Vladimir Basov

Vladimir Basov was a notable Soviet actor and director best known for the leading role as Bruno in Shchit i mech (1968), which he also directed, and his numerous supporting roles, such as Floor Polisher in Ya shagayu po Moskve (1964) (aka.. Walking the Streets of Moscow (1963), among other works.

He was born Vladimir Pavlovich Basov on September 17, 1923, in a small town of Urazov, Kursk province, central Russia. His father died in a tragic accident, and young Basov was raised by a single mother. During the Second World War he was wounded in the battlefield fighting the Nazis, and was decorated for his courage. From 1947 - 1951 he studied acting and directing under Mikhail Romm and Sergei Yutkevich at Soviet State Insitute of Cinema (VGIK), graduating in 1952 as film director. From 1952 to 1987 he was a film director at Mosfilm Studios in Moscow.

Basov shot to fame with the leading role as Bruno in popular Soviet war drama Shchit i mech (1968) which he also directed. At that time Basov was among the most popular Soviet filmmakers. He directed such TV movies as Opasnyy povorot (1972), and the popular series Dni Turbinykh (1976) adapted after the eponymous book by Mikhail A. Bulgakov. However, with his success came the attendant pressures, and he suffered from chronic alcoholism, depression, and had several strokes and heart attacks.

Vladimir Basov was designated People's Actor of USSR (1983), and was awarded the State Prize of Russia (1982). He died of a second heart attack on September 17, 1987, in his Moscow home, and was laid to rest in Moscow, Russia.