Evgeniy Leonov

Evgeniy Leonov (1926–1994). A People's Artist of the USSR (1978), he is remembered as one of the most beloved figures in Soviet cinema, celebrated for his unique tragicomic talent and warm, instantly recognizable voice. He achieved massive national fame through his leading roles in legendary films such as Striped Trip (1961), Gentlemen of Fortune (1971)—where he famously played the dual roles of a kindergarten teacher and a criminal boss—and his extensive collaboration with director Georgiy Daneliya in classics like Afonya, Mimino, Autumn Marathon, and the cult sci-fi satire Kin-dza-dza!. Beyond his live-action work, he became the definitive voice of the Soviet Winnie-the-Pooh (Vinny Pukh) in the iconic 1969–1972 animated series. A long-time pillar of the Lenkom Theatre, he passed away from a heart attack while preparing to leave for a performance of The Prayer for the Dead, leading to a spontaneous vigil by his audience who gathered with candles to honor his memory.