Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
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Vasily Kachalov (real name Shverubovich) was a great Soviet and Russian actor, master of artistic expression, and teacher. He was born on February 11, 1875, in Vilnius, to a priest's family. His father wanted his son to follow in the priestly line, but his mother, descended from an ancient noble family, instilled in him a love of literature and art at an early age.
Let's go to the calling
Kachalov shared his school days at the 1st Vilnius Gymnasium with Felix Dzerzhinsky, Boris Gorev, and Konstantin Galkovsky. Even then, the boy began to understand his calling: he possessed a phenomenal memory, recited poetry expressively, and performed in amateur theatricals. The budding actor's signature performance was a Chatsky monologue.
In 1893, Vasily entered the law faculty of St. Petersburg University, but even here his passion for the stage prevailed – he began acting in a student drama group under the direction of Vladimir Davydov.
How the pseudonym came about
His theatrical debut took place in 1896 at the Suvorin Theater of the Literary and Artistic Society. It was then that the famous "Kachalov" appeared – a stage name that, according to Faina Ranevskaya, was given to the aspiring actor by Alexander Suvorin himself, the theater owner, editor of the Novoye Vremya newspaper, and a close friend and mentor of Chekhov. According to another version, Vasily's new surname was invented by Fyodor Chaliapin, who saw it in a newspaper he was reading at a coffee shop while meeting the actor. Yet another version holds that the artist chose his stage name after reading an obituary for N. N. Kachalov, the former governor of the Arkhangelsk province, in a St. Petersburg newspaper.
From a provincial theater actor to a Moscow Art Theater legend
From 1897, Vasily Kachalov traveled around the country on tour with Vasily Dolmatov, and until 1900 he performed in Kazan and Saratov in the "Kazan-Saratov Association of Actors" under the direction of Mikhail Borodai.
Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko recognized a future star in the young provincial actor, and in 1900 invited him to join the troupe of the newly opened Moscow Art Theater. However, at their first meeting, Stanislavsky was terribly disappointed, saying, "You're an outsider. An outsider! Perhaps in two or three years you'll become more at home with us, understand us, and accept what we have."
By that time, Vasily Kachalov had already mastered the art of approaching roles, interacting with the audience, and understanding their mood. His remarkable insight and ability to grasp the psychology of his characters quickly made him one of the theater's most indispensable actors. His first major role was Berendey in Ostrovsky's "The Snow Maiden," then he became Stanislavsky's understudy in Chekhov's plays, followed by Tuzenbach in Chekhov's "Three Sisters," the Baron in Gorky's "The Lower Depths," and Ivan Karamazov in a stage adaptation of Dostoevsky's novel.
Anton Pavlovich, though initially critical, praised the actor's work highly and, as a token of his gratitude, presented him with his autographed book after the performances of "The Cherry Orchard" and "Three Sisters." "To dear Vasily Ivanovich Kachalov, as a fond keepsake from the deeply respected, loving, and grateful author."
During the revolutions, Kachalov toured with his troupe, led by Stanislavsky, in southern Russia, Europe, and even America. From 1924 onward, he performed in Moscow and earned enormous fees—up to 1,000 rubles—which he spent not only on personal expenses but also on helping the actors under his charge.
Vasily Ivanovich served at the Moscow Art Theater for nearly half a century, playing around 60 roles and becoming the theater's leading star. Each new role and production was a true event for the entire capital. Kachalov's Hamlet became the best in the theater's history, earning critics the nickname "the Russian Hamlet."
Friendship with Faina Ranevskaya
For many years, the magnificent Faina Ranevskaya and the talented Vasily Kachalov were close friends. According to the actress, their first meeting took place on Stoleshnikov Lane, when she heard a familiar voice. Realizing it was Kachalov, her idol and first love, she was so overwhelmed that she fainted. He, like a true gentleman, helped her come to her senses and stayed with her until he was sure all was well. Several years later, Ranevskaya found herself in Moscow again. Dreaming of attending a Kachalov performance, she wrote him a letter sharing her desire and recalling her fainting spell. In response, she was informed that two tickets were waiting for her at the theater manager.
Thus began a long and strong friendship between the magnificent Faina Ranevskaya and the talented Vasily Kachalov. They often met offstage, visited each other, had long conversations about art, and recited poetry to each other. She described him as intelligent, able to listen and empathize with others. She later admitted: "I've only loved two people in my life. The first was Kachalov. I don't remember the second."
"Give me your paw for luck, Jim."
Another close friend of Kachalov's was Sergei Yesenin, one of the most famous poets of the Silver Age. Vasily greatly admired his work and became one of the first to perform Yesenin's poems on stage. Until the last years of his life, he included them in the program of his literary evenings.
Yesenin dedicated one of his most famous works to his friend’s pet, the Doberman Jim.
"Give me your paw, Jim, for luck, I've never seen such a paw. Let's bark in the moonlight for the quiet, silent weather."
The first line of this poem may seem familiar to you. It's exactly what Lukashin said in "The Irony of Fate"!
Vasily Kachalov became a true legend of Russian theater and a paragon of acting excellence. His name is given to the Kazan Bolshoi Drama Theater, a gymnasium in Vilnius, and streets in Kazan, Novosibirsk, and Moscow.
His maternal great-granddaughter, Olga Lyubimova, is a journalist and theater scholar, and the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation. In memory of the great People's Artist of the USSR, in February 2025, she opened the exhibition "Being Kachalov" at the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater to commemorate the actor's 150th birthday.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 11, 2026.
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