Iakushenko, Nikolai

Born Nov. 29 (Dec. 11), 1897, in Kaluga; died Feb. 7, 1971, in Kazan. Soviet Russian actor. People’s Artist of the USSR (1955). Member of the CPSU from 1952.

Iakushenko studied at the theatrical school of the Solovtsov Theater in Kiev and made his debut in 1918. After performing at theaters in Kaluga, Omsk, Arkhangel’sk, and Moscow, he joined the troupe of the V. I. Kachalov Kazan Bol’shoi Dramatic Theater in 1935.

Iakushenko’s best roles included Chichikov in a stage version of Gogol’s Dead Souls, Siplyi in Vishnevskii’s An Optimistic Tragedy, Faiunin in Leonov’s Invasion, the title role in Molière’s Tartuffe, Shchukar’ in an adaptation of Sholokhov’s Virgin Soil Upturned, and Kabir Galimullin in Isanbet’s Mullanur Vakhilov.

Iakushenko was a deputy to the second through fourth and the sixth convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the Tatar ASSR. Iakushenko was awarded the Order of Lenin, two other orders, and various medals.