Alexander Ivanovich Sumbatov-Yuzhin

Alexander Ivanovich Sumbatov-Yuzhin was a Russian and Soviet actor, playwright, and theatrical figure. People's Artist of the Republic (1922), honorary member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1917). He was born in the Tula Governorate into a Georgian princely family. Until 1877 he lived in Georgia, graduated from the Tiflis (Tbilisi) gymnasium, and then studied at the Faculty of Law of Saint Petersburg University, where he participated in student performances.

In 1876 Sumbatov-Yuzhin made his professional stage debut in Tiflis under the pseudonym Soltsev. After performing in Petersburg clubs, in 1881 he joined Anna Brenko's Moscow theatre, and from 1882 until the end of his life he served at the Maly Theatre, where he held various administrative positions: manager of the troupe, chairman of the Council, director and honorary director.

Alongside his acting career, Sumbatov-Yuzhin was a prolific playwright. His plays 'The Rights of Life', 'Leaves Rustle', 'Falcons and Crows', 'The Arkazanovs', 'Chains' and 'Betrayal' were staged on leading theatrical stages. Alexander Ivanovich Sumbatov-Yuzhin died in 1927 in France and was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.