Honored Artist of Russia Viktor Yakovlev. Biography

Viktor Yakovlev, Honored Artist of Russia, leading actor of the Pskov Academic Drama Theater named after A.S. Pushkin, died at the age of 75. He has been seriously ill for the last year, but until the last he hoped to return to the stage. About his life, creative path, roles played and literary gift — in the material of Izvestia.

Early years and education

Viktor Nikolaevich Yakovlev was born on July 25, 1951 in Ufa. Even in his school years, he began studying in the drama club at the Ufa Palace of Pioneers. In 1969-1971 he studied at the Ufa State Institute of Arts (course of Professor P.B. Harlip). After graduating from the institute, he worked for some time as a director of the Tovarishch Folk Theater at the Yubileyny Recreation Center in Ufa, and then entered the Lunacharsky State Institute of Theater Arts (GITIS), from which he graduated in 1975 under the course of V.A. Vronskaya.

Career

After graduating from GITIS, Viktor Yakovlev did not immediately find himself in Pskov. Since 1977, he worked as director and director of the national theater "Comrade" in Ufa, and in 1979 he was accepted into the troupe of the Pskov Academic Drama Theater named after A.S. Pushkin. He served in the Pskov Theater for almost five decades, having played more than a hundred roles on its stage: dramatic, comedic, witty and grotesque.

Colleagues described him as an artist "reflecting, thinking, searching, a man of great talent and a big heart." Among the most notable images of Yakovlev on the Pskov stage are archaeologist Zybin in the play "The Faculty of Unnecessary Things", Tissaphernes in "The Destroyer" based on the play by G. Gorin, Ivan the Terrible in "Vasilisa Melentyeva" by A.N. Ostrovsky, Sayapin in "Duck Hunt" by A.V. Vampilov, Strawberry in Gogol's "The Inspector General", Telegin in Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" and many others. Performances with his participation have been on the stage of the theater for decades.

In addition to acting, Yakovlev had a literary gift. He was the author and performer of poetic programs, created literary educational programs, wrote plays ("A Christmas Tree for Tutti's Heir", "The Foreigner"), dramatizations (based on the novel by F.M. Dostoevsky "Crime and Punishment", the film novel "The Kuban Cossacks"), as well as numerous scenarios. For about ten years he wrote the column "Actor's diary" on the portal of the Pskov News Feed.

Film career

Viktor Yakovlev also starred in films. He has more than 20 works to his credit, including roles in films and TV series: accordion player in the drama "Solo for Pistol with Orchestra" (2008), doctor in the melodrama "Can I call you Mom?" (2009), senior in the film "House by the Big River" (2010). He also took part in the filming of the popular TV series "Sea Devils. Special assignment", historical films "Tsar's Vaccination" (2023) and "Boris Godunov" (1986), military drama "Life and Destiny" (2012).

Recognition and awards

Viktor Yakovlev's talent has been recognized with many awards. In 2006, he was awarded the honorary title of "Honored Artist of the Russian Federation." He was also awarded the title of "Honored Artist of the Pskov region." The artist has been nominated twice for the Golden Mask Award: in 2018 for his role in the play "The Potudan River" and in 2019 for his role in "The Inspector General". In 2018, he became a laureate of the Pskov Region Government Award for the play "The Potudan River". Previously, he had won the Pskov Region Administration Award in the field of theatrical art three times (in 1996, 2000 and 2015). Yakovlev's other awards include the medal of the Academy of Russian Literature "Zealot of Enlightenment" (2000), the honorary badge of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation "For Achievements in Culture" (2004), diplomas and commendations.

Personal life and recent years

Little is known about the artist's personal life. Viktor Yakovlev met his future wife, Natalia, when he was still a student, and they were together for a long time. According to some reports, in an interview he confessed that he got married "to spite his first love," but this marriage turned out to be a happy and long one. The artist was a deeply religious man, as evidenced by his numerous publications about the church.

Viktor Yakovlev was seriously ill for the last year of his life, but he continued to hope to return to the stage. On April 9, 2026, he passed away. The Pskov Drama Theater called him a "real artist" and noted that "a man of great talent and a big heart has disappeared."

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.