Georgy Millyar


Georgy Frantsevich Millyar, sometimes spelled Milliar, was a Soviet and Russian actor, best known for playing evil spirits in Soviet fairy tale films, including the witch Baba Yaga in films such as Vasilisa the Beautiful, Jack Frost, Fire, Water, and Brass Pipes and The Golden Horns.
Georgy Millyar was born into a wealthy family of Franz de Milieu, a French bridge builder working in Russia, and Elizaveta Zhuravlyova, a daughter of an Irkutsk goldminer. Millyar's father died when he was almost three. Before the outbreak of World War I, he and his widowed mother had moved from Moscow to Gelendzhik. After the October Revolution, Millyar's family was left without relatives and means of living, their apartment in Moscow and a house in Gelendzhik were soon nationalized by the Bolsheviks. Millyar's mother was prudent enough to remove the "de" particle from her and her son's last name to conceal their French origin and then change it to Millyar. Even though Georgy Millyar was able to speak fluent French and German, he never mentioned this fact in any official documents.
After the October Revolution, Georgy Millyar worked as a props man at a Gelendzhik theater. He always dreamed of becoming a professional actor and memorized all the roles played at his theater. In 1920, Millyar made his first incidental appearance on stage when one of the actors fell suddenly ill. His debut was a success, and from then on he was asked to substitute on a regular basis. In 1924, Georgy Millyar, already a well-known provincial actor, entered an Acting School for Juniors at Moscow Theater of the Revolution. Subsequently, he played different roles in numerous stage plays.
Prominent Soviet film director Aleksandr Rou played an important part in Georgy Millyar's acting career. He invited Millyar to star in a film adaptation of a Russian fairy tale, Wish upon a Pike. From that moment on, their cinematographic partnership and friendship lasted for over 30 years. Millyar acted in all Rou's films. Among his roles are Kashei the Deathless, Baba-Yaga, king Goroh, king Chudo-Yudo, a demon etc. Throughout his career, Georgy Millyar played thirty major roles, took part in the dubbing of seventy movies, and voiced over a hundred cartoons.

Selected filmography

YearEnglish TitleOriginal TitleRole
1933MarionettesМарионеткиbold official
1938Wish upon a PikeПо щучьему веленьюTsar Gorokh
1939Vasilisa the BeautifulВасилиса ПрекраснаяBaba Yaga; father; gusli musician
1940SiberiansСибирякиGrandfather Jakov
1940Salavat YulayevСалават Юлаевmine manager
1941The Humpbacked HorseКонёк-ГорбунокChikhir; gusli musician; robber
1943We from the UralsМы с Уралаgrandfather Tomakurov
1944Kashchey the ImmortalКащей БессмертныйKashchey; tiny magician
1947The Humpbacked Horse Конёк-ГорбунокTsar
1950Brave PeopleСмелые людиGerman soldier with harmonica
1952May NightsМайская ночь, или Утопленницаscribe
1954The Frog Princess Царевна-ЛягушкаBaba Yaga
1955The White PoodleБелый пудельIvan the servant
1955The GadflyОводbeggar
1955The Enchanted Boy Заколдованный мальчикgoose
1958SampoСампоsorcerer
1958Beloved Beauty Краса ненагляднаяKashchey
1958New Adventures of Puss in BootsНовые похождения Кота в сапогахcourt jester; witch
1959The Magic WeaverМарья-искусницаCroak
1959Fate of a ManСудьба человекаdrunken German soldier
1960It Was I Who Drew the Little Man Человечка нарисовал яGerasim the painter; beggar
1961The Night Before ChristmasВечера на хуторе близ Диканькиdevil; gossip girl
1961Dog Barbos and Unusual CrossПёс Барбос и необычный кроссfish inspector
1962Strictly BusinessДеловые людиEbenezer Dorset
1963Kingdom of Crooked MirrorsКоролевство кривых зеркалThe Grandest Master of Ceremonies; widow queen; carter
1964Jack FrostМорозкоBaba Yaga; robber
1964An Ordinary MiracleОбыкновенное чудоexecutioner
1966Kidnapping, Caucasian StyleКавказская пленница, или Новые приключения Шурикаdomino player
1966Aladdin's Magic LampВолшебная лампа Аладдинаthe wisest advisor
1967War and PeaceВойна и мирMorel the captive French soldier
1967Fire, Water, and Brass PipesОгонь, вода и... медные трубыKashchey; Baba Yaga; fireman
1969Barbara the Fair with the Silken HairВарвара-краса, длинная косаChudo-Yudo
1969Caliph StorkКалиф-аистSelim
1971Property of the RepublicДостояние республикиold railroad worker
1971Goya or the Hard Way to EnlightenmentГойя, или Тяжкий путь познанияmessenger
1972The Golden HornsЗолотые рогаBaba Yaga; grandpa Markel
1975Finest, the brave FalconФинист — Ясный соколKastryuk
1981The SixthШестойold chess player
1983Crazy Day of Engineer BarkasovБезумный день инженера Баркасоваneighbor
1983Mary Poppins, GoodbyeМэри Поппинс, до свиданияraven; parrot Sir Tomas
1985After the Rain, on ThursdayПосле дождичка в четвергBabadur's vizier
1991Act, Manya!Действуй, Маня!Ivan Akimovich