«His Main Talent Was Humanity» – On the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko (Sr.), theater and film actor, People’s Artist of the BSSR, People’s Artist of the USSR

Published: June 17, 2026

June 17, 2026, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko (Sr.), theater and film actor, People’s Artist of the BSSR, and People’s Artist of the USSR.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko dedicated over thirty years to the Kupala Theater stage. It was here that he created the colorful roles of Zaslonov in the play «Konstantin Zaslonov» based on A. Movzon’s play, Bertman in the play based on Shakespeare’s «The End Crowns the Work», and for his performance in the play «The Wise Man» based on N.Matukovsky’s play, N.N.Eremenko was awarded the State Prize of the BSSR. On the big screen, audiences remembered him as Ivan Subbotin in the film «Eternal Call», Alexei Pavlov in «People and Animals», diplomat Rusanov in «Moscow-Genoa», and Alexander Nikolaevich in «Son for Father».

A promotional video for the exhibition «His Main Talent Was Humanity» was posted on the BGAKFFD YouTube channel to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko Sr.’s birth.

Currently, the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents holds approximately 20 photographic documents from 1960 to 1999, over 30 film documents from 1964 to 2000, and seven sound documents from 1965 to 1980, all related to the work of Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko Sr. The photographic documentation includes portraits of the actor, photographs capturing him during performances on the stage and film shoots, as well as photographs taken during theater conventions, parliamentary meetings, and so on. You can see the actor on screen by watching clips from the newsreels «Savetskaya Belarus» and «Mastatstva Belarusi» and the documentaries «Kupalauzy» (1968), «A Film Half a Century Long» (1974), «Life Calls» (1984), «Festival, Festival» (1985), «Intermission» (1989), «Frigate Melpameny» (1995), and others.

The films «Nyastrachany Chas» (1996) and «Self-Portraits. Nikolai Eremenko» (2000) were dedicated to the work and life of Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko Sr.

In 2001, director V.Dudin made the film «Nikolay Nikolaevich Eremenko Sr. Afterword» in memory of the actor. The film was made with the active participation and support of the actor’s son, Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko Jr.

The archive’s sound library contains recordings of the radio programs «Pages of Creativity» (1965), «Close to the Heart» (1975), «At the Svyatle Rampy» (1977), «Bow to You, Theater» (1980), and «Flagship of Belarusian Art» (1980), all related to the work of N.N.Eremenko Sr.

The creative range of N.N.Eremenko (Sr.) was a very broad actor. He created diverse, unique, and highly versatile stage personas and characters. He excelled both on stage and screen in portraying people who were inherently strong, strong-willed, and spiritually strong, confident in the inevitable triumph of good over evil.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Eremenko (Sr.) passed away on June 30, 2000, at the age of 74, from a third heart attack. He is buried in the Eastern Cemetery in Minsk.

1. Archive №2-1043 N.N.Eremenko, Honored Artist of the BSSR, actor of the Belarusian State Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala in the role of Richard Keats in the play «Island of Aphrodite» by A.Parnis /portrait/
1960, Minsk, Photo Library of the Belarusian Theater, L.Ostrhego

2. Archive №0-035353 Scene from the play based on A.Parnis’s play «Island of Aphrodite» staged by the Belarusian State Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala; Starring: Richard Keats – Honored Artist of the BSSR N.N. Eremenko, Ralph Owens – actor Yu.I.Shumakov, Kate Peterson – Honored Artist of the BSSR Z.I.Brovarskaya
1960, Minsk, BelOKS Photo Library, I.Arotsker

3. Archive No.1-026430 During the filming of the feature film «The First Trials» based on the trilogy «At the Crossroads» by Yakub Kolas; In the foreground, left to right: People’s Artist of the BSSR A.F.Kistov as Father Vladimir, Honored Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko as Todorik, student of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography N.N.Kustinskaya as Yadvisa
/1960-1961/ Minsk, Photo Library of the National Film Studio «Belarusfilm»

4. Archive No.1-004666 Actor of the Belarusian State Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala, Honored Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko reading letters received from viewers
October 30, 1962, Minsk, Photo Library of the Editorial Office of the Newspaper «Litaratura i Mastatstva»

5. Archive №0-045448 Scene from the play «Quicksand» based on the play by Polish playwright P.Khainowski, staged by the Belarusian State Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala; starring: Jadwiga – actress G.A.Orlova, Paremsky – Honored Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko
December 1, 1962, Minsk, BelTA Photo Library, I.Zmitrovich

6. Archive. №1-002355 Scene from the play based on the play by English playwright W.Shakespeare «The End Is the Crown of the Work», staged by the Belarusian State Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala; Starring: The French King – actor R.S.Filippov, Count Bertram of Roussillon – Honored Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko
April 23, 1964, Minsk, BelTA Photo Chronicle, V.Lupeyko

7. Archive No.0-108327 N.N.Eremenko, People’s Artist of the BSSR /portrait/
1970, Minsk, Collector V.Kitas

8. Archive No.1-013763 Scene from the play «Guilty Without Guilt» based on the play by A. Ostrovsky, staged by the Belarusian State Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala; Starring: Otryadina – Honored Artist of the BSSR T.N.Alekseyeva, Tsurov – People’s Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko
1971, Minsk, Photo Library of the Public Association of the Belarusian Union of Theatre Workers

9. Archive No.0-110748 Scene from the television play «People in the Swamp» based on the novel by I.P. Melezh; starring: Glushachikha – People’s Artist of the BSSR V.N.Pollo, Glushak – People’s Artist of the BSSR Z.F.Stomma, Nikanor – People’s Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko
1974, Minsk, Photo Library of the Belarusian Theatre and Culture Center

10. Archive №1-023386 People’s Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko as Sasha Bagration’s grandfather (left) and People’s Artist of the RSFSR V.P.Basov as Katya Shumeiko’s father during the filming of the feature film «Schedule for the Day After Tomorrow»
/1977-1978/, Vilnius, Photo Library of the National Film Studio «Belarusfilm»

11. Archive. №1-006702 Speech by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Board of the Belarusian Theatre Association, People’s Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko at the Opening of the 7th Congress of the Association
1981, Minsk, Photo Library of the Editorial Office of the «Litaratura i Mastatstva» Newspaper, V.Kruk

12. Archive. №E022853 Still from the feature film «The Apostate»; in the role of Doron (left) – People’s Artist of the BSSR N.N.Eremenko
1987, Gosfilmofond of Azerbaijan

13. Archive №0-130297 N.N.Eremenko, actor of the Yanka Kupala Belarusian State Academic Theater, People’s Artist of the USSR /portrait/
1990, Minsk, Photo Library of the Editorial Office of the Zvyazda Newspaper, E.Pesetsky

14. Archive No.0-164224 People’s Artist of the USSR N.N.Eremenko congratulates the scholarship holders of the special fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus for the support of talented youth at a concert in the Youth Variety Theater in Minsk
June 1997, Minsk, BelTA Photo Chronicle, N.Petrov

15. Arch. №0-164100 Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus V.P. Zametalin, People’s Artist of the USSR N.N.Eremenko, Chairman of the «Soviet Belarus» collective farm in Kamenets district, twice Hero of Socialist Labor V.L.Bedulya during a break between sessions of the scientific and practical conference «On improving the legislation of the Republic of Belarus and the role of Parliament in this process» in Minsk
May 28, 1998, Minsk, BelTA Photo Chronicle, G.Semenov

16. Archive. №0-152893 N.N.Eremenko, People’s Artist of the USSR, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on Social Issues /portrait/
2000, Minsk, Photo Library of the Editorial Office of the «Respublika» Newspaper, A.Kushner