia.