Actor of theater and cinema Paul Butkevich. Biography

Paul Paulovich Butkevich is a Soviet and Latvian theater and film actor, pop singer, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1990). He died on June 12, 2026. About the life and creative path of the actor — in the material of Izvestia.

Childhood and education

He was born on August 8, 1940 in Riga in a wealthy family of a famous winemaker of Polish origin. After the arrival of Soviet power, the family property (land, sewing workshop) was nationalized.

Paul graduated from Riga Secondary School No. 11 in 1959, and also from the violin music school in 1958. Later, he studied at the vocational technical college, from which he graduated in 1963. In the mid-1960s, he studied law and history at the Latvian State University.

Early career

Butkevich's creative career began in the Riga Pantomime ensemble (1957-1959). At the same time, from 1959 to 1961, he studied at the 3rd studio at the Ya Art Theater. Rainis.

To provide for his family, Paul got a job at the famous WEF plant as an equipment adjuster, where he eventually became the head of an amateur performance team. The artist himself called himself a "working actor" at that time, as he combined shifts in production with his first invitations to television and cinema. He also performed successfully on the stage and became a laureate of the Liepaja Amber music competition.

Creative flourishing and cinematography

Butkevich played his first major film role in 1965 in the film "The Hippocratic Oath". Possessing a characteristic Baltic appearance, in Soviet cinema he most often embodied images of foreigners.

Among his most famous are his film roles.: Kaminsky ("Strong in Spirit"), Kate ("The Return of St. Luke"), Bradford ("Mirage"), Berger ("Midshipmen, let's go!") Stirlitz's Messenger ("Seventeen Moments of Spring"), Henrich Strautnieks ("The Long Road in the Dunes"), Frederick II ("Vivat, midshipmen!").

In addition to filming, the actor played in the Latvian Dailes Theater. He has not acted in films since 2007.

Personal life

The actor was married three times. The first marriage it lasted for 25 years. His daughter Alena was born there, who became a doctor of sciences in the field of dental implantology and went to work in New York. I have a grandson, Janis. The couple divorced due to a crisis in their relationship. The second marriage It took place in Moscow during the period of active filming and allied tours. The third marriage (since 2004) — with Zinta Jansone, who worked as a costume designer on Latvian television.

Recognition and retirement

For his contribution to art, Paul Butkevich received the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1990), the Soviet medal "For Labor Valor", as well as the Latvian state award — the Recognition Cross (2016).

He died on June 12, 2026, at the age of 86.