Velko Kynev, a renowned Bulgarian actor, was born in Elhovo in 1948. He embarked on his acting journey by graduating from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria in 1973 under the tutelage of Professor Apostol Karamitev. His early career began with a three-year stint at the Drama Theatre Sliven from 1973 to 1976, followed by a three-season engagement with the Satire Theatre.
In 1979, Velko Kynev became a member of the esteemed troupe of the National Theatre "Ivan Vazov", where he went on to play over 40 roles throughout his illustrious career. His outstanding performance as Krusty Nikiforov in the drama "Easter Wine" by Konstantin Iliev earned him the prestigious Prize "Asker" for leading actor in 1994.
Velko Kynev's versatility as an actor was further showcased in his work on stage and screen. In 2007, he won second prize at the International Festival of mono performances "Monocle" in St. Petersburg for his role in "Teacher" by Jean-Pierre Dopa. He was also invited to the Kings of Comedy and celebrated his 60th anniversary on stage with the premiere of the mono-drama "Twelve angry monologue" in 2008.
Throughout his career, Velko Kynev has appeared in numerous films, including "Orchestra without a name", "Boy last", "Matriarchy", "Manly Times", "Bon chance, Inspector!", and "All For Love", among others. Additionally, he was part of the band UFO, which he co-founded with George Mamalev and Paul Poppandov. The band's satirical take on socialism gained immense popularity, and their music was released on several successful albums.
The project later evolved into a TV show club UFO, further cementing Velko Kynev's status as a beloved and accomplished artist. Sadly, Velko Kynev passed away on December 11, 2011, at the age of 63, following a prolonged illness.
