Oleg Tabakov

1.1. Birth and Family

Oleg Tabakov was born in Saratov, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, on 17 August 1935, into a family of doctors. His paternal great-grandfather, Ivan Ivanovich Utin, originated from serfs and was brought up in a prosperous peasant family, adopting the Tabakov surname. Oleg's paternal grandfather, Kondratiy Tabakov, worked as a locksmith in Saratov, where he constructed his own house and married Anna Konstantinovna Matveeva, a local commoner. His father, Pavel Kondratievich Tabakov, was employed at the State Regional Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology "Microbe" in Saratov.

On his mother's side, his maternal grandfather, Andrei Frantzevich Piontkovsky, was a Polish nobleman who owned lands in the Podolia Governorate and married Olga Terentievna, a local villager of Ukrainian descent. Oleg's mother, Maria Andreevna Berezovskaya (née Piontkovskaya), was a radiologist. She had an elder daughter named Mirra from a previous marriage to Gugo Goldstern, a high-ranking Soviet functionary and intelligence officer who died in the line of duty.

1.2. Childhood and Education

During the Great Patriotic War, Oleg's father volunteered for frontline service aboard a hospital train. His mother was evacuated to the Ural region with her children, where she also worked in a military hospital. After the war, his parents separated. These formative experiences during wartime and his parents' separation likely influenced his resilience and determination. He later pursued his passion for acting, studying at the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School, a pivotal step that launched his illustrious career.

2.1. Founding of Sovremennik Theatre

Upon graduating from the Moscow Art Theatre School, Oleg Tabakov became one of the founding members of the Sovremennik Theatre. This groundbreaking theatre company, established in 1956, was a significant force in the Soviet theatre scene, known for its contemporary plays and innovative approach. Tabakov played a crucial administrative role at the Sovremennik, serving in this capacity until 1982.

2.2. Moscow Art Theatre and Tabakov Studio

In 1982, Tabakov transitioned to the historic Moscow Art Theatre, where he continued to demonstrate his acting prowess, taking on challenging roles such as Molière and Salieri for over two decades. His dedication to nurturing new talent led him to establish the Tabakov Studio in 1986, an initiative attached to the Moscow Art Theatre. He successfully persuaded his students to form this new company, which became a vital platform for the development of aspiring actors.

2.3. Training of Successors

Tabakov's pedagogical work was a cornerstone of his career, and he dedicated significant effort to the training of successors in the theatrical arts. His studio served as a crucible for emerging talent, producing many notable actors who went on to achieve widespread recognition in Russia and beyond. Among the distinguished alumni who studied under his guidance were prominent Russian actors such as Yevgeny Mironov, Sergey Bezrukov, Vladimir Mashkov, Andrey Smolyakov, Alexandre Marine, and even American actor Jon Bernthal. His commitment to teaching and his profound influence on these artists underscored his legacy as a mentor in the Russian theatrical world.

3.1. Early Film Career

Tabakov's entry into cinema occurred early in his career, paralleling his burgeoning theatrical activities. His debut in film quickly established his screen presence, leading to significant early roles. Notably, he was featured in Grigori Chukhrai's acclaimed film Clear Skies in 1961, which helped cement his status as a promising actor in the Soviet film industry.

3.2. Major Film Appearances

Throughout his career, Oleg Tabakov appeared in numerous prominent Soviet and Russian films, contributing significantly to cinematic arts with his diverse performances. His notable roles include:

• Sergei Bondarchuk's epic War and Peace (1965-1967)
• The popular TV series Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)
• D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers (1978)
• The Academy Award-winning Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears (1980)
• Nikita Mikhalkov's Oblomov (1981)
• Dark Eyes (1986)
• The mock red western A Man from the Boulevard des Capuchines (1987)

3.3. Voice Acting

Beyond his live-action performances, Tabakov lent his distinctive, purr-like voice to a number of animated characters, earning him further popularity. His most memorable voice role was that of the talking cat Matroskin in Three from Prostokvashino (1978) and its subsequent sequels, a character that became iconic in Russian animation. Following his success as Matroskin, he also dubbed the character of Garfield into Russian for the feature films Garfield and its sequel.

4.1. Political Support and Participation

From 1992 to 2008, Tabakov was a member of the commission on state awards under the President of the Russian Federation, a body that recognizes significant contributions to the country. He was also a declared supporter of the United Russia party, the dominant political party in Russia. In 2001, he was appointed a member of the board of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, further cementing his role within the state's cultural administration.

His support for the political establishment was notably evident during the 2012 Russian presidential election, when Tabakov was registered as a "Trusted Representative" (Доверенное Лицо) of then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Following Putin's election, Tabakov was included in the Council for Public Television by presidential decree in July 2012, highlighting his continued integration into state-affiliated bodies.

4.2. Support for Crimea Annexation and Related Statements

Tabakov's political involvement became particularly controversial in March 2014 when he signed a letter addressed to President Putin, publicly endorsing the annexation of Crimea. This action aligned him with the Russian government's official stance on the annexation, which was widely condemned internationally.

His remarks regarding Ukraine further escalated controversy. In September 2014, Tabakov stated that Crimea had "no relation to dependent, nor independent Ukraine," asserting that the annexation was "fair" and that Ukrainians should apologize for "encroaching the gravy train." These comments were perceived by many as dismissive of Ukrainian sovereignty and national identity. As a direct consequence of his public stance, Tabakov was banned from entering Ukraine in December 2015.

In July 2015, responding to a list prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine that identified 117 Russian artists potentially posing a threat to Ukraine's national security, Tabakov made additional controversial statements to the Ren-TV channel. He described Ukrainians advocating for such a blacklist as "not very enlightened," asserting that they were "dark and illiterate people" and "wretched." He suggested that "normal information does not reach them" and expressed pity for their situation. In the same commentary, he claimed that "at all times, their best times, their brightest representatives of the intelligentsia were somewhere in second and third positions after the Russians." These remarks drew widespread condemnation and led to accusations of xenophobia and chauvinism against Tabakov, further straining his image internationally and among those critical of Russian foreign policy.