Georgiy Millyar, a renowned Soviet theater and film actor, was born in Moscow to a family of French bridge engineer Franz de Millieu, a native of Marseille, who came to Russia to work. Tragically, his father passed away in 1906 in Yalta when Georgiy was just a toddler, leaving his mother, Elizaveta Zhuravlyova, the daughter of an Irkutsk gold miner, to raise him.
Georgiy's childhood was marked by prosperity, with French governesses educating him in languages, music, and literature. His love for art was nurtured by his aunt, a theater actress, who instilled in him a passion for the stage. Even at the tender age of seven, Georgiy attempted to apply makeup for the first time, attempting to transform into Mephistopheles from Faust.
After completing school, Georgiy began his career in the 1920s as a prop man at the Gelendzhik theater. His unexpected debut came suddenly, when an actor fell ill, and Georgiy was thrust into the spotlight. His success was immediate, and he became one of the leading actors of the theater. By 1924, he had already established himself as a renowned provincial actor and was accepted into the Junior School at the Moscow Theater of the Revolution (now the Mayakovskiy Theater).
Despite his success on the stage, Georgiy's true ambition was to make a name for himself in cinema. However, his initial attempts to secure a role were met with rejection, including by Aleksandr Rou, who ultimately became a long-term friend and collaborator. Georgiy's film career began with minor roles in several films, but he eventually landed the iconic role of Baba Yaga in the 1940 film Vasilisa the Beautiful.
This role cemented Georgiy's status as the go-to actor for villainous roles, and he went on to play Kashchey the Immortal in the 1944 film of the same name, using his thin physique and distinctive voice to bring the character to life. His performance earned widespread acclaim, and Georgiy became known as the "official representative of evil spirits in cinema."
Throughout his career, Georgiy's unique voice, which was reminiscent of an old man's, and his mastery of the grotesque and buffoonery, made him a beloved character actor. His roles became small masterpieces, and he remained a beloved figure in Soviet cinema until his passing.
