Yuriy Yakovlev (1928-2013) was one of the most revered and versatile actors in Soviet and Russian cinema, honored as a People's Artist of the USSR. For over sixty years, he was a pillar of the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, but he achieved immense fame through his film roles, which were characterized by an incredible interpretive range. He mastered both tragic depth, such as his unforgettable portrayal of Prince Myshkin in Ivan Pyryev's The Idiot (1958), and brilliant comedy with equal skill. His most iconic roles include the jealous Ippolit in Eldar Ryazanov's cult comedy The Irony of Fate (1976) and the dual role of Tsar Ivan the Terrible and the bureaucrat Bunsha in Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (1973). His career also includes a memorable performance as the alien Bi in the satirical sci-fi film Kin-dza-dza! (1986).