Andrey Rostotskiy

Andrei Rostotsky was a notable Russian director, actor and stunt performer who starred in popular films during the 80s and 90s, and had a tragic death while performing a stunt in his new film, in 2002. He was born Andrei Stanislavovich Rostotsky on January 25, 1957, in Moscow, Russia. His father, Stanislav Rostotskiy, was a veteran of the Second World War who emerged as one of the most important film directors in Russia. His mother was a notable Russian actress Nina Menshikova. Young Rostotsky was brought up in Moscow. He attended a high school with advanced courses of English and literature. He also studied French, music, history, and period-style fencing. He was a good athlete, specialized in martial arts and horse-riding, and was a winner in various horse races in Moscow. From 1974 - 1979 he studied acting and directing under Sergey Bondarchuk at State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow. Andrei Rostotsky made his film debut as cameo in Na kray sveta (1975), then had a powerful scene as corporal Kochetygov opposite Vasiliy Shukshin in They Fought for Their Country (1975). He shot to fame with such leading roles as Denis Davydov, a historic Russian hero during the war of 1812, in Eskadron gusar letuchikh (1981), and as Lieutenent Klimov, a disobedient submarine officer, in Pravda leytenanta Klimova (1981). At that time Rostotsky established himself as an important male lead with impressive range and a variety of skills, such as performing difficult horse-riding stunts and staging fights in various styles of martial arts. He earned critical acclaim for the leading role as Andrei Khromov, a historic figure in martial arts during the 1930s, in period film Nepobedimyy (1983), where he also performed all stunts for his character. During the late 80s and 90s Andrei Rostotsky emerged as a film director, as well as a stunt director and performer. His mastery of horse-riding evolved into an art-form, and he was appointed artistic director of "Kaskader" Horse Theatre in Moscow. He also taught acting and martial arts at Moscow Institute of Arts. He received the title of Honorable Artist of Russia, and was awarded the "Silver Medal of Aleksandr Dovzhenko" for his contribution to film. Outside of his film career, he was a generous supporter of public education, served as vice-director at Foundation for Expeditions and Travels. In 1998 he participated in a coast-to-coast car rally from New York to San Francisco. In the Spring of 2002 Andrei Rostotsky started his new film project in Southern Russia. There he had a tragic accident while preparing for a stunt at film location near Sochi. He fell from a 30-meter-high cliff and hit a rock, had an open head trauma and multiple bodily injuries. Andrei Rostotsky died during an urgent neurosurgery on May 5, 2002, in a Sochi hospital, and was laid to rest in Moscow, Russia.