Origins & Early Life

Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky (Russian: Оле́г Ива́нович Янко́вский; 23 February 1944 – 20 May 2009) was a Soviet and Russian actor who excelled in psychologically sophisticated roles of modern intellectuals. In 1991, he became, together with Sofia Pilyavskaya, the last person to be named a People's Artist of the USSR. Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky was born on 23 February 1944 in Jezkazgan, Kazakh SSR (now Kazakhstan). His family was of noble Russian, Belarusian and Polish ancestry.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His father, Ivan Pavlovich, was Life-Guards Semenovsky Regiment's Stabskapitän. Yankovsky's father was arrested during the purges in the Red Army after the Tukhachevsky case and was deported with his family to Kazakhstan, where he died in the camps of the Gulag system. After the death of Stalin, the Yankovsky family was able to leave Central Asia for Saratov. Oleg's eldest brother, Rostislav, after graduating from the Sobinov Theatre Institute of the Saratov State Conservatory, went to Minsk to play at the Russian Theater. He took 14-year-old Oleg with him due to financial concerns, as in the family there was only one breadwinner – middle brother Nikolay.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In Minsk, the youngest Yankovsky...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Ban Ki-moon — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): South Korean diplomat who served as the UN Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016.
• Barry White — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): Iconic R&B, Soul, and Disco Singer known for his powerful bass voice.
• Aage Bohr — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Al Martino — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Iconic Italian-American crooner, celebrated for standards and his role in The Godfather.
• Ali Akbar Khan — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Master sarod virtuoso who popularized Hindustani classical music in the West.
• Carl Friedrich Gauss — Shared historical date (02-23 · Died) (1855): German polymath whose work spanned number theory, algebra, and statistics.
• Christopher Marlowe — Shared historical date (02-23 · Born) (1564): Pioneering Elizabethan playwright known for blank verse and overreaching protagonists.
• Andrew Scheer — Shared historical date (05-20 · Born) (1979): Canadian politician, former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
• Antoinette Brown Blackwell — Shared historical date (05-20 · Born) (1825): Pioneering American philosopher and the first ordained Protestant minister.
• 1944 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1944
• February 23 (02-23) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 23
• 2009 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2009
• May 20 (05-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 20