Boris Zakhava

Boris Zakhava studied at Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute. Volodymyr Mazur is recorded as having studied under Boris Zakhava. The recorded working language is Russian. The field of work recorded is theatre, acting and directing. Employment is recorded with Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute. Distinctions recorded are Stalin Prize, People's Artist of the USSR, Order of the Red Banner of Labour and Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".

• Name — Boris Zakhava • Birth Name — Boris Yevgenyevich Zakhava • Born — 24 May 1896 • Birthplace — Pavlograd, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire • Died — 12 November 1976 • Place of death — Moscow, Soviet Union • Occupation — Actor, theater director and pedagogue

He was born on May 24, 1896, in Pavlograd, Russian Empire. Yevgeny Zakhava, his father, was a graduate of Moscow Imperial Cadet School and was an officer in the Imperial Russian Army. Boris, like his father, graduated the 3rd Moscow Imperial Cadet School (1913). While being a cadet, he was acting in amateur performances. In the meantime he was involved in the centennial celebration of the victory over Napoleon in 1912, in Moscow. Zakhava studied in the acting class of Vsevolod Meyerhold (1913–1916) and acting at the Moscow Vakhtangov studio under Yevgeny Vakhtangov. Since he was being hired by Vakhtangov as an actor, Zakhava worked at his theatre (Vakhtangov Theatre) for his entire life. In 1922 he performed as a Timur in Carlo Gozzi's Turandot. Zakhava was a teaching director at the acting studio (1925) and a leading director of Vakhtangov Theatre Company. He produced and directed Maxim Gorky's dramas, Yegor Bulychev and Others (1932, 1951) and Dostegayev and Others (1933, 1934). Since 1939 he became a director of the Shchukin Theatrical School (f. Vakhtangov acting studio). In 1958 Zakhava directed William Shakespeare's Hamlet starring Mikhail Astangov in the main role. His most notable film appearance is as Russian field marshal Mikhail Kutuzov in the Oscar-winning film War and Peace. He died on November 12, 1976, in Moscow and was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1937 — Bezhin Meadow — Father Stepka — Short • 1965–1967 — War and Peace — Mikhail Kutuzov

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