Nikolay Cherkasov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikolay Cherkasov
Cherkasov as Alexander Nevsky in the 1938 film
Born	(1903-07-27)27 July 1903 Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Died	14 September 1966(1966-09-14) (aged 63) Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Resting place	Tikhvin Cemetery
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1918–1965

Nikolay Konstantinovich Cherkasov (Russian: Никола́й Константи́нович Черка́сов; 27 July 1903 – 14 September 1966) was a very famous Soviet and Russian actor. He was known for playing important historical figures and fictional characters in movies. In 1947, he received the high honor of being named a People's Artist of the USSR.

Cherkasov's Acting Journey

Nikolay Cherkasov was born in Saint Petersburg, a major city in Russia. His father worked for the railway. From 1919, when he was just 16, Nikolay started working as a mime artist. This means he performed without speaking, using only his body movements and facial expressions. He performed in famous theaters like the Maryinsky Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre.

After finishing his acting studies in 1926, he began performing at the Young Spectator's Theatre in Leningrad (which Saint Petersburg was called at the time).

Starting in Movies

Cherkasov's first movie role was in 1927. He played a hairdresser named Charles in a film about the famous Russian poet Pushkin. He quickly became one of the most popular actors of his time.

He was especially known for playing strong, important characters. He starred in two huge movies directed by Sergei Eisenstein: Alexander Nevsky (1938) and Ivan the Terrible (Parts I & II, 1945 & 1946). In Alexander Nevsky, he played a brave Russian prince who defended his country. In Ivan the Terrible, he played a powerful Russian tsar.

Cherkasov also played Jacques Paganel in the popular 1936 movie The Children of Captain Grant, based on the adventure novel by Jules Verne. In 1957, he took on the role of Don Quixote, a knight who fights windmills, in a film based on the famous book.

Awards and Recognition

Nikolay Cherkasov received many awards for his acting. In 1941, he was given the State Stalin Prize, a very important award in the Soviet Union. He received another Stalin Prize in 1951 for his role as Alexander Popov in the film about the inventor. In 1947, he was named a People's Artist of the USSR, which is one of the highest honors for an artist in the Soviet Union.

He also wrote a book about his life and acting career called "Notes of a Soviet Actor" in 1951.

Nikolay Cherkasov passed away in Leningrad in 1966. He was buried in the Tikhvin Cemetery, a special place where many famous artists are laid to rest.

Cherkasov's grave at Tikhvin Cemetery, Saint Petersburg

A Special Honor

Did you know that Nikolay Cherkasov's face from the movie Alexander Nevsky was used on a real Soviet award called the Order of Alexander Nevsky? This happened because there were no actual pictures or portraits of the historical Alexander Nevsky from his lifetime. So, the image of Cherkasov playing him became the official face for the award!

Filmography