The 'Main Lenin' of Soviet Cinema Yuri Kayurov Has Died

"Just now, very sad news has come to the Maly Theatre — the beloved People's Artist of Russia Yuri Kayurov has passed away," the statement said. Kayurov gained wide recognition for his role as Vladimir Lenin. He first played this role in 1961 in the film "At the Beginning of the Century" directed by Anatoly Rybakov. In total, the actor portrayed Lenin in 16 films and two theatrical productions. Among his film works are "Through the Icy Mist" (1965), "The Sixth of July" (1968), "The Postal Romance" (1969), "Kremlin Chimes" (1970), the TV film "Walking Through Torments" (1977), and "Lenin in Paris" (1981). For the latter film, he received the State Prize of the USSR in 1983. In addition to his role as Lenin, Kayurov appeared in more than 40 films and series. Among them are "Long Farewells," "The Lost Expedition," and "Golden River" (role of Volzhin), "Flame," "White Snow of Russia," "My Anfisa," "State Border," and "Romanovs: The Royal Family." In 2007, he published a book titled "Where the Days Go...". Kayurov was born in Cherepovets on September 30, 1927. In 1945, he served in Leningrad as a sailor-artilleryman on the training cruiser "Aurora." With the permission of the command, during his service, he attended classes at a theater studio led by teachers Vasily Merkuryev and Irina Meyerhold. In 1952, Kayurov graduated from the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinema. After graduation and until 1966, he worked at the Saratov Drama Theatre, and from 1967, he served at the Moscow Maly Theatre.