Sergei Nikonenko is a renowned Russian actor and director, celebrated for his captivating portrayals of Russian historical figures in film and on stage. Notably, he has brought to life the characters of poet Sergei Esenin and commander Chapaev.
Born on April 16, 1941, in Moscow, Russia, Nikonenko is the son of Petr Nikanorovich and Nina Mikhailovna, both workers in a Moscow industry. His childhood was marked by the Nazi occupation of Russia during World War II, which he survived.
Growing up, Nikonenko developed a deep affection for Russian literature, with Lev Tolstoy, Alexander Pushkin, Anton Chekhov, Sergei Esenin, and Vladimir Mayakovsky being his favorite authors. At the age of 12, he joined the drama club at the Moscow Palace of Pioneers, where he honed his acting skills. From 1959 to 1964, he studied acting at the Soviet State Institute of Cinema (VGIK),graduating in 1964 as an actor.
During his time at VGIK, Nikonenko established himself as an actor who embodied his generation, alongside friends and classmates such as Vasiliy Shukshin, Lidiya Fedoseeva-Shukshina, Evgeniy Zharikov, Zhanna Bolotova, Nikolay Gubenko, and Galina Polskikh, among other notable actors. From 1968 to 1972, he pursued film directing under Sergey Gerasimov, graduating from VGIK in 1972 as a film director.
Nikonenko's breakthrough role came with his portrayal of poet Sergei Esenin in the popular film Poj pesnyu, poet (1973),directed by Sergey Urusevskiy and Gennady Shpalikov. In the 1990s, he established Sergei Esenin's memorial museum in Moscow, where he has served as the keeper of the collection and organizer of regular events and tours dedicated to Esenin's poetry.
Throughout his career, Nikonenko has played over two hundred roles in film and on stage, including his recent stage performances as Chapaev in the play 'Chapaev i pustota' (Chapaev and emptiness') and co-starring with Aleksandr Abdulov and Irina Alfyorova in the acclaimed play 'Vse prohodit' (All things shall pass').
Nikonenko has received numerous decorations for his contribution to the arts, including the State Order of Honor (1971),the Medal of Aleksandr Dovzhenko (1987),the State Komsomol Prize (1974),and the title of Honorable Actor of Russia (1991).
Outside of his acting profession, Nikonenko is a supporter of museums, a collector of rare books, and a passionate billiard player, often partnering with actor Aleksandr Abdulov. He is also an art connoisseur and collector of Russian art, with a particular fondness for oil painting, specializing in landscapes and portraits, with his wife as his most favorite model.
Nikonenko has been married to actress Ekaterina Voronina and has one son. The couple resides in their country home in Novoperedelkino, a suburb of Moscow, Russia.
