Aleksandr Abdulov was one of the most celebrated Russian film stars, and a sex symbol of Russian cinema. Born on May 29, 1953, in Tobolsk, Siberian Russia, he was the son of a theatre director from Fergana, Uzbekistan, and a make-up artist at several Russian theatres. Abdulov grew up in Uzbekistan, where he finished high school and became a Master of Sports in fencing.
Despite failing the admission tests at the Moscow State Institute of Theatrical Arts (GITIS),Abdulov stayed in Moscow and worked hard labor jobs at railway stations to survive. He eventually studied acting at GITIS, made little money as an extra, and still worked hard labor jobs to pay for his living.
In 1975, Abdulov graduated from GITIS and was hired by the Lenkom Theatre director Mark Zakharov. He revealed his full range of talent in popular films such as An Ordinary Miracle (1979) and Slyubimymi ne rasstavaytes (1980). The public adored Abdulov, and he became the first big sex symbol in the former USSR.
Abdulov played his best roles under the direction of Mark Zakharov in films such as Obyknovennoe Chudo (1978),Tot samyi Munchgausen (1979),Formula Lyubvi (1984),and Ubit drakona (1988). His best film partners were Oleg Yankovskiy, Evgeniy Leonov, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Evgeniy Evstigneev, Leonid Bronevoy, Andrey Mironov, Irina Kupchenko, Leonid Yarmolnik, Semyon Farada, Aleksandr Zbruev, Sergey Nikonenko, Irina Alfyorova, and others.
His range and nuanced acting reached a new level in the films made in the late 1980s and 1990s. Abdulov created powerful roles in a tandem with the masterful Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy in the innovative film Geniy (1991) by director Viktor Sergeev. At that time, Abdulov received a Nika Award nomination for supporting role in Sukiny deti (1991) by director Leonid Filatov.
Abdulov made two equally interesting works in collaboration with director Sergey Solovyov in Chyornaya roza - emblema pechali, krasnaya roza - emblema lyubvi (1989) and in Dom podzvyozdnym nebom (1991). Both works were awarded, acclaimed by critics, and loved by the public.
Abdulov showed his gift for transformation in the devilish character Korov'ev in Master i Margarita (2005),a TV-series from director Vladimir Bortko based on the eponymous book by Mikhail A. Bulgakov. Abdulov's energy helped the film, making him the most lively nerve in the group of "super stars" (some say super old stars). His acting became more classic and restrained in the traditionally Russian period-film Anna Karenina (2005) based on the eponymous novel by Lev Tolstoy from director Sergey Solovyov.
Later Abdulov worked with director Aleksandr Buravskiy in the epic film Leningrad (2009),about the historic siege during the Second World War; where his acting partners were Gabriel Byrne, Mira Sorvino, Kirill Lavrov, Mikhail Efremov, Donatas Banionis, and other notable actors.
Aleksandr Abdulov was designated People's Artist of Russia. He received numerous awards and nominations for his performances in film and on stage. He was a permanent member of the troupe at Lenkom Theatre in Moscow. He also directed several films as well as stage productions. Aleksandr Abdulov died of lung cancer on January 3, 2008, and was laid to rest in Vagankovskoe cemetery in Moscow, Russia.
