Valentin Ivanovich Zubkov (May 12, 1923 – January 18, 1979) was a Soviet actor. Despite having no formal acting training, he emerged as one of the most popular faces of Soviet cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. He achieved international fame for his role as Stepan in Mikhail Kalatozov's masterpiece *The Cranes Are Flying* (1957), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His career was marked by roles of strong, honest, and courageous men, such as Captain Kholin in Andrei Tarkovsky's film *Ivan's Childhood* (1962), a Golden Lion winner at Venice. His other significant performances include the films *The Communist* (1957) and *The House I Live In* (1959). His screen presence and ability to embody the ideal of the positive Soviet hero made him a beloved actor among the public. For his artistic merits, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1969.