Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky (Russian: Оле́г Ива́нович Янко́вский; 23 February 1944 – 20 May 2009) was a Soviet/Russian actor who had excelled in psychologically sophisticated roles of modern intellectuals. In 1991, he became, together with Alla Pugacheva, the last person to be named a People's Artist of the USSR.
My tender and gentle animal (Мой ласковый и нежный зверь) - I will not forget
Life
Born into a noble family of Russian, Belarusian and Polish stock, son of Life-Guards Semenovsky regiment's Stabskapitän, Oleg Yankovsky formed an ambition to emulate his brother Rostislav and joined the Saratov Drama Theatre in 1965. His film career was launched two years later, when he was cast in two movies about World War II, namely The Shield and the Sword (Shchit i mech) (1968) by director Vladimir Basov and Two Comrades Were Serving (Sluzhili dva tovarishcha) (1968) by Yevgeni Karelov.
During his remarkably prolific screen career, Yankovsky appeared in many film adaptations of Russian classics, notably My Sweet and Tender Beast (1977) and The Kreutzer Sonata (1987). A leading actor of Mark Zakharov's Lenkom Theatre since 1975, he starred in the TV versions of the theatre's productions, An Ordinary Miracle (1978) and The Very Same Munchhausen (1979) being the most notable. For his role in Roman Balayan's Flights in Dreams and Reality (1984) Yankovsky was awarded the USSR State Prize. He has been better known abroad for his parts in Tarkovsky's movies The Mirror (as the father) and Nostalghia (in the main role).
Starting in 1993, Yankovsky ran the Kinotavr Film Festival in Sochi. He continued to receive awards for his work with several Nika Awards from the Russian Film Academy for his directorial debut Come Look At Me (2001) and Valery Todorovsky's Lyubovnik (2002). He appeared as Count Pahlen in Poor Poor Paul (2004) and as Komarovsky in a TV adaptation of Doctor Zhivago (2006), directed by Oleg Menshikov.
The last film Yankovsky appeared in was Tsar, which was released in 2009 and demonstrated at the Cannes Film Festival on the 17th of May 2009, just three days before his death. Yankovsky played the sophisticated role of Metropolitan Philip in his last film.
On 20 May 2009 Yankovsky died from pancreatic cancer in Moscow, aged 65. A civil funeral took place at Lenkom theater. His burial was held on 22 May 2009 at Novodevichy Cemetery in the presence of his close relatives only.
Honours and awards
Soviet and Russian awards
1977 - Honoured Artist of the RSFSR
1984 - People's Artist of the RSFSR
1987 - USSR State Prize - for his role in "Flights in dream and reality"
1989 - Vasiliev brothers State Prize of the RSFSR - for role in "The Kreutzer Sonata"
11 August 2007 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd class - for his great contribution to the development of theatrical art, and many years of fruitful activity
23 February 2009 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class - for outstanding contributions to the development of domestic theatrical and cinematic arts
Cinematic and public awards
1977 - Lenin Komsomol Prize - "for talented contemporary incarnation of the images in the movie"
1983 - Best Actor of the Year - for starring in the film "In love of their own accord" (according to a poll of the magazine "Soviet Screen")
1988 - Prize for Best Actor (in the film "Filer") at Valladolid International Film Festival
1989 - Award "for outstanding contributions to the profession" at the "Constellation" film festival for his role in "To Kill a Dragon"
1991 - Nika Award, three times; in the "Actor", for Best Actor in the film "Regicide" and for Best Actor in the film "Passport"
2001 - Award for Best Actor at the Sochi Open Russian Film Festival Kinotavr - for the film "Come and look at me"
2001 - Prize of the Russian Cultural Foundation at ORFF Kinotavr in Sochi
2001 - Grand Prix "Gold" Listapad at the Minsk International Film Festival "Listapad" - for his role in "Come look at me"
2001 - First place in the competition "Vyborg Account" at the film festival "Window to Europe" in Vyborg - for the film "Come and look at me"
2001 - Stanislavsky Theatre Prize - for the main role in the play "Jester Balakirev" of the Moscow State Theatre, "Lenk" [74]
2002 - Nika Award - for Best Actor in the film "The Lover"
2002 - The award "Golden Aries" - for Best Actor in the film "The Lover"
2002 - Award for Best Actor at the ORFF "Kinotavr" in Sochi - for her role in "The Lover"
2002 - Award for Best Actor at the festival "Constellation" - for his role in the movie "The Lover"
2002 - Winner of "Idol" in the "Idol of the Year" - for the main role in the play "Jester Balakirev" of the Moscow State Theatre, "Lenk" and for his role in "Come look at me"
2003 - Golden Eagle Award - for Best Supporting Actor in the film "Poor, Poor Pavel"
2003 - Special Award from the Administration of Krasnodar Krai ORFF "Kinotavr" in Sochi
2005 - Theatre Prize "Hit of the Season" - for the play "Tout payé", or "Paid by all"
2006 - Golden Eagle Award - for Best Actor on Television (in multiserial film "Doctor Zhivago")
2006 - Prize of the Russian Television Academy TEFI - for best actor on television (in multiserial film "Doctor Zhivago")
2007 - Award "Triumph"
2008 - public award - the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, "For Fatherland and work"
2009 - Award "Triumph"
2009 - Prize of the Stanislavsky "I Believe" (posthumously)
2009 - Prize "long-term president" Kinotavr "- for outstanding contribution to Russian cinema" (posthumously)
2009 - Award for Best Actor at the festival "Constellation" - a starring role in "Anna Karenina" (posthumously)]
2010 - Golden Eagle Special Prize for his contribution to the development of national cinema (Posthumously)
2010 - Nick Award for 2009 - "Best Actor" (posthumously), for the combination of roles in the film "Anna Karenina" and "King"