Prominent theatre and film actor Leonid Leonidovych Marchenko, a Merited Artist of Ukraine, has died at the age of 88 in Kyiv.
The Kyiv Academic Theatre of Young Spectators on Lypky, where Marchenko spent more than six decades of his professional life, announced his passing on Tuesday.
A public farewell ceremony for the actor will take place on September 2 at the Theatre of Young Spectators on Lypky, located at 15/17 Lypska Street in Kyiv. The theatre confirmed that the exact time of the ceremony will be announced later.
In a statement posted on social media, representatives of the theatre expressed sincere condolences to Marchenko's family, friends and colleagues, describing him as an integral part of the institution's history, voice and stage.
A career on the Kyiv stage
Marchenko joined the Kyiv Theatre of Young Spectators on Lypky in 1963 and remained an active actor with the company for more than six decades. During his tenure, he created approximately 50 distinct stage roles across a wide range of theatrical productions.
Among his notable stage performances were roles in productions of Denis Fonvizin's satirical play The Ignoramus, The Tale of Tsar Goroh, an adaptation of Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking, and Anton Chekhov's classic drama The Cherry Orchard.
The Kyiv Academic Theatre of Young Spectators on Lypky, located in the historic Lypky neighborhood of the Ukrainian capital, is one of the country's oldest theatrical venues dedicated to performances for children and young audiences.
Screen roles and official honours
Born in Kyiv on January 16, 1938, Marchenko completed his professional acting training at the Ivan Franko Kyiv Ukrainian Drama Theatre and the Ivan Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv State Institute of Theatre Art. He began his professional career working as an actor for the Kyiv Television Studio before moving into repertory theatre.
Alongside his stage work, Marchenko maintained an extensive career in Ukrainian cinema and television. His filmography includes appearances in Sea Gull, Forest Song, Street of Thirteen Poplars, The Old Fortress, Yurka's Dawns, At-the-Double, Soldiers Went, and Garden of Gethsemane.
He also featured in the acclaimed 1973 film Only "Old Men" Are Going to Battle, a celebrated Soviet war drama directed by Leonid Bykov that remains one of the most famous cinematic works produced in Ukraine.
In his later career, Marchenko appeared in popular television series, including roles in Heavenly Relatives, The Milkmaid from Khatsapetivka 3, and the crime drama series The Sniffer.
Marchenko received state recognition for his contributions to Ukrainian culture. He was named a Merited Artist of Ukraine in 1992, an official title granted by the government for exceptional achievement in the performing arts. In 2009, he was awarded the Order For Merit, III class, and he was a member of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine.
