Vladimir Vdovichenkov (born August 13, 1971 in Gusev) is a respected Russian film and stage actor, known for his intense presence and versatility. After serving in the Russian Navy, he radically changed direction by studying acting at the prestigious Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), graduating in 2001. He gained national fame almost immediately with his iconic role as "Phil" in the cult television series Brigada (2002) and cemented his leading man status with the film Bumer (2003). Internationally, he is best known for his critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated portrayal of Dmitry in Andrei Zvyagintsev's Leviathan (2014). An Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Vdovichenkov combines his film career, which includes titles such as Salyut-7 (2017), with significant theatrical activity, having been a member of the Vakhtangov Theatre company in Moscow since 2002.