Vladimir Gaidarov

Vladimir Gaidarov (or Gajdarov; the spelling of his credited name varies widely; 25 July 1893, Poltava - 17 December 1976, St. Petersburg), prominent Russian, and Soviet actor, best known for his work in historical dramas, most of his film work was accomplished in Germany and France. At nineteen he went to study philosophy at Moscow University. While still a student there, in 1914 he began working with the Moscow Art Theatre; he would be engaged with the celebrated theatrical company for the next six years. In the first performance that he saw there, the Ophelia in Hamlet was played by Olga Gzovskaia, who would later become his wife. They remained together until her death in 1962.

He had his first film role in 1915, and film work would be an increasingly important part of his dramatic activity. In 1921, he and his wife left Russia and settled in Berlin, where there was then a large community of Russian émigré artists and performers. He went on the make more than thirty German and French films in the next decade, forming his own production company in 1930.

He and his wife returned to Russia in 1933 and settled in Leningrad. From 1938 to 1968 he was engaged at the Leningrad Pushkin Theatre and thereafter only appeared very rarely in films. He went on to be named People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1940, and was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1950.

Almost all of these images were taken during his time in Germany, 
where his name took on a more Germanic spelling.

In French film credits, his first name took the more usual "V", but he sometimes 
went by "Eugène", while Gaidarov was often spelled "Gaidaroff".