Anatoliy Azo

Anatoli Azo was born in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) on October 31, 1934. His parents were of Estonian heritage. Young Azo was fond of theatre, but his parents insisted that he took a reliable and lucrative profession, such as metal worker. He also was a good sportsman, a boxing champion of Leningrad. However, his artistic aspirations prevailed and he took and acting class at Leningrad Institute for Theatre, Music and Cinema, graduating in 1958 as actor. Azo had a brief stint on stage at Pskov Drama, than at the LENKOM Theatre in Leningrad, before becoming member of Lenfilm Studio in St. Petersburg. His best known film work was as a spy who took identity of a Belgian chef in 'Kak vas teper nazyvat'. Outside of acting profession, Anatoli Azo was an amateur sculptor and collector of naturally grown figurines of wood. His collection was demonstrated at several art shows in Russia. Anatoli Azo died of a brain hemorrhage on November 25, 2007, and was laid to rest in Severnoe cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.