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- Writer
- Additional Crew
Isaac Asimov was born Isaak Judah Ozimov, on January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi shtetl, near Smolensk, Russia. He was the oldest of three children. His father, named Judah Ozimov, and his mother, named Anna Rachel Ozimov (nee Berman), were Orthodox Jews. Ozimov family were millers (the name Ozimov comes from the eponymous sort of wheat in Russian). In 1923 Isaac with his parents immigrated to the USA and settled in Brooklyn, New York. There his parents temporarily changed his birthday to September 7, 1919, in order to send him to school a year earlier. Their family name was changed from Ozimov to Asimov.
Asimov was an avid reader before the age of 5. He spoke Yiddish and English at home with his parents and spoke only a few word in Russian. He began his formal education in 1925 in the New York Public School system. From 1930-1932 he was placed in the rapid advance course. In 1935 he graduated from high school, in 1939 received a B.S. and in 1941 he earned his M. Sc. in Chemistry from Columbia University. From 1942-1945 Asimov was a chemist at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard's Naval Air experimental station. After the war ended, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was transfered to the island of Oahu and was destined to participate in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946. He narrowly avoided that by receiving an honorable discharge in May 1946. In 1948 he completed his post-graduate studies and earned his Ph. D. in Chemistry. In 1949 he began his teaching career at the Medical School of Boston University, becoming assistant professor in 1951, and associate professor in 1955. In 1958 Asimov became a full-time writer and gave up his teaching duties because his income from his literary works was much greater than his professor's salary. He was fired, but he retained his title and later returned as a lecturer and was promoted to the rank of full professor in 1979. Asimov was considered one of the best lecturers at Boston University.
Young Isaac Asimov was raised as a non-religious person. His parents observed the Orthodox Judaism, but did not force their belief upon young Asimov. He did not have affiliation with a temple, did not have a bar mizvah and called himself an atheist, then used the term "humanist" in his later life. He did not oppose genuine religious convictions in others but opposed superstitious or unfounded beliefs. Asimov defined his intellectual position as a Humanist and rationalist. He opposed the Vietnam war in the 1960s and was a supporter of the Democratic party. He embraced environmental issues, and supported feminism, joking that he wished women to be free "because I hate it when they charge". He was also humorous about many of his memberships in various clubs and foundations. Asimov did not approve exclusionary societies, he left Mensa after he found that many of the members were arrogant. He liked individuality and stayed in groups where he enjoyed giving speeches. As a free thinker, Asimov saw sci-fi literature serving as a pool where ideas and hypotheses are expressed with unrestricted intellectual freedom.
Young Asimov was fascinated with science fiction magazines which were sold at his parent's general store. Around the age of 11 he wrote eight chapters of a fiction about adventures of young boys in a small town. His first publication was "Marooned Off Vesta" in the Amazing Stories magazine in 1939. Asimov shot to fame in 1941 with 'Nightfall', a story of a planet where night comes once every 2049 years. 'Nightfall' has been described as one of the best science fiction stories ever written. Asimov wrote over five hundred literary works. He is credited for introducing the words "positronic", "psychohistory", and "robotics" into the English language. He penned such classics as "I, Robot" and the "Foundation" series, which are considered to be the most impressive of his writings. He also founded "Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine", which became a best-selling publication.
Asimov was afraid of needles and the sight of blood. Although he had the highest score on the intelligence test he had the lowest score on the physical-conditioning test. He never learned how to swim or ride a bicycle. The author who described spaceflights suffered from fear of flying. In his entire life he had to fly only twice during his military service. Acrophobia was revealed when he took his date and first love on a roller coaster in 1940, and was terrified. This phobia complicated the logistics and limited the range over which he traveled; it also found reflection in some of his literary works. He avoided traveling long distances. Instead he enjoyed cruise ships like the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, where he occasionally entertained passengers with his science-themed talks. He impressed public with his highly entertaining speeches as well as with his sharp sense of timing; he never looked at the clock, but he spoke for precisely the time allocated. Asimov's sense of time prevented him from ever being late to a meeting. Once he discovered that his parents changed his date of birth, he insisted that the official records of his birthday be corrected to January 2, 1920, the date he personally celebrated throughout his life.
Asimov met Gertrude Blugherman on a blind date on Valentine's Day in February of 1942, they got married in July of the same year. The Asimovs had two children, son David (born in 1951), and daughter Robyn Joan (born in 1955). Asimov had known Janet Opal Jeppson since 1959. She was a psychoanalyst and also a writer of science fiction for children. Correspondence with her convinced Asimov that she was the right kind of person for him. He and Gertrude were separated in 1970, and he moved in with Janet Jappeson almost at once. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1973. That same year he and Janet Jeppson were married at Janet's home by an official of Ethical Culture Society. Asimov had no children by his second marriage.
In 1983 Asimov contracted HIV infection from a tainted blood transfusion received during a triple bypass surgery. He eventually developed AIDS and wanted to go public about his AIDS but his doctors convinced Asimov to remain silent. The specific cause of death was heart and renal failure as complications of AIDS. He died on April 6, 1992, in Boston, Massachussets, and was cremated. His ashes were scattered.
Ten years after Asimov's death, his widow, Janet Jeppson Asimov, revealed that his death was a consequence of an unfortunately contracted AIDS.- Actress
- Producer
Aleksandra Bortich was born on 24 September 1994 in Svietlahorsk, Gomel Region, Belarus. She is an actress and producer, known for I Am Losing Weight (2018), Soulless 2 (2015) and Fisher (2023). She was previously married to Evgeniy Saveliev and Vyachelslav ''Mezza'' Vorontsov.- Barbara Prakopenka was born on 29 April 1992 in Gomel, Republic of Belarus. She is an actress, known for Die Eifelpraxis (2016), Cut Off (2018) and Lena - Love of My Life (2010).
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Irina Mazurkevich was born on 25 August 1956 in Mozyr, Gomel Oblast, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Mazyr, Belarus]. She is an actress, known for Tayna chyornykh drozdov (1983), Skaz pro to, kak tsar Pyotr arapa zhenil (1976) and Chudo s kosichkami (1976). She was previously married to Anatoliy Ravikovich.- Leonid Bakshtaev was born on 10 May 1934 in village Dobryn, Elsk Raion, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Dabryn, Jelsk District, Gomel Region, Belarus]. He was an actor, known for Petlya Oriona (1981), Prostyye zaboty (1975) and Tretye pokoleniye (1985). He died on 29 July 1995 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- Nikolai Pastukhov was born on 13 May 1923 in Surazh, Gomel Governorate, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Bryansk Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994), Uncle Vanya (1970) and The Russia House (1990). He died on 23 May 2014 in Moscow, Russia.
- Andrey Karako was born on 4 February 1975 in Gomel, BSSR, USSR [now Belarus]. He is an actor, known for Nochnoy rezhim (2022), Zaverbovannyy and Zima mertvetsov. Metelitsa (2012).
- Actor
- Director
Efim Zakharovich Kopelian (Yefim Kopelyan) was born on April 12, 1912, in Rechitsa, Gomel province, Russian Empire (now Rechytsa, Homel province, Belarus). He studied architecture at the Academy of Arts in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), but after a year he dropped out of college and joined the stunts at the Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BDT). In 1935 he graduated from the Acting Studio of the Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BDT) and became a permanent member of the main troupe. In 1941 Kopelyan married actress Lyudmila Makarova.
Kopelyan was one of the leading actors of the Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BDT) in Leningrad for 43 years. He began his acting career under directorship of Aleksei Dikij and then Boris Babochkin. Among his highest achievements were remarkable stage works under the directorship of Georgi Tovstonogov. Kopelyan's stage partners at the BDT were a stellar troupe of actors, including such prominent film stars as Lyudmila Makarova, Oleg Basilashvili, Tatyana Doronina, Valentina Kovel, Svetlana Kryuchkova, Zinaida Sharko, Kirill Lavrov, Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Sergey Yurskiy, Vladislav Strzhelchik, Oleg Borisov, Evgeniy Lebedev, Vsevolod Kuznetsov, Nikolay Trofimov, Pavel Luspekayev, and many other remarkable Russian actors.
Kopelyan shot to fame in the Soviet Union with his legendary narration in the TV series Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973). Kopelyan's special and enigmatic voice in that narration gained him such a wide popularity that he became a hero of many popular jokes. A brilliant film actor, Kopelyan played major film roles in the trilogy 'Neulovimye Mstiteli' (1966-1971), Opasnye gastroli (1969), and Povest o chelovecheskom serdtse (1976) among other popular Russian films. Kopelyan himself considered his part as Ataman in epic film Dauriya (1972) as his best work in film.
Yefim Kopelyan was designated the title of People's Artist of the USSR. He died of a heart failure on March 6, 1975, and was laid to rest in Necropolis of The Masters of Art "Literatorskie mostki" at Volkovskoe Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.- Aleksandr Vorobyov was born on 14 February 1962 in Gomel, Byelorussian SSR, USSR. He was an actor, known for Forgotten Experiment (2023), Sem par nechistykh (2018) and Moscow Does Not Happen (2020). He was married to Marina Sudina . He died on 15 January 2021 in Moscow, Russia.
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Victoria Runtsova was born on 28 November 1988 in Gomel, Gomelskaya oblast, BSSR, USSR [now Belarus]. She is an actress and director, known for Mommy's Calf (2019), Tvoyu mat! (2018) and Vorotnichok (2017).- Writer
- Producer
Vyacheslav Zub was born on 31 October 1987 in Gomel, Belorussian SSR, USSR [now Belarus]. Vyacheslav is a writer and producer, known for Dva kholma. Film (2022), Desperate Shareholders (2022) and Grand (2018).- Additional Crew
- Writer
Marek Edelman was born on 1 January 1919 in Gomel, Byelorussia [now Belarus]. He was a writer, known for Uprising (2001), Marek Edelman... And There Was Love in the Ghetto (2019) and Kronika powstania w getcie warszawskim wg Marka Edelmana (1993). He was married to Alina Margolis-Edelman. He died on 2 October 2009 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Sergey Parkhomenko was born on 8 October 1976 in Gomel, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Belarus]. He is an actor, known for The Equalizer (2014), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) and Day Watch (2006).- Ivan Shamyakin was born on 30 January 1921 in Korma, Gomel province, Russia [now Homyel province, Belarus]. He was a writer, known for Krinitsy (1965), Vozmu tvoyu bol (1981) and Epilog (1994). He died on 14 October 2004.
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Eduard Kolmanovskiy was born on 9 January 1923 in Mogilev, Gomel Governorate, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Mogilev Region, Belarus]. He was a composer, known for The Cosmonaut (2013), Ulitsa bez kontsa (1973) and Po semeynym obstoyatelstvam (1978). He died on 27 July 1994 in Moscow, Russia.- Actor
- Writer
Isaac Don Levine was born on 19 January 1892 in Mozyr, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Mazyr, Gomel Oblast, Belarus]. He was an actor and writer, known for Jack London (1943) and Reds (1981). He died on 15 February 1981.- Producer
- Director
- Actor
Georgiy Malkov was born on 13 July 1973 in Gomel, Belorussian SSR, USSR [now Belarus]. He is a producer and director, known for Cooties (2014), Byvshiy v pomoshch (2024) and American Heist (2014).- Vitaliy Pichik was born on 22 December 1969 in Gomel, BSSR, USSR [now Belarus]. He is an actor, known for Strannik (2006), Banditskiy Peterburg: Advokat (2000) and Bednyy, bednyy Pavel (2003).
- Félix Blaska was born on 8 May 1941 in Gomel, Belarus. He is an actor, known for Romance & Cigarettes (2005), Pausa (1992) and Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted (1992).
- Lyudmila Shagalova was born on 6 April 1923 in Rogachev, Gomel Governorate, RSFSR, USSR [now Rahachow, Gomel Oblast, Belarus]. She was an actress, known for The Young Guard (1948), Treasure Island (1972) and Duel (1961). She was married to Vyacheslav Shumsky. She died on 13 March 2012 in Moscow, Russia.
- Pavel Yuzhakov-Kharlanchuk was born on 27 June 1978 in Gomel, Byelorussian SSR, USSR. He is an actor, known for Igra na vyzhivanie (2020), Sniper: Weapon of Retaliation (2009) and Dneprovskiy rubezh (2009).
- Additional Crew
Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko (8 July 1909 - 2 July 1989) was a Soviet Belarusian communist politician and diplomat during the Cold War. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1957-1985) and as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1985-1988). Gromyko was responsible for many top decisions on Soviet foreign policy until he retired in 1988. In the 1940s Western pundits called him Mr Nyet ("Mr No") or "Grim Grom", because of his frequent use of the Soviet veto in the United Nations Security Council.- Mikita Voronov was born on 21 June 2002 in Gomel, Belarus. He is an actor, known for Koresha (2024), Nastupit leto and Khuzhe vsekh (2024).
- Irina Radchenko was born on 30 August 1923 in Novozybkov, Novozybkov uyezd, Gomel Governorate, RSFSR, USSR [now Novozybkovsky District, Bryansk Oblast, Russia]. She was an actress, known for Dikaya sobaka Dingo (1962), Dark Is the Night (1945) and Sirtn e yergum (1957). She died on 20 December 1989.
- Friedrich Neznansky was born on 27 September 1932 in Shuravichi, Mogilev Okrug, BSSR, USSR [now Karma Raion, Gomel Oblast, Belarus]. He was a writer, known for Chyornyy kvadrat (1992). He died on 14 February 2013 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany.