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Ivan Dmitrevsky

1734 – 1821

Russian actor

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About Ivan Dmitrevsky

Lived 1734 – 1821 (aged 87). Ivan Dmitrevsky was a Russian linguist and actor.

Ivan Afanasyevich Dmitrevsky (February 28, 1734 in Yaroslavl – October 27, 1821 in Saint Petersburg) is generally regarded as the most influential actor of Russian Neoclassicism and "Russia's first great tragedian".

Together with his friend Fyodor Volkov he inaugurated the first Russian theatre in his native Yaroslavl (1750), later moving with the rest of the troupe to St Petersburg (1756). His tragic parts in Alexander Sumarokov's plays were admired by Catherine the Great and her friend Ekaterina Dashkova. Later, he delivered lectures on theatre in the Russian Academy, of which he was a member. In his writings and plays, Dmitrevsky emphasized reason over emotions, propagating "the loud, artificial declamatory acting style" of French Neoclassicism.

Stage actress and singer Agrafena Musina-Pushkina (1740–1782/86) studied with him, and later became his wife.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Employers
Alexandrinsky Theatre
Also known as
Ivan Afanasyevich Dmitrevsky

People in Ivan Dmitrevsky's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ivan Dmitrevsky's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ivan Dmitrevsky?

Russian actor

When was Ivan Dmitrevsky born?

Ivan Dmitrevsky was born on 28 February 1734 in Yaroslavl.

When did Ivan Dmitrevsky die?

Ivan Dmitrevsky died on 27 October 1821 in Saint Petersburg.

What was Ivan Dmitrevsky's occupation?

Ivan Dmitrevsky was a linguist and actor.

What nationality was Ivan Dmitrevsky?

Ivan Dmitrevsky was Russian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ivan Dmitrevsky

· Wikidata: Q4162694

· DBpedia: Ivan Dmitrevsky

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ivan Dmitrevsky. https://biography.guide/ivan-dmitrevsky/

MLA: "Ivan Dmitrevsky." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ivan-dmitrevsky/.

Chicago: "Ivan Dmitrevsky." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ivan-dmitrevsky/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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