Vladimir Etush

Vladimir Etush is a popular actor and director of the Shchukin Theatrical School of the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow. He was born Vladimir Abramovich Etush on May 6, 1922, in Moscow, Russia. His father, Abram Etush, was a small business owner in Moscow and was arrested by the Soviet communists. Young Etush was raised by his single mother, Raisa Etush. As a schoolboy, he was fond of acting and reading, and took part in school productions of Chekhov's plays. In 1941 he entered, but his studies were interrupted by war. During the Second World War he served in the Red Army; he was severely wounded in a battle against the Nazis, and was decorated with the Red Star for his courage. In 1945 he graduated from the Shchukin Theatrical School as an actor. Since 1945 Vladimir Etush has been member of the troupe at There his stage partners were such actors as Mikhail Ulyanov, Ruben Simonov, Boris Zakhava, Mikhail Astangov, Varvara Popova, Irina Kupchenko, Natalya Tenyakova, Yuliya Borisova, Lyudmila Maksakova, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Marianna Vertinskaya, Nina Ruslanova, Nikolai Plotnikov, Vasiliy Lanovoy, Yuriy Yakovlev, Vyacheslav Shalevich, Andrei Abrikosov, Grigori Abrikosov, Boris Babochkin, Nikolai Gritsenko, Nikolai Timofeyev, Aleksandr Grave, Evgeniy Karelskikh, Sergey Makovetskiy, and Ruben Simonov, among others. His most memorable stage performances were roles in Shakespeare's 'Two gentlemen from Verona' (1948), as intellectual Dorogomilov in 'No Ordinary Summer' (1955) by Konstantin Fedin, and as Merikur in 'Budte zdorovy' (aka.. Stay well) (1965). Since taking the role as Brigella in 1963, Etush has been delivering acclaimed performances in the legendary Vakhtangov's production of Carlo Gozzi's comedy 'Princess Turandot'. Vladimir Etush is best known for his role as Comrade Saakhov, a hilarious groom in a popular Soviet comedy Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (1967) by director Leonid Gaidai. Vladimir Etush was designated People's Actor of the USSR (1984). He has been rector of Shchukin Thgeatrical Schooll of Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow. He is living in Moscow, Russia.