Born on July 23, 1946, in Rostov-on-Don, USSR, he became a prominent Soviet actor and director. He gained fame for his role as the enigmatic "Stalker" in Andrei Tarkovsky's 1979 film of the same name. Trained at the Moscow Art Theatre School, he worked extensively in both film and theater. His directorial work includes the film "The Kerosene Salesman's Wife." Known for his intense performances, he left a lasting impact on Soviet and Russian cinema before passing away on December 3, 1995.