Soviet and Russian actor Vasily Popov dies at 78
In short
Vasily Popov, a Soviet and Russian theatre and film actor known for roles in “Ataka” and “Okhota na lis”, has died at 78, TASS and Vedomosti reported. The Novomoskovsk branch of the Tula Academic Drama Theatre named after M. Gorky announced the death, and Vedomosti said he died on 3 October, three days before his 79th birthday. Vedomosti, citing the family, reported the cause as a third stroke; RBC, citing the theatre branch, reported a stroke.
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Vasily Popov, a Soviet and Russian theatre and film actor, has died at the age of 78, according to TASS and to the Novomoskovsk branch of the Tula Academic Drama Theatre named after M. Gorky, which announced the death. Vedomosti reported that Popov died on 3 October, three days before his 79th birthday, while RBC said he died in his 79th year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The cause of death was a stroke, RBC reported, citing the Novomoskovsk theatre branch. Vedomosti, citing RIA Novosti and the actor's family, said the cause was a third stroke and that he spent the last week of his life in hospital. [ 3 , 4 ]
Popov was born on 6 October 1947, Vedomosti reported. He graduated in 1967 from the Troitsk Aviation Technical School of Civil Aviation, in 1975 from the directing and acting faculty of the Kemerovo Institute of Culture and the acting department of the Kemerovo Music School, and in 1985 completed refresher courses for teachers of directing and acting at LGITMiK, the outlet said. Between 1975 and 1977 he was an actor at the Altai Regional Drama Theatre, from 1977 to 1980 he played at the Novomoskovsk theatre, and from 1980 to 1983 at the Ryazan Theatre for Young Spectators. From 1983 to 1993 he taught directing and acting at the Ryazan Institute of Culture, and from 2016 he was an actor at the Russian Theatre of Drama and Comedy of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. [ 3 ]
Vedomosti said Popov was known for roles in the films “Ataka”, “Okhota na lis”, “Imya” and “General”, and that he worked for the last eight years at the Novomoskovsk branch of the Tula Academic Drama Theatre. The theatre expressed condolences to his family and friends, calling him a colleague and a remarkable actor. [ 3 ]
TASS and RIA Novosti reported the death in short items. The outlets differ on the cause and on his age at death: Vedomosti, via the family, reports a third stroke and an age of 78, while RBC, via the theatre branch, reports a stroke and says he died in his 79th year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Popov spent the last eight years at a regional theatre branch in the Tula region and appeared in Soviet-era films, so the news is chiefly a cultural obituary for Russian readers. The documents give no indication of consequences beyond the theatre world.
Key facts
- Vasily Popov, a Soviet and Russian theatre and film actor, has died; TASS and Vedomosti gave his age as 78. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Novomoskovsk branch of the Tula Academic Drama Theatre named after M. Gorky announced his death, according to Vedomosti and RBC. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Popov died on 3 October, three days before his 79th birthday, Vedomosti reported. [ 3 ]
- Popov was born on 6 October 1947, Vedomosti reported. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti, citing the actor's family, reported the cause of death as a third stroke; RBC, citing the theatre branch, reported a stroke. [ 3 , 4 ]
- He was known for roles in the films “Ataka” and “Okhota na lis”, according to RBC; Vedomosti also listed “Imya” and “General”. [ 3 , 4 ]
- He worked for the last eight years at the Novomoskovsk branch of the Tula Academic Drama Theatre, according to Vedomosti, which said the theatre expressed condolences to his family and friends. [ 3 ]
- RBC reported that Popov died in his 79th year, as told to it by the Novomoskovsk theatre branch. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Vasily Popov, a Soviet and Russian theatre and film actor, has died; TASS and Vedomosti gave his age as 78. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The death was announced by the Novomoskovsk branch of the Tula Academic Drama Theatre named after M. Gorky, according to Vedomosti and RBC. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The cause of death was a stroke, RBC reported, citing the theatre branch; Vedomosti, citing the family, described it as a third stroke. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Popov was known for roles in the films “Ataka” and “Okhota na lis”; Vedomosti also listed “Imya” and “General”. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The exact date of death. Only Vedomosti reports 3 October, attributing it to the theatre branch; TASS, RIA Novosti and RBC do not give a date in the available text.
- The city and place where Popov died. Vedomosti says he spent the last week of his life in hospital but does not name the hospital or the city, and no other outlet states it.
- Whether the stroke was a third one. Vedomosti, citing the family, specifies a third stroke, while RBC reports only a stroke as stated by the theatre branch; no other outlet gives that detail.
- Popov's age at death. TASS and Vedomosti say he was 78, while RBC says he died in his 79th year and Vedomosti notes he was three days short of his 79th birthday.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Actor Vasily Popov dies, three days before his 79th birthday, according to Vedomosti's account of the theatre's announcement. [ 3 ]
- TASS reports the death of actor Vasily Popov at the age of 78. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the death of theatre and film actor Vasily Popov. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti publishes a detailed obituary, including the date and reported cause of death and his career history. [ 3 ]
- RBC reports that Popov died of a stroke, citing the Novomoskovsk theatre branch. [ 4 ]