Vasil Mihaylov was born on April 6, 1938, in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, and in April 2008, he celebrated his 70th anniversary and over 40 years of acting career. Throughout his career, he has taken on over 200 roles, dividing his time between theater, film, and television. Mihaylov's journey in the entertainment industry began during his high school years, where he would hide behind a Santa Claus costume and ask children if they had been good that year.
After graduating from high school, Mihaylov worked as a machinist in a factory in Stara Zagora for two years before enrolling in the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he studied under the guidance of Professor Zhelcho Mandadziev. He graduated in 1964 and soon began taking on stage and screen roles. His first role was in the Theatre of the Bulgarian Army, where he played Boyan in "Boyan Wizard" by Kiril Hristov, directed by Atanas Mihailov.
Mihaylov's first film role came in 1968, in the "Chronicle of Feelings," directed by Lyubomir Sharlandziev. He went on to appear regularly in TV Theater and took on a wide range of roles, including strong characters from history and literature. Some of his most notable roles include Khan Kubrat in "Khan Asparuh," Khan Krum in "The Day of the Rulers," Stefan Stambolov in "The Greatness and Fall of Stefan Stambolov," Petko Karavelov in "The Dreamers," Suleiman Aga in "Time of Violence," and Valkadin in "Valkadin Talks to God."
One of Mihaylov's most iconic roles is that of Captain Petko Leader, which has become a beloved character among many generations of viewers. For his portrayal, Mihaylov won the Best Actor award at the Festival of Bulgarian Feature Film in Varna in 1982. In his free time, Mihaylov has a passion for collecting weapons and has worked on various projects, including theater productions and foreign film productions.
Mihaylov has been honored with a star on the street of his hometown, Stara Zagora, and has been named an honorary citizen. On a personal level, he has been married to his wife, Gergana Mihaylova, for many years and has two sons, Alexander and Assen. Alexander is a puppet director, while Assen is a lawyer. Mihaylov's grandson, Vasil, is 20 years old.
