István Avar (Eger, March 20, 1931 – Budapest, September 13, 2014) was a Hungarian actor and a prominent figure in the national theatre and cinema. After graduating from the Academy of Theatre and Film in Budapest in 1954, he began his career at the Pécs Theatre before becoming a key member of the Madách Theatre and, for nearly fifty years, of the Budapest National Theatre. His film career includes memorable roles in films such as *Hideg napok* (Cold Days, 1966) and *A tizedes meg a többiek* (The Corporal and the Others, 1965). He was known for his deep, resonant voice and his ability to interpret complex characters with great intensity. Throughout his life, he received the highest Hungarian honors. He was awarded the Kossuth Prize twice (in 1975 and the Grand Prize in 2013), the Jászai Mari Prize twice, and received the prestigious title of Actor of the Nation in 2001, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the dramatic arts.