People's Artist of Russia Robert Lyapidevsky. Biography

People's Artist of Russia Robert Lyapidevsky, who served in the Academic Central Puppet Theater named after S.V. Obraztsov for more than six decades, died at the age of 89. About his life, career and work — in the material of Izvestia.

Childhood and education

Robert Lyapidevsky was born on February 4, 1937 in Moscow. His father was the legendary polar pilot Anatoly Lyapidevsky, the first Hero of the Soviet Union, a member of the expedition to rescue scientists and sailors from the Chelyuskin icebreaker. Robert was named by his father in honor of the traveler Robert Peary.

The future artist spent his childhood in the capital, he studied at school No. 110. From 1950 to 1951, at the insistence of his parents, Robert studied at the Nakhimov Naval School in Leningrad, but he was not attracted to a military career. After completing his secondary education, he went to work at the Moscow Aviation Plant No. 30, and then served in the army, where he first began to engage in amateur art. Robert also studied at the Faculty of Journalism at the Patrice Lumumba Institute of Friendship of Peoples, was fond of sports and music.

Theatre

Lyapidevsky got into the Obraztsov Theater by accident. His friend worked as a musician in the orchestra of this theater and invited Robert to try his hand. A crucial role was played by a meeting with actor Zinovy Gerdt, who gave Robert confidence. After completing all three rounds, the young man was accepted as a puppeteer. On January 1, 1959, he began serving in the theater.

His debut role was that of the nerdy scientist Shestakov in the comedy The Daughter-Bride. This was followed by performances in the "Extraordinary Concert" — Gypsy, Charlie the Dog, the non—conformist, in the play "At the Behest of the Pike" - The Herald, the Governor, the Bear, as well as in one of the most popular performances of the 1950s, "Mine, only Mine," where he played the role of the Count's Nephew, and later — the Spirit. The bloody Countess. Lyapidevsky's first "live action" role was as a Hunter in The Magic Galosh.

Over time, the artist's repertoire expanded. In the Divine Comedy, he led the play for a while as an assistant director, later played the Devil, and then the Creator. For many years, he played the role of Aladdin in The Magic Lamp. The actor's acting baggage also included the title roles in "Don Juan" and "The Tale of Tsar Saltan," the roles of Solip, the Duke of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse in "The Comedy of Errors," Akela in "Mowgli" and the Old Man in "The Hunchback Horse."

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However, the actor's calling card was the role of Entertainer Eduard Aplombov in the legendary "Extraordinary Concert". Lyapidevsky himself said about this job: "The profession has absorbed me from head to toe. I've been lucky enough to play many interesting character roles in a wide variety of productions. But the main performance is, of course, the "Extraordinary Concert" and its host, Eduard Aplombov." The actor played this role not only in Russia, but also abroad, playing in the language of the country where the tour took place.

The actor played more than 60 diverse roles in plays included in the "golden fund" of Russian theatrical art, and became one of the main participants in the creation of most of the legendary productions of the Obraztsov State Academic Central Puppet Theater. In 2013, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation.

Cinema and television

Lyapidevsky played several roles in films. In 2012, he appeared in the TV series "Life and Fate" as Maisel, a surgeon at the Saratov hospital, and in 2013 — in the series "Two Winters and Three Summers", where he played the role of veterinarian Pronka.

The actor also voiced animated and puppet films, took part in children's and educational television programs. Lyapidevsky was at the origin of the legendary children's program "Good Night, kids." He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Development of Children's Puppet Theaters.

Death

People's Artist of Russia Robert Lyapidevsky died on April 28, 2026 at the age of 89. This was reported in the press service of the Academic Central Puppet Theater named after S.V. Obraztsov.

"At the age of 90, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Robert Anatolyevich Lyapidevsky, a real Puppeteer with a wonderful soul, died," the publication says.

In the theater, he was called a living legend. The actor served in the troupe for almost 65 years — from 1959, until his last days, remaining faithful to the stage on which his most famous images were born.