{{Short description|Russian actor (1933–2012)}} {{Infobox person | name = Igor Kvasha | native_name = Игорь Кваша | native_name_lang = ru | image = Igor Kvasha in 1960s.jpg | image_size = 260px | alt = | caption = Kvasha in the 1960s | birth_name = Igor Vladimirovich Kvasha | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|2|4|df=y}} | birth_place = Moscow, Soviet Union | death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|8|30|1933|2|4|df=y}} | death_place = Moscow, Russia | resting_place = Troyekurovskoye Cemetery, Moscow | other_names = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1961–2012 | spouse = | partner = | website = }} '''Igor Vladimirovich Kvasha''' ({{langx|ru|Игорь Владимирович Кваша}}; 4 February 1933 — 30 August 2012) was a Soviet and Russian theater and film actor. He was a leading actor of Sovremennik Theater. Igor Kvasha was one of the Sovremennik founders along with Galina Volchek, Oleg Yefremov, Yevgeniy Yevstigneyev and Oleg Tabakov. He was honored with People's Artist of Russia in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|title=Igor Kvasha at Soviet and Russian Cinema|url=http://kino-teatr.ru/kino/acter/m/sov/1931/bio/|publisher=kino-teatr.ru|language=Russian|accessdate=August 30, 2012}}</ref>
== Biography == Igor Kvasha was born in Moscow,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.memory-book.com.ua/people/search?authenticity_token=BZSvFYSCqvw2Ie%2FSaIdF7f8WsX8inz5m42EvW9jJ%2BeM%3D&commit=%D0%9D%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%82%D0%B8&page=4&search=%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B0 |title=Книга памяти Кировоградской области |access-date=2015-11-18 |archive-date=2016-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616183802/http://www.memory-book.com.ua/people/search?authenticity_token=bzsvfyscqvw2ie%2Fsaidf7f8wsx8inz5m42evw9jj+em%3D&commit=%D0%9D%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%82%D0%B8&page=4&search=%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the son of scientist Vladimir Ilich Kvasha, of the faculty of Mendeleev Russian University of Chemistry and Technology. Kvasha graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School, where he was taught by Aleksander Karev. After graduation, he joined the Moscow Art Theater troupe and performed there for two years (1955-1957). In 1957 he started work at the newly established Sovremennik Theater, where he remained.
In his last years, Kvasha hosted the TV talk show ''Wait for Me'' ({{langx|ru|Жди меня}}) on Russia's Channel One. Kvasha himself acknowledges that he has got there accidentally.
He died in Moscow at the age of 79.
==Political views== In the spring of 2001, Kvasha spoke in support of the journalistic team of the NTV channel and criticized the actions of President Vladimir Putin.<ref>{{cite web | last=Киселев | first=Евгений | title=Пропуск в безвременье | website=Газета.Ru | date=2023-08-17 | url=https://www.gazeta.ru/column/kiselev/589332.shtml | language=ru | access-date=2024-04-28}}</ref> In October 2008, he signed an open letter of appeal in defense and support of the release of Yukos Oil Company lawyer Svetlana Bakhmina.<ref>{{cite web | title=В защиту Светланы Бахминой. Открытое письмо деятелей культуры президенту России | website=Новая газета | date=2008-10-30 | url=https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2008/10/30/36012-v-zaschitu-svetlany-bahminoy | language=ru | access-date=2024-04-28}}</ref> In December 2011, he criticized Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin and United Russia, calling for a protest rally on 24 December against electoral fraud.<ref>{{cite web | title=Игорь Кваша | website=YouTube | date=2024-03-06 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXVEDyJ1sxo | access-date=2024-04-28}}</ref>
==Selected filmography== * ''Sergeant Fetisov'' as Tavrizyan (1961) * ''Adventures of a Dentist'' as Merezhkovsky (1965) * ''Property of the Republic'' as Lagutin, ataman (1972) * ''The Straw Hat'' as Lieutenant Emil Tavernier (1975) * ''The Flight of Mr. McKinley'' as Director of SB-Salvatory (1975) * ''Forever Alive'' as Vladimir (1976) * ''The Very Same Munchhausen'' as burgomaster (1979) * ''A Man from the Boulevard des Capucines'' as pastor Adams (1987) * ''Passport'' as Rabbi (1990) * ''The Master and Margarita'' as Stravinsky (1994) * ''Turning'' (2002) as father * ''The First Circle'' as Joseph Stalin (2006) * ''The White Guard'' as narrator (2012) * ''Ku! Kin-dza-dza'' as Yk, a carousel owner (2013)
==Honours and awards== * Order For Merit to the Fatherland, 3rd class (30 March 2006) - for outstanding contribution to the development of theatre and many years of creative activity * People's Artist of the USSR (1968) * By the President of the Russian Federation (25 January 2008) - for his contribution to the development of Russian theater and film [6] * National Prize actor Andrei Mironov "Figaro" in the "For Service to the Fatherland theatre"
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0476952}} *[http://www.peoples.ru/art/cinema/actor/kvasha/ Igor Kvasha at Peoples] {{in lang|ru}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090904074926/http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/krugosvet/article/6/66/1011361.htm Igor Kvashs at Encyclopedia Slovary] {{in lang|ru}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Commons category}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kvasha, Igor}} Category:1933 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Male actors from Moscow Category:Soviet male film actors Category:Russian male film actors Category:Soviet male stage actors Category:Russian male stage actors Category:Russian television presenters Category:People's Artists of the RSFSR Category:Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class Category:Burials at Troyekurovskoye Cemetery Category:Jewish Russian actors Category:Moscow Art Theatre School alumni