The Final Photo of Igor Zolotovitsky: A Brave Fight Against Cancer
The Passing of a Legend: Igor Zolotovitsky
On January 14th, the world lost a renowned figure in Russian culture, Igor Zolotovitsky. The esteemed actor, rector of the legendary Moscow Art Theatre School, and exceptional theatre pedagogue passed away at the age of 64. His death marked a significant loss for the arts community.
Igor Zolotovitsky’s Final Days
Zolotovitsky’s final photo, taken in September of the previous year at the opening of the 128th theatre season of the Moscow Art Theatre named after A.P. Chekhov, revealed the toll his illness had taken. The image showed a noticeably thinner Zolotovitsky, wearing a wig, a stark contrast to his usual robust appearance.
The Battle with Cancer
In 2025, Zolotovitsky was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Despite the grim diagnosis, he refused to let the disease dictate his life. He continued to lead the Moscow Art Theatre School, teach, and even completed filming for a new role. His final cinematic appearance was as the gypsy baron Chervonya in the series “Shakespeare Street,” filmed in early 2025.
However, his condition deteriorated rapidly about a month and a half before his passing. In November and December 2025, he had to cancel several performances, including “Winnie the Pooh Readings,” where he was the host, and the production “Home” at the Moscow Art Theatre. December was particularly challenging, with serious complications from the cancer and heart problems leading to three hospitalizations.
A Sudden Turn for the Worse
It seemed the crisis had passed, but on January 10, 2026, Zolotovitsky’s condition took a sudden turn for the worse. He was rushed to the surgical department of a Moscow hospital in critical condition. His health had declined sharply after undergoing chemotherapy, and doctors had to connect him to a ventilator.
A Legacy in Russian Culture
Igor Zolotovitsky’s death is an irreplaceable loss for Russian culture. As a graduate of the Moscow Art Theatre School in 1983, he began teaching there in 1989 and became its rector in 2013. He nurtured several generations of brilliant actors while remaining an in-demand performer himself.
Audiences particularly loved him for his roles in projects such as “Kamenskaya,” “Taxi Blues,” “The Librarian,” “Actresses,” and many others. His filmography includes more than 80 works.
A Beloved Figure
To his colleagues, Igor Yakovlevich was a highly professional actor with an excellent sense of humor and a kind heart. Yuri Stoyanov once recalled how, during one rehearsal, the tall and large Zolotovitsky stepped on his foot. The actor decided to play a prank on his friend.
“The next day, I went to the trauma center with some girls I knew: I put on a splint, a slipper, put my foot on the slipper, bandaged it all, took a stick from the props department, and came to the rehearsal with a ‘broken’ leg,” Stoyanov remembered.
Igor Yakovlevich was so scared that, in Yuri Nikolayevich’s opinion, he was on the verge of a stroke. Then Stoyanov realized it was time to confess everything. The friends laughed for a long time, recalling this incident.
For more insights into Igor Zolotovitsky’s life, you can read about how he met his beloved wife after a fictitious marriage.
