Actor and People's Artist of the Russian Federation Vladimir Simonov has died.

The leading actor of the Evgeny Vakhtangov Theater, People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Simonov, died at the age of 68. This was reported to TASS on November 9 by a source close to the artist's entourage.

"Vladimir Simonov is gone," the agency quoted the source as saying.

The actor was born in Oktyabrsk, Kuibyshev (now Samara) region. After graduating from high school in 1974, he moved to Moscow with the intention of enrolling in the Boris Shchukin Theater School. Despite successfully passing the creative tests, he was unable to pass the exam in Russian language and literature (essay), which forced him to return home. For two years, he studied at the Kuibyshev Institute of Culture (now SSAKI) at the department of directing the national theater.

In 1976, he tried his hand again and entered the Shchukin College, becoming a student of the course. After completing his studies, he was accepted into the troupe of the Vakhtangov Theater.

In 1983, the actor joined the Moscow Art Theater, where he worked for six years. In 1989, he returned to the Vakhtangov Theater.

From 1987 to 1989, he participated in Vladimir Mirzoev's productions at the Domino Studio Theater and Creative Workshops at the Union of Theatrical Figures. Their collaboration continued on the stage of the Stanislavsky Theater. Since the early 1990s, Simonov has been actively working at the Et Cetera Theater, the Theater of Nations and in entreprises.

In addition to his fame in other fields, Simonov also left a significant mark on cinema. His impressive filmography includes about 157 roles, including such famous films as "Dyatlov Pass", "Children of Arbat", "Single people are provided with a dormitory", "One love in a million" and "Psycho".

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