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Georgi Zhzhyonov was a popular Russian actor who survived 18 years of imprisonment under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin.

He was born Georgi Stepanovich Zhzhonov on March 22, 1915, in St. Petersburg (then Petrograd), Russia. He was the seventh of ten children of Stepan Philippovich Zhzhonov and Maria Fedorovna Shchelkina. In 1921 his father was arrested and imprisoned for opposition to the communists. The Zhzhonov family lived on Bolshoi Prospekt of the Vasilevsky Ostrov in the historic center of St. Petersburg, near the "Petrogradets" stadium sports center. There young Zhzhonov took arduous physical training, specializing in acrobatics.

In 1930, Zhzhonov graduated from a secondary school with advanced course of mathematics. He borrowed his elder brother's ID in order to pass the admission to Acrobatic class at the Leningrad Circus School, where he was admitted as "Boris" Zhzhonov and studied for two years. He was forgiven for his innocent forgery, because of his excellence in acrobatics. He was noticed by a cinematographer during his acrobatic performances at the Leningrad Circus and was cast for the leading role as Pavel Vetrov in 'Oshibka Geroya' (1932), a silent film directed by Eduard Ioganson, where his partner was Yefim Kopelyan. From 1932-1935, Zhzhonov studied under Sergey Gerasimov at the Leningrad Theater and Film Institute, where his classmate was Arkady Raykin. Zhzhonov continued his film career in the classic film Chapaev (1934), where he played a cameo role alongside Boris Babochkin. Then he worked again with director Eduard Ioganson in Nasledny prints respubliki (1934). In 1935 Zhzhonov graduated from the class of Sergey Gerasimov and his film career looked good.

At that time, after the popular Leningrad governor, Sergei Kirov, was murdered, Joseph Stalin started extermination of Russian intellectuals. Zhzhenov's elder brother, Boris, was falsely accused of "anti-Soviet activity", and was executed in prison. The entire family of Zhzhonovs (father, mother, five sisters and two surviving brothers) were exiled to Siberian part of Kazakhstan. Georgi Zhzhonov refused to obey. At age 20 he was already recognized as a brilliant actor, and his film career was at stake. The Lenfilm Studio petitioned to postpone his exile, because he was cast by Sergey Gerasimov for a supporting role in 'Komsomolsk' (1938). His exile sentence was postponed and he joined the cast and crew on a train to the filming location at the city of Komsomolsk-on Amur on the Pacific Far East. On the train he met an American diplomat, who treated Zhzhonov to a taste of American cigarettes and they had a friendly conversation. That was enough for the Soviet secret police to arrest him on false accusations of spying for America.

Zhzhonov was forcefully separated from his wife, young actress Yevgeniya Golynchik, and was taken to the KGB prison in Leningrad. There he was tortured, humiliated, blackmailed and exiled to Kolyma in Siberia from 1938 to 1945. In 1945 he was allowed to work in Magadan Zapolyarny Drama Theatre in Siberia. In 1947 he came to Moscow, but he was banned from living in the Soviet Capital. He was arrested again on false accusations and was exiled to Norilsk in Northern Siberia. There he worked at the Zapolyarny Drama Theatre together with his friend Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy. Zhzhonov lived in exile until the death of Joseph Stalin.

In 1955, after 18 years of imprisonment and exile, Georgi Zhzhonov was allowed to return to his home town of Leningrad. There he was cleared of all previous charges of "anti-Soviet activity and spying for America" and was allowed to work as an actor in Leningrad. He also received official clearance for work in film. He returned to acting at the Theatre of Lensoveta and other theatres in Leningrad during 1955-1968.

Zhzhonov became known after a role in 'Beregis avtomobilya' (Watch out for Automobile 1966) by director Eldar Ryazanov. From 1968-2005 he lived in Moscow and worked on stage and in film. He was best known for the leading role as Western spy "Resident" in the eponymous film-trilogy from director Venyamin Dorman, and also for the leading role in 'Ekipazh' (1980) from director Aleksandr Mitta. Zhzhonov himself regarded his work with actor-director Mikhail Kozakov in the TV movie 'Vsya korolevskaya rat' (All the King's Men 1972). The first episode was already filmed with Pavel Luspekayev in the leading role as Senator Stark, but Luspekayev suddenly died during filming. In a fierce competition with other renown actors the role was won by Zhzhonov. His masterful acting in the leading role as Senator Stark was praised by the author Robert Penn Warren.

Georgi Zhzhonov wrote an autobiographical story of his Gulag prison-camp experience, which was praised by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and was published in Russia. He was awarded the State Prize of the USSR, and was honored with the title of the People's Artist of the USSR. He also received the 'Nika Award' for lifelong career.

Zhzhonov spent his 90th birthday on stage, acting at the Russian Army Theatre. Later that day, he was invited to the Kremlin for reception of the highest civilian decoration of Russia. During a conversation that followed, President Putin admitted that Zhzhonov's popular film roles had prompted him to become an intelligence officer. Zhzhonov replied with dark humor: "Just don't arrest me again."

Georgi Zhzhonov died on December 8, 2005, and was laid to rest in the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, Russia.

Pavel Kadochnikov was born on 29 July 1915 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor and director, known for Secret Agent (1947), Povest o nastoyashchem cheloveke (1948) and A Big Family (1954). He was married to Rozaliya Kotovich. He died on 2 May 1988 in Leningrad, RSFSR, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia].

Sergei Boyarsky was a Russian character actor at the Theatre of Komissarzhevskoi in St. Petersburg, Russia.

He was born Sergei Aleksandrovich Boyarsky on 31 December 1916, in St. Petersburg, Russia. His father, Aleksander Boyarsky, was a Russian Orthodox priest who was executed by the communists during the Great Purge of 1937 under the dictatorship of 'joseph Stalin'. Young Sergei Boyarsky was fond of music and theatre. From 1935 to 1939 he studied acting under Boris Sushkevich at the old Russian acting school of Aleksandrinsky Theatre (named after Pushkin), graduating in 1939 as actor. After having worked for a few seasons at a small theatre in Ukraine, he returned to his hometown, Leningrad/St. Petersburg. From 1949 to 1976 Sergei Boyarsky was a permanent member of the troupe at the Theatre of Komissarzhevskoi in St. Petersburg. There his stage partners were such actors as Galina Korotkevich, Ivan Dmitriev, Tamara Abrosimova, Natalya Chetverikova, Elena Safonova, Valentina Chemberg, Tatyana Samarina, Aleksandr Galibin, Yefim Kamenetsky, Mikhail Khrabrov, Georgi Korolchuk, Stanislav Landgraf, Nikolay Boyarsky, Vladimir Osobik, Boris Sokolov, Ivan Krasko, Petr Shelokhonov, and other notable Russian actors.

Sergei Boyarsky made his film debut in 'Amphibian man', and later appeared in various supporting roles in film and on television. He was highly regarded for his works on stage having created over 50 roles in stage productions. Sergei Boyarsky also made memorable readings of Russian classic literature for various cultural events and radio shows. Outside of his acting career Sergei Boyarsky enjoyed a happy family life with his wife, Tatiana Melentieva, and the couple's son, Mikhail Boyarskiy, made a career as one of the leading stars of Russian cinema.

Sergei Boyarsky's last work was the leading role as Ivan the Terrible in the eponymous play by A. Tolstoy; he created the character of the legendary Russian Tsar in the period costume on the famous stage at the Theatre of Komissarzhevskoi in St. Petersburg. However, Sergei Boyarsky did not make it to the premiere. He died after a long and exhausting stage rehearsal on 1 March 1976, and was laid to rest in Komarovo cemetery near St. Petersburg, Russia.

Konstantin Simonov was born on 28 November 1915 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was a writer and actor, known for Grenada, Grenada, Grenada moya (1967), Wait for Me (1943) and Erkrord karavan (1950). He died on 28 August 1979 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia].

Marina von Ditmar was born on 30 October 1914 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She was an actress, known for The Csardas Princess (1934), G.P.U. (1942) and The Divine Jetta (1937). She was married to Hans-Georg Dehnhardt. She died on 3 September 2014 in Bad Kissingen, Bavaria, Germany.

Léon Zitrone was born in Russia in 1914 and around 1920 he moved to France with his family. He graduated from Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris in 1948 and in 1959 he joint RTF. He was best known for hosting "Intervilles" alongside Guy Lux, commentating on the Tour de France on 6 times, hosting the French coverage for the Olympics between 1964 and 1992, commentating on the Eurovision Song Contest and hosted the 1978 Edition alongside Denise Fabre.

Kauko Käyhkö was born on 5 April 1916 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor and producer, known for A.Aimo & Dallapé Orchestra (1962), Kaunis Veera eli ballaadi Saimaalta (1950) and Rovaniemen markkinoilla (1951). He was married to Irja Johanna West and Eini Kotiranta. He died on 8 April 1983 in Espoo, Finland.

Sergei Smirnov was born on 13 September 1915 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was a writer, known for Italiano brava gente (1964), Gorod pod lipami (Epizody geroicheskoy oborony) (1971) and Sekretar obkoma (1964). He died on 22 March 1976 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].

Valentina Chemberg was a Russian character actress with the company at the Theatre of Komissarzhevskoi in St. Petersburg.

She was born Valentina Ilyinichna Chemberg om 23 January 1917, in Russia. From 1935 to 1939 she studied acting at Leningrad School of Acting, graduating in 1939 as actress. From 1939 to 1946 she was member of Minsk Russian Drama company.

Valentina Chemberg had a stellar career as a stage actress. From 1947 to 1990 she was a permanent member of the troupe and the leading actor at the Theatre of Komissarzhevskoi in St. Petersburg. There her stage partners were such actors as Alisa Freyndlikh, Galina Korotkevich, Ivan Krasko, Vladimir Chestnokov, Ivan Dmitriev, Tamara Abrosimova, Natalya Chetverikova, Tatyana Samarina, Sergey Boyarskiy, Nikolay Boyarskiy, Yefim Kamenetsky, Mikhail Khrabrov, Stanislav Landgraf, Georgiy Korolchuk, Vladimir Osobik, Boris Sokolov, Petr Shelokhonov, and other notable Russian actors. There, Valentina Chemberg made memorable appearances in various classic and contemporary plays under such directors, as Leonid Vivyen, Aleksandr Belinsky, Zinovi Korogodsky, Igor Vladimirov and Ruben Agamirzyan.

Valentina Chemberg was designated People's Actress of the Russian Federation. She died in 1990, and was laid to rest in the Novo-Volkovskoe cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Mikhail Devyatkin was born on 5 October 1916 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Tvoy sovremennik (1968), Streets of Broken Lights (1998) and Moy luchshiy drug, general Vasiliy, syn Iosifa (1991). He died on 14 November 2003.

Valentin Berezhkov was the last living man who personally dealt with Hitler, Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill at the times of the Second World War.

He was born Valentin Mikhailovich Berezhkov on July 2, 1916, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Young Berezhkov was interested in history and languages. He graduated from Kiev University in 1938, then served in the Pacific Fleet in 1938-1939. At that time Berezhkov was recruited by the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs because interpreters were in short supply due to the purges during the "Great Terror" under dictatorship of Joseph Stalin.

Berezhkov was First Secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Berlin. In November of 1940 he served as interpreter at the talks between Vyacheslav Molotov and Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop. On June 22, 1941, the day Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Berezhkov interpreted at a meeting between German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and the Russian Ambassador to Germany Vladimir Dekanozov. Ribbentrop explained invasion as a preemptive attack, although, he plead "Make it known in Moscow that I was against the invasion!" In July of 1941 Berezhkov was appointed to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow as Assistant to Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov for Soviet-American relations.

Berezhkov served as personal interpreter to Joseph Stalin and Molotov at the Teheran conference in 1943, and also at the Yalta conference in 1945. In Teheran he interpreted Stalin's communication with Franklin D. Roosevelt when the two leaders met for the first time. Berezhkov also interpreted at the tree-way meetings between Stalin, Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in Teheran. Berezhkov was chosen for the job by Vyacheslav Molotov, although, he was not entirely confident in English at that time. By the time of the Yalta conference he further upgraded his English and was appointed the principal interpreter. Berezhkov's service at the Teheran and Yalta conferences became the highlight of his career. He also interpreted the intelligence unit's transcripts of conversations inside the bugged rooms of other delegates, which was typed in English, so that Berezhkov had to translate it orally to Stalin, as the leader prepared his agenda for the day's session of talks.

At historic conferences Berezhkov had to work under pressure without much rest or sleep, or even a mealtime. At the Yalta conference he was especially overloaded with work. One episode he recalled later with humor. He was so busy with interpreting between English, American, and Russian officials that he did not have a moment to eat and became really hungry at the end of the first day. The dinner was served to Roosevelt, Curchill, and Stalin, but they kept talking, obligating Berezhkov to translate. At one moment he took a bite, and the same moment Stalin asked Roosevelt a question. Berezhkov was not able to translate with his mouth full for a few seconds, and received an angry comment from Stalin: "You came to work, not to eat!" Berezhkov later recalled that his appetite was immediately gone.

Molotov shielded Berezhkov from prosecution, but could not prevent the termination of his diplomatic career. In 1945 Berezhkov turned to journalism and became an editor of the Soviet weekly 'New Times'. From 1969-1988 he was Chief Editor for the Soviet monthly journal 'USA-Economics, Politics, Ideology'. Berezhkov received a doctorate from the Institute of USA and Canada Studies in 1974, and taught at Moscow State University and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. From 1978-1983 he served in the Soviet Embassy in Washington as First Secretary. He also taught at the Monterrey Institute of Internationl Studies, Claremont Colleges and Occidental College in California. He wrote seven books with a circulation in Russian and English of over two million copies, including his last book "I was Stalin's Interpreter" (1991), which was re-issued in the United States in 1994 as 'At Stalin's Side'.

Valentin Berezhkov was living in California during the later years of his life. Berezhkov was the last living person who personally dealt with Hitler, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt. He died on November 20, 1998, in Los Angeles.

Evgeniy Kuznetsov was born on 20 May 1916 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Put v 'Saturn' (1967), Boy posle pobedy (1972) and Pod zolotym orlom (1958). He died on 7 August 1973 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].

Tatyana Pankova was born on 27 December 1916 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She was an actress, known for Zvezda plenitelnogo schastya (1975), Po tonkomu ldu (1966) and Skandalnoye proishestviye v Brikmille (1981). She died on 9 July 2011 in Moscow, Russia.

Fyodor Shmakov was born on 1 March 1917 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Bessmertnaya pesnya (1958), Podnyataya tselina (1960) and Kochubey (1958). He died on 2 May 2009 in Vitebsk, Belarus.

Lyudmila Shabalina was born on 12 August 1916 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She was an actress, known for Vozdushnyy izvozchik (1943), The New Teacher (1939) and In the Name of Life (1947). She died on 9 June 1981 in Yantarny, Kaliningrad Oblast, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].

Viktor Shildknekht was born on 27 January 1917 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was a production designer and actor, known for Pedejais bledis (1966), Yolanta (1963) and Kapteinis Nulle (1964). He died on 9 August 2012.

Grigori Frid was born on 22 September 1915 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was a composer, known for Dym v lesu (1955), Timur i yego komanda (1977) and Krik gagary (1980). He died on 22 September 2012 in Moscow, Russia.

Oleg Lipkin was born in 1916 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Chelovek v futlyare (1939), Young Pushkin (1937) and Morskoy yastreb (1941). He died on 18 August 1943 in Smolensk Oblast, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].

Nina Wilinska was born in 1916 in Petrograd, Russian Empire [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She was an actress, known for Rywale (1925) and Eaglet (1927). She died on 13 August 1987 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.