Valeri Zolotukhin, a renowned Russian actor, singer, and writer, overcame the challenges of being disabled in his childhood to achieve great success in the entertainment industry.
Born on June 21, 1941, in Bystry Istok village, Altai region, Russia, Zolotukhin was the son of a collective farm chairman and a homemaker. At the age of 7, he fell out of a window and suffered a severe trauma, which left him with a disability and requiring the use of crutches.
Despite these challenges, Zolotukhin was inspired by a touring drama troupe and dreamed of becoming an actor. He was admitted to the Department of Musical Comedy at the Moscow Theatre Institute (GITIS),where he graduated in 1963. During his time at GITIS, he became a popular singer of folk songs, known for his risqué lyrics and humorous jokes.
Zolotukhin married his acting classmate, Nina Shatskaya, on Valentine's Day in 1963, the same year he graduated. He was hired by the legendary Taganka Theatre, where he worked with the famous director Yuriy Lyubimov and became best friends with Vladimir Vysotskiy.
Throughout his career, Zolotukhin has appeared in numerous films and stage productions, including leading roles in plays such as 'Medeya', 'Marat i Markiz de Sad', 'Dobry chelovek is Sezuana', and 'Faust'. He has also worked on films like 'Sharashka', written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and 'Zhivago', based on the novel by Boris Pasternak.
Zolotukhin was once asked to play the role of Hamlet, but he generously stepped aside when Vladimir Vysotskiy was cast instead. He has also appeared in popular films like 'Khozyain taygi' and 'Interventsiya', as well as the TV series 'Master i Margarita', based on the novel by Mikhail A. Bulgakov.
In addition to his acting career, Zolotukhin has published a two-volume edition of his memoirs, which reveal candid insights into his career and relationships with other Russian celebrities. He has also been recognized for his contributions to the arts, receiving numerous awards and being designated a People's Actor of Russia in 1987.
Zolotukhin is a proud father of three sons and continues to live and work in Moscow, Russia.
