Illarion Pevtsov

Biography

Illarion Nikolaevich Pevtsov was born on December 7, 1879, in Antopol, Brest province, Russian Empire (now Belarus). His father, named Nikolai Pevtsov, was a government clerk. Young Pevtsov studied and graduated from Panevezhys College in 1899, then worked as a clerk in Vilno. At that time Pevtsov made his stage debut with the Vilno Drama troupe in a production of 'Zhenitba' (Marriage) by Nikolay Gogol. From 1899-1902 he studied under Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko at the Moscow Drama School at Moscow Philharmonic Society. From 1902-1906 he worked with Vsevolod Meyerhold at the "New Drama Theatre" in Moscow. Then he organized his own troupe and performed in many Russian cities. Pevtsov had also a stellar career as a stage actor. From 1922-1925 he worked with Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko at the Moscow Art Theatre. From 1925-1934 he was a permanent member of the troupe of the Pushkin Drama Theatre in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). There his stage partners were such remarkable actors as Yekaterina Korchagina-Aleksandrovskaya, Nikolay Cherkasov, Yuri Yuryev, Boris Babochkin, Nikolai Simonov, Vasiliy Merkurev, Konstantin Skorobogatov, Yuriy Tolubeev, Leonid Vivyen, Vladimir Chestnokov, and other notable Russian actors. Pevtsov enjoyed a career in silent films. His best known film role is in 'Chapaev' (1934), where his partner was Boris Babochkin. Pevtsov taught acting classes in St. Petersburg theatre of Komissarzhevskaya and in Moscow Art Theatre. He died on October 25, 1934, and was laid to rest in Tikhvinskoe Cemetery of Aleksander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg, Russia.