Juri Mefodievič Solomin (1935-2024) was a prominent Soviet and Russian actor, known for his long and distinguished film and theater career. Although he served for decades as the artistic director of the Maly Theatre in Moscow, his presence on the big screen brought him international fame.

Solomin's most iconic role was undoubtedly that of Captain Vladimir Arseniev in Akira Kurosawa's "Dersu Uzala" (1975), a film that won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This performance solidified his image as an honest, resolute, and profoundly human hero.

He was also highly acclaimed for his portrayal of Pavel Koltsov in the popular miniseries "Adjutant of His Excellency" (1969) and for the role of Vitaly Slavin in "TASS is Authorized to Declare..." (1984). Solomin specialized in characters of strong moral integrity, often military officers, intelligence agents, or intellectuals, who embodied ideals of nobility and courage. His acting was characterized by composure, dignity, and profound humanity, making him a central figure in Soviet and Russian cinema.