Origins & Early Life

Nikolay Konstantinovich Cherkasov (27 July [O.S. 14 July] 1903 – 14 September 1966) was a Soviet and Russian actor. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1947. He is best known for his collaboration with director Sergei Eisenstein, playing the title roles in the historical epics Alexander Nevsky (1938) and Ivan the Terrible (1944/1958).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was born in Saint Petersburg (later Petrograd in 1914, and Leningrad from 1924 to 1991) into the family of a railway clerk. From 1919 he was a mime artist in Petrograd's Maryinsky Theatre, the Bolshoi Theatre, and elsewhere. After graduating from the Institute of Stage Arts in 1926, he began acting in the Young Spectator's Theatre in Leningrad. Cherkasov debuted in film with a supporting role as the hairdresser Charles in Vladimir Gardin’s Pushkin biopic The Poet and the Tsar (1927). Cherkasov was one of Stalin's favorite actors and played title roles in Sergei Eisenstein's monumental sound films Alexander Nevsky (1938) and Ivan the Terrible (Part I, 1944; Part II, 1946, though it was suppressed by Soviet authorities and not released widely until 1958).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He also played Jacques Paganel in the 1936 adaptation of Jules Verne's The Children...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Bing Crosby — Contemporary (Born in 1903) (1903): Pioneering American singer and actor, a global cultural icon of the 20th century.
• A. R. Rahman — Contemporary (Born in 1966) (1966): Visionary Indian composer celebrated for blending global sounds with cinematic emotion.
• Adam Sandler — Contemporary (Born in 1966) (1966): Acclaimed comedian and actor known for his prolific career in Hollywood comedy.
• Alberto Giacometti — Contemporary (Died in 1966) (1966): Swiss master of existential sculpture, known for elongated, fragile human figures.
• Ante Pavelić — Shared historical date (07-14 · Born) (1889): Croatian politician and dictator of the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945)
• Augustin-Jean Fresnel — Shared historical date (07-14 · Died) (1827): Pioneering optical physicist known for the wave theory of light and the invention of the Fresnel lens.
• Alexander von Humboldt — Shared historical date (09-14 · Born) (1769): German polymath, geographer, and naturalist who pioneered biogeography and modern science.
• Allan Bloom — Shared historical date (09-14 · Born) (1930): American philosopher and classicist known for championing Great Books education.
• 1903 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1903
• July 14 (07-14) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 14
• 1966 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1966
• September 14 (09-14) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 14