Mikhail Astangov, a renowned stage actor of the esteemed Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, left an indelible mark on the world of theatre. Born Mikhail Fyodorovich Ruzhnikov on November 3, 1900, in Warsaw, Russian Empire (now Warsaw, Poland),he was the son of a worker for the Imperial Russian railroad.
Astangov's acting career began in 1920 at the Theatrical Studio of Feodor Chaliapin Sr., followed by stints in Leningrad, Odessa, and other cities from 1923 to 1930. He then became a member of the troupe at Moscow Theatre of Revolution from 1930 to 1941, and later at Theatre of Mossovet.
From 1945 to 1965, Astangov was a prominent member of the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, where he shared the stage with esteemed actors such as Yuri Zavadsky, Mikhail Ulyanov, Ruben Simonov, Boris Zakhava, Vladimir Etush, Varvara Popova, Irina Kupchenko, Yuliya Borisova, Lyudmila Maksakova, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Marianna Vertinskaya, Nina Ruslanova, Nikolai Plotnikov, Vasiliy Lanovoy, Yuriy Yakovlev, Vyacheslav Shalevich, Andrei Abrikosov, Grigori Abrikosov, Boris Babochkin, Nikolai Gritsenko, Nikolai Timofeyev, Nikolai Bubnov, Andrey Tutyshkin, and Aleksandr Grave, among others.
Some of Astangov's most memorable stage performances include his portrayal of Cyrano de Bergerac in 1946 and the title role in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" in 1958, directed by Boris Zakhava.
Throughout his illustrious career, Astangov received numerous accolades, including the designation of People's Actor of the USSR in 1955 and three State Stalin's Prizes (1948, 1950, 1951) for his roles in Soviet war dramas.
Tragically, Astangov passed away on April 20, 1965, in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union, due to a heart failure. He was laid to rest in the Convent Cemetery of Donskoy Monastery in Moscow, Russia.
