Alexander Grave was born on September 8, 1920 in Moscow. In 1942, having graduated from the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute (A.Orochko’s course), he joined the Eugene Vakhtangov Theatre Company and was enlisted in the frontline team of the theater. He went through the entire war, crossed the Dnieper, celebrated the victory in Berlin and was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War.

He served for 70 years at his native Vakhtangov Theatre and played more than 150 roles on its stage, among them: “Front” by A. Korneichuk (Orlik), “Cyrano de Bergerac” by E. Rostand (Christian), “Young Guard” by A.Fadeeva (Zemnukhov ), “Before Sunset” by G. Hauptmann (Ganefeld), “Hamlet” by W. Shakespeare (Rosencrantz), “Ladies and Hussars” A. Fredro (Grzegorz, captain), “Dion” by L. Zorin (Ben Zacharias), “The Living Corpse” by L. Tolstoy (Investigator), “Princess Turandot” by C. Gozzi (Tartaglia), “Cinderella” by E. Schwartz (King), “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” by J.B. Moliere (Master of Philosophy), “Antony and Cleopatra” by W. Shakespeare (Efron), “Puss in Boots” by G. Kalaw (King), “Little Tragedies” by A.Pushkin (Leporello), “Richard III” by W. Shakespeare (Edward IV), «Goblin» by A.Chekhov (Wafer), “The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years,” based on the novel by Ch. Aitmatov (Kazangap), “Father the Tsar” F. Gorenstein (Vyazemsky), “The Cylinder” E. De Filippo (Agostino), “The Miracle of St. Anthony ” by M. Maeterlinck (Doctor), “Caligula” by A. Camus (Senekt), “Dog-in-the-manger”(Count Ludovico).

Until the very last day, Alexander Grave continued playing his parts on the stage of the Vakhtangov Theatre, in the performances “Frederick of the Crime Boulevard” E. Schmitt (Antoine), “The Royal Hunt” Zorin(Ferapont Fomich), “The Seagull” by A. Chekhov (Sorin), “Troilus and Cressida” by W. Shakespeare (Nestor).

Being so truly devoted to the Vakhtangov stage, he appeared pretty seldom on the TV screen. However, radio, television and cartoon animation were a part of his life as well.

Alexander Grave was a Professor(from 1998) and one of the leading masters of the Boris Shchukin Theatre School. As an artistic director he has released two courses: in 1992 – the Permian Komi national studio and an acting course in the year 2000.

Colleagues, students and audience were falling in love with Alexander for his professional skills, his sensitivity, his keen intelligence, a soft irony and subtle humor.

Alexander Grave was one of the main guardians of the true Vakhtangov Theater culture.