Erast Garin (real surname — Gerasimov) was born in 1902 in Ryazan. He studied at a gymnasium, and in 1919 he volunteered for the Red Army while also performing at the Ryazan Garrison Theatre. In 1921, he entered Vsevolod Meyerhold’s studio, a partnership that became a significant part of his theatrical career. In the 1920s, Garin became one of the prominent actors of the Meyerhold Theatre. He performed in productions such as “Give Us Europe!”, “The Mandate”, “The Government Inspector”, and “Woe from Wit”. His role as Gulyachkin in “The Mandate” brought him wide recognition. He made his film debut in 1934 in “Lieutenant Kijé”. Over the years, he worked as both an actor and a director at the Leningrad Comedy Theatre and the Moscow Theatre-Studio of Film Actors. He gained particular popularity for his portrayals of kings in film adaptations of plays by Yevgeny Schwartz — “Cinderella”, “Cain XVIII”, and “An Ordinary Miracle”. Among his other well-known works are roles in “Musical Story”, “Gentlemen of Fortune”, and “The Twelve Chairs”. Garin also did extensive voice work for animated films. In 1966, after a car accident, he nearly lost his eyesight but continued to work. In 1977, he was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the USSR. The Bakhrushin Theatre Museum collection holds his photographs, memoirs, and other materials related to Erast Garin’s acting and directing career.