Theatre director, actor, and teacher. He studied at the Faculty of Law of Moscow University, which he left in 1917. In 1915, he joined Vakhtangov’s “Mansurov” (Student) Studio, where he began his artistic career as a set designer and later worked as an actor and director. In 1921, he played Anthony in a production of Maurice Maeterlinck’s "The Miracle of Saint Anthony", for which he also served as set designer. Zavadsky gained wide recognition for his role as Prince Calaf in Vakhtangov’s legendary production of "Princess Turandot" (1922). From 1924 to 1936, he performed on the stage of the Moscow Art Theatre (MHAT). However, directing became the central focus of his life. After leading his own theatre studio (from 1924), working at the Central Theatre of the Red Army (1932–1935) and at the Rostov Drama Theatre (1936–1940), Yuri Zavadsky was appointed artistic director of the Mossovet Theatre in 1940. He remained its permanent artistic director until the end of his life. Yuri Alexandrovich was also deeply engaged in teaching at GITIS (the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts). He trained a number of outstanding actors, including V. Maretskaya, N. Mordvinov, O. Abdulov, R. Plyatt, and others. The collection of the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum includes photographs of Yuri Zavadsky — both in life and on stage (including scenes from the famous 1922 production of "Princess Turandot") — as well as posters, theatre programs, costume and set design sketches for his productions.