Georgy Frantsevich Millyar, sometimes spelled Milliar (; 7 November 1903 – 4 June 1993), was a Soviet and Russian actor, best known for playing evil spirits in Soviet fairy tale films, notably the witch Baba Yaga in films such as Vasilisa the Beautiful, Jack Frost, Fire, Water, and Brass Pipes and The Golden Horns.45 (1722)
Biography Georgy Millyar was born into a wealthy family of Franz de Milieu, a French bridge builder working in Russia, and Elizaveta Zhuravlyova, a daughter of an Irkutsk goldminer. Millyar's father died when he was almost three. Before the outbreak of World War I, he and his widowed mother had moved from Moscow to Gelendzhik. After the October Revolution, Millyar's family was left without relatives and means of living, their apartment in Moscow and a house in Gelendzhik were soon nationalized by the Bolsheviks. Millyar's mother was prudent enough to remove the "de" particle from her and her son's last name to conceal their French origin and then change it to Millyar. Even though Georgy Millyar was able to speak fluent French and German, he never mentioned this fact in any official documents.Аргументы и факты. Суперзвёзды
After the October Revolution, Georgy Millyar worked as a props man at a Gelendzhik theater. He always dreamed of becoming a professional actor and memorized all the roles played at his theater. In 1920, Millyar made his first incidental appearance on stage when one of the actors fell suddenly ill. His debut was a success, and from then on he was asked to substitute on a regular basis. In 1924, Georgy Millyar, already a well-known provincial actor, entered an Acting School for Juniors at Moscow Theater of the Revolution (today's Mayakovsky Theater). Subsequently, he played different roles in numerous stage plays.
Prominent Soviet film director Aleksandr Rou played an important part in Georgy Millyar's acting career. He invited Millyar to star in a film adaptation of a Russian fairy tale, Wish upon a Pike (1938). From that moment on, their cinematographic partnership and friendship lasted for over 30 years. Millyar acted in all Rou's films. Among his roles are Kashei the Deathless, Baba-Yaga, king Goroh, king Chudo-Yudo, a demon etc. Throughout his career, Georgy Millyar played thirty major roles, took part in the dubbing of seventy movies, and voiced over a hundred cartoons.Оллэ. К гастролям Московского Театра Революции // Бурят-Монгольская правда. Верхнеудинск. № 168 (1138) за 28 июля 1927 года. — С. 4. He died in 1993, 2 years after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Selected filmography
Year English Title Original Title Role 1933 Marionettes Марионетки bold official (uncredited) 1938 Wish upon a Pike По щучьему веленью Tsar Gorokh 1939 Vasilisa the Beautiful Василиса Прекрасная Baba Yaga; father; gusli musician 1940 Siberians Сибиряки Grandfather Jakov 1940 Salavat Yulayev Салават Юлаев mine manager 1941 The Humpbacked Horse Конёк-Горбунок Chikhir; gusli musician; robber 1943 We from the Urals Мы с Урала grandfather Tomakurov 1944 Kashchey the Immortal Кащей Бессмертный Kashchey; tiny magician 1947 The Humpbacked Horse (animation) Конёк-Горбунок Tsar (voice) 1950 Brave People Смелые люди German soldier with harmonica (uncredited) 1952 May Nights Майская ночь, или Утопленница scribe 1954 (animation) Царевна-Лягушка Baba Yaga (voice)1955 The White Poodle Белый пудель Ivan the servant The Gadfly Овод beggar The Enchanted Boy (animation) Заколдованный мальчик goose (voice)1958 Sampo Сампо sorcerer Beloved Beauty (animation) Краса ненаглядная Kashchey (voice) New Adventures of Puss in Boots Новые похождения Кота в сапогах court jester; witch1959 The Magic Weaver Марья-искусница Croak Fate of a Man Судьба человека drunken German soldier (uncredited) 1960 It Was I Who Drew the Little Man (animation) Человечка нарисовал я Gerasim the painter; beggar (voices)1961 The Night Before Christmas Вечера на хуторе близ Диканьки devil; gossip girl Dog Barbos and Unusual Cross Пёс Барбос и необычный кросс fish inspector 1962 Strictly Business Деловые люди Ebenezer Dorset (uncredited) 1963 Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors Королевство кривых зеркал The Grandest Master of Ceremonies; widow queen; carter1964 Jack Frost Морозко Baba Yaga; robber An Ordinary Miracle Обыкновенное чудо executioner1966 Kidnapping, Caucasian Style Кавказская пленница, или Новые приключения Шурика domino player Aladdin's Magic Lamp Волшебная лампа Аладдина the wisest advisor1967 War and Peace Война и мир Morel the captive French soldier Fire, Water, and Brass Pipes Огонь, вода и... медные трубы Kashchey; Baba Yaga; fireman1969 Barbara the Fair with the Silken Hair Варвара-краса, длинная коса Chudo-Yudo Caliph Stork Калиф-аист Selim1971 Property of the Republic Достояние республики old railroad worker Goya or the Hard Way to Enlightenment Гойя, или Тяжкий путь познания messenger (uncredited) 1972 The Golden Horns Золотые рога Baba Yaga; grandpa Markel 1975 Finist, the brave Falcon Финист — Ясный сокол Kastryuk 1981 The Sixth Шестой old chess player1983 Crazy Day of Engineer Barkasov Безумный день инженера Баркасова neighbor Mary Poppins, Goodbye Мэри Поппинс, до свидания raven; parrot Sir Tomas (voices) 1985 After the Rain, on Thursday После дождичка в четверг Babadur's vizier 1991 Act, Manya! Действуй, Маня! Ivan Akimovich
References
External links
Georgy Millyar