The renowned Russian actor, widely recognized in the West as the most prominent performer of the first half of the 20th century. His fascination with the theatre began during his teenage years, and he eventually joined the esteemed Teatr Mariinskij as a stagehand in 1918.
As a young artist, he apprenticed with various traveling troupes, where he honed his skills in ballet, pantomime, and acrobatics. Subsequently, he enrolled at the prestigious St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Theater Institute, making his stage debut in 1926.
The following year, he ventured into filmmaking, and his authoritative presence swiftly earned him leading roles and widespread acclaim, as well as the approval of the Soviet leadership, which appointed him a deputy of the Supreme Soviet.
His international fame reached new heights with his work in the films of the celebrated director Sergei Eisenstein. Following the masterpieces "Aleksandr Nevsky" (1938) and "Ivan Groznyj I" (1945),he was honored with the Order of Lenin and designated as a People's Artist of the USSR, respectively.
Tragically, he passed away in 1966. To avoid confusion, it is essential to note that he should not be mistaken for the accomplished actor Nikolay P. Cherkasov, who starred in numerous Russian films.
