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Acclaimed Russian and Soviet-era movie star dies of heart failure

Sergei Yursky was also known as a prolific film actor appearing in more than forty movies

MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. Sergei Yursky, one of Russia’s most renowned and acclaimed performing artists, has passed away at the age of 83 due to heart failure, his daughter Darya told TASS on Friday.

"Dad had been sick for a long time. He died of heart failure, and we are now waiting for an official medical conclusion," she stated.

Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in 1935, Yursky lived in Moscow since 1978 and was an actor and director at Mossovet Theater. He also cooperated with the School of the Modern Play theater and founded Sergei Yursky’s Actors Guild in 1992. Yursky also staged two plays in the Tokyo-based Hayyudza theater.

He was also known as a prolific film actor appearing in more than forty movies. His roles as Ostap Bender in the Little Golden Calf based on a satirical novel by Soviet authors Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov and Vikniksor in the Republic of ShKID directed by Gennady Poloka launched him into nationwide stardom. He also appeared in such films as The Meeting Place Cannot be Changed, Love and Pigeons, Little Tragedies and Queen Margot.

In 1990, Yursky directed the movie titled Chernov based on his own eponymous novel.

Recognized for his cultural contributions, his awards included the Order of Honor, the Order for Merit to the Fatherland and the Pushkin medal (awarded to Russians for achievements in the arts and culture, education, humanities and literature). He was also the winner of the Kinotavr film festival awards and the Golden Mask national theater award.