Ivan Aleksandrovich Liubeznov

Born Apr. 19 (May 2), 1909, in Astrakhan’. Soviet Russian actor. People’s Artist of the USSR (1970). Member of the CPSU (1940).

In 1931, Liubeznov graduated from the State Institute of Theatrical Arts and joined the company of the Theater-Studio of the Malyi Theater; he later worked in the Moscow Satira Theater. Since 1948 he has been working in the Malyi Theater. He has appeared in films since 1935. Elements of humor, gentle lyrical feeling, and satire are inherent in his art. He also performs dramatic roles. In the theater his best roles include Orlov in Talents and the title role in Sashka, both by Finn, Andrei Belugin in Belugin’s Marriage by Ostrovskii and Solov’ev, Verba in Snowball Tree Grove and Dremliuga in Wings, both by Korneichuk, and Dvoetochie in The Summer People by Gorky. In films he played the accountant Kovyn’ko in The Rich Bride (1938), Lieutenant Demidov in At 6 P.M. After the War (1944), the American sergeant Harry Perebeinoga in Meeting on the Elbe (1949), and General Ivolgin in The Idiot (1958). He also performs on the variety stage as a reciter. Liubeznov has received the State Prize of the USSR (1946) and two orders, as well as a number of medals.