Soviet film and theatre actor. In 1937 his father, Julian Chekan, was arrested on accusations of anti-Soviet activity under dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. At age 15, he was locked up in a Soviet labor camp for juveniles. There he revealed his acting talent and participated in amateur drama productions for prisoners. After liberation, from 1938 to 1941, he studied acting under Yuri Zavadsky at Rostov Theatrical School. There his classmate was Sergey Bondarchuk; the two actors became lifelong friends and eventually worked together in several films. In 1941, Chekan was recruited in the Red Army, and served in the infantry during the Second World War. He was wounded in battle, and was decorated for his courage on the battlefield. After an honorable discharge, he was assigned as actor to the front-line Theatre of the Red Army. There he gave numerous performances entertaining troops at the front lines during WWII. He shot to fame in the Soviet Union with his portrayal of the legendary wrestler Ivan Poddubny in The Wrestler and the Clown (1958). Over the course of his career, Chekan played over 50 roles in Russian film and television productions.
Soviet film and theatre actor. In 1937 his father, Julian Chekan, was arrested on accusations of anti-Soviet activity under dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. At age 15, he was locked up in a Soviet labor camp for juveniles. There he revealed his acting talent and participated in amateur drama productions for prisoners. After liberation, from 1938 to 1941, he studied acting under Yuri Zavadsky at Rostov Theatrical School. There his classmate was Sergey Bondarchuk; the two actors became lifelong friends and eventually worked together in several films. In 1941, Chekan was recruited in the Red Army, and served in the infantry during the Second World War. He was wounded in battle, and was decorated for his courage on the battlefield. After an honorable discharge, he was assigned as actor to the front-line Theatre of the Red Army. There he gave numerous performances entertaining troops at the front lines during WWII. He shot to fame in the Soviet Union with his portrayal of the legendary wrestler Ivan Poddubny in The Wrestler and the Clown (1958). Over the course of his career, Chekan played over 50 roles in Russian film and television productions.
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