Biographie
Yuri Vladimirovich Tolubeev (also known as Yuri Tolubeyev) was born on May 1, 1905, in St. Petersburg, Russia. He graduated as an actor from the Leningrad Institute of Theatrical Arts in 1929. Between 1926 and 1979, Tolubeev worked as both an actor and director with various theatres in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), primarily at the Pushkin Drama Theatre (Aleksandrinski Theatre).
Tolubeev's film career started in 1935 with a supporting role as Sailor Andrei in Boris Shreiber's "Sovershennoletie" (Coming of Age). He was best known for his roles in films directed by Grigoriy Kozintsev, beginning with "The Return of Maksim" (1937). He later portrayed Sacho Panza in "Don Quixote" (1957), acting alongside Nikolay Cherkasov. His most renowned film role was Polonius in the acclaimed "Hamlet" (1964), featuring co-stars Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Mikhail Nazvanov, Anastasiya Vertinskaya, and other distinguished Russian actors.
From 1942 until 1979, Tolubeev was part of the Pushkin Drama Theatre troupe in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), having been invited by his acting teacher, Leonid Vivyen. He was one of the theatre's leading actors, performing alongside notable talents such as Nikolay Cherkasov, Nikolai Simonov, Konstantin Skorobogatov, Aleksandr Borisov, Vasiliy Merkurev, Bruno Frejndlikh, Vladimir Chestnokov, Vladimir Erenberg, Leonid Vivyen, Igor Gorbachyov, Olga Lebzak, Nina Mamaeva, Lidiya Shtykan, Nina Urgant, Valentina Panina, among others.
Throughout his career, Yuri Tolubeev received the USSR State Prize in 1947 and numerous other honors for his contributions to theatre and film. He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1964. Tolubeev passed away on December 28, 1979, in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and was buried in the "Literatorskie mostki" Necropolis of The Masters of Art at Volkovskoe Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.
