Alexandr Gelman Playwright Date of Birth: 25.10.1933 Country: Russia

Biography of Alexander Gelman

Alexander Gelman is a Soviet and Russian playwright, screenwriter, publicist, and political figure. He was born on October 25, 1933, in Dondyushany station, Moldavia. Gelman's childhood was marked by tragic events as he and his parents were in a Jewish ghetto from 1941 to 1944. Out of his large family, only he and his father survived.

After the war, Gelman started working at a young age. He completed his vocational education as a knitter in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and then served in the Soviet Army. After his military service, Gelman worked as a milling machine operator at a factory in Kishinev and simultaneously studied at the Kishinev State University. However, he did not finish his studies.

Gelman's career as a playwright and screenwriter began in the 1970s. He co-wrote the screenplays for the films "Night Shift" (1970) and "Ksenia, Beloved Wife of Fyodor" (1974), which received critical acclaim. His screenplay for the film "The Prize" (1975) won him the State Prize of the USSR. Gelman's play "Protocol of a Meeting," based on his screenplay "The Prize," was staged at the famous Bolshoi Dramatic Theater in Leningrad in 1975.

Throughout his career, Gelman's plays were staged in numerous theaters across Russia and translated into more than 30 countries. Some of his well-known plays include "Protocol of a Meeting," "Feedback," "We, the Undersigned," and "The Bench." Gelman also became involved in politics and was elected as a deputy of the USSR from the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR in 1989.

In addition to his work in theater and politics, Gelman was a prolific writer and publicist. He wrote articles and essays for various newspapers and magazines, including "Moskovskiye Novosti." Gelman also participated in the drafting of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in the early 1990s.

In recent years, Gelman has focused on writing and his works have been published in online media outlets. He continues to live and work in Moscow.