Nikolai Lebedev (actor)

{{Infobox person

| name = Nikolai Lebedev

| native_name = {{Nobold|Николай Лебедев}}

| native_name_lang = ru

| honorific_suffix =

| image = Nikolai Lebedev (actor).jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Nikolai Sergeyevich Lebedev

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1921|12|15}}

| birth_place = Moscow, Russian SFSR

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|08|21|1921|12|15}}

| death_place = Moscow, Russia

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1940–2022

| awards = People's Artist of Russia (2018)

| module = {{Infobox military person

| embed = yes

| branch = {{Army|Soviet Union}}

| battles = {{Tree list}}

| rank = Private

}}

Nikolai Sergeyevich Lebedev ({{langx|ru|Николай Сергеевич Лебедев|link=no}}; 15 December 1921 – 21 August 2022) was a Soviet and Russian actor, People's Artist of Russia in 2018.[https://www.gazeta.ru/culture/news/2018/03/29/n_11350220.shtml Названы новые народные артисты России] {{in lang|ru}}[https://rg.ru/2018/03/29/putin-prisvoil-zvaniia-narodnyh-artistov-izvestnym-balerinam.html Путин присвоил звания народных артистов известным балеринам] {{in lang|ru}} A former soldier of the Red Army, he also fought in the Second World War, where he was captured by the Wehrmacht, during the Battle of Uman.

Early life and career

Nikolai Sergeyevich Lebedev was born in Moscow on 15 December 1921.[http://www.mossoveta.ru/truppa/actors/lebedev/ Николай Лебедев на сайте театра им. Моссовета] {{in lang|ru}} During the Great Patriotic War, he was drafted to the Red Army in April 1941, to fight as a private machine gunner.[https://tvkultura.ru/article/show/article_id/132868/ Артист-фронтовик Николай Лебедев] {{in lang|ru}}[https://pamyat-naroda.ru/heroes/podvig-chelovek_yubileinaya_kartoteka1515861778/ Память народа] {{in lang|ru}} He was contused and captured by the Wehrmacht in July–August 1941, during the Battle of Uman. After his release by the enemy, he was tested by the Soviet counter-intelligence agency, SMERSH, and was ultimately cleared and let go. After the war, he acted at the Moscow Theater of the Young Spectator for two years until deciding to combine his studies and work, entering the Moscow Art Theatre School.

Lebedev graduated from the school in 1950, in the course of Viktor Stanitsyn.[http://mhatschool.theatre.ru/people/alumni/1950/ Выпускники Школы-студии МХАТ 1950–х] {{in lang|ru}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412152809/http://mhatschool.theatre.ru/people/alumni/1950/ |date=12 April 2013 }} As it was known that he had been a prisoner during the war, Lebedev was banned from acting at the Moscow Art Theatre, despite both parties agreeing to it at first. Yuri Zavadsky introduced him to the Mossovet Theater instead, where Lebedev ultimately acted for more than 60 years.

Personal life and death

Lebedev's wife, Anna Kasenkina, was also an actress. They lived together for more than half a century. Anna and Nikolai had no children together, although Kasenkina had a son from her first marriage, whom Lebedev raised as his own. After the death of Anna, he lived with his son's family.[https://www.kino-teatr.ru/kino/acter/m/sov/2443/bio/ Биография Николая Лебедева] {{in lang|ru}}

Lebedev turned 100 in December 2021, and died on 21 August 2022.{{cite news |title=Старейший актер Театра им. Моссовета Николай Лебедев умер в возрасте ста лет |url=https://www.interfax.ru/culture/857592 |access-date=21 August 2022 |publisher=Интерфакс |date=21 August 2022 |lang=ru}}[https://www.m24.ru/news/kultura/24082022/494169 Актёра Николая Лебедева похоронили на Ваганьковском кладбище в Москве] (in Russian)

Selected filmography

Source:[http://www.kino-teatr.ru/kino/acter/m/sov/2443/works/ Работы Николая Лебедева в кино] {{in lang|ru}} on kino-teatr.ru

{{Ill|Normandie-Niemen (film)|fr|Normandie-Niémen (film)|lt=Normandie-Niemen}} (1959) as Colonel Sinitsyn
Yevdokiya (1961) as Yevdokim
Silence (1963) as episode
Liberation (1971) as Sczyapan Krasoŭsky
Eternal Call (1973) as Mitrofan Savelyev
Earth and Sky Adventures (1974) as General Designer
The Captivating Star of Happiness (1975)
Air Crew (1980) as Professor of Medical Commission
{{Ill|We Accuse|ru|Мы обвиняем}} (1985) as Dwight D. Eisenhower
Vagrant Bus (1989) as episode
King Lear (2006) as Doctor