Vsevolod Vasilyevich Sanayev (Все′волод Васи′льевич Сана′ев, February 25 [12, o.s.], 1912, Tula, Russian Empire, — January 27, 1996, Moscow, Russian Federation) was a Soviet film and theatre actor popular in the 1960s–1970s. Sanayev, who worked both in Moscow Art Theatre and Mossovet Theatres, was the holder of numerous high-profile state titles and awards (People’s Artist of the USSR, 1969; Order of Lenin, 1971; Order of the October Revolution, 1981).

Biography

Vsevolod Sanayev was born on February 25 (12), 1912, in Tula. In 1926 — 1930 he worked as a harmonica fitter at the Tula musical instruments factory, then joined the local factory theatre and in 1931 moved to the Tula-based Gorky Theatre of Drama and Comedy. In 1937 Sanayev was graduated from Russian Academy of Theatre Arts and joined the Moscow Art Theatre troupe. In 1938 he debuted on screen in the film Volga-Volga (where he had two small roles, of a bearded wood-cutter and beardless musician). His first success was the part of Dobryakov in the film The Girl I Love (1940). In 1943 he joined the troupe of the Mossovet Theatre, in 1952 — the Moscow Art Theatre.

In the 1950s Sanayev became one of the leading actors of the Soviet cinema; among his best known works were Kantaurov (The Return of Vasily Bortnikov, 1952), Dontsov in The First Echelon (1955), Kozlov in Five Days, Five Nights (1960), Siply (Husky) in the Optimistic Tragedy (1962), Colonel Lukin in the war epic Liberation (1968). Highly popular was his Colonel Zorin in the Soviet militia detective trilogy: The return of St. Luca (1970), The Black Prince (1973) and The Version of Colonel Zorin (1978). Critics praised his parts in two Vasily Shukshin's films, Your Son and Brother (1965) and Pechki-lavochki (1972). His later notable films included White Dew (1983) and Forgotten Melody for Flute (1988). And orthodox Commuinist, Sanayev for many years was the head of the Mosfilm Communist Party committee (partkom).

Vsevolod Sanayev died on January 27, 1996, in Moscow. He was buried at the Novodevichye Cemetery.