The Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, is deeply saddened to announce the death on 28 January 2021 of Vasilii Semenovich Lanovoy, an acclaimed actor and social activist, People’s Artist of the USSR, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of “Immortal Regiment,” a public non-profit patriotic organization. He was 88 years old.

The Imperial House of Russia deeply respected Vasilii Semenovich Lanovoy’s artistic talents, his mastery of the art of narration, and his educational and patriotic activities. For his part, despite being a man of leftist leanings, Vasilii Lanovoy nonetheless regarded the Imperial House with sincere respect and affection.

In recognition of his services to Russia and Russian culture, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia awarded him in 2015 an Imperial Rescript of gratitude and the Imperial Medal “In Commemoration of the 400^th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff.” The medal and Rescript were presented to him at an annual ceremony at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Music Conservatory on 24 December 2015. It was on that occasion that Vasilii Semenovich offered a deeply moving reading of a poem by Alexander Pushkin—“The Prophet”—a work he had recited several times before in the presence and at the request of Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow and All Russia.

Grand Duchess Maria of Russia and her son and heir, the Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia, extend their deepest condolences to Vasilii Semenovich’s widow, People’s Artist of the RSFSR Irina Petrovna Kupchenko, as well as to all his relatives, friends, colleagues, and students.

May the Lord grant eternal rest to His newly-reposed servant Vasilii in His Heavenly Kingdom.

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