**Stepan Yosypovych Shkurat (1886 – 1973)** was a Ukrainian actor, an emblematic figure of early Soviet cinema. His career is inextricably linked to the works of the renowned director Oleksandr Dovzhenko.

Shkurat became known for his portrayal of rural and patriarchal characters, often peasants or wise elders, thanks to his authentic appearance and his natural, unconventional acting style, learned not from schools but from life. Among his most memorable roles are those in Dovzhenko's masterpieces: the mystical grandfather in **Zvenigora** (1928), the peasant Opanas in **Earth** (Zemlya, 1930), and the miner in **Ivan** (1932). His on-screen presence helped define the iconography of Ukrainian cinema of that era, making him a recognizable and beloved face.