Prov Sadovsky (senior) (born Ermilov) was an outstanding Russian stage actor of the Maly Theatre and the founder of the renowned Sadovsky acting dynasty. Born in 1818 in the town of Livny, he was raised after his father's death by his uncles, actors Grigory and Dmitry Sadovsky, whose surname he adopted. He began his stage career at the age of 14 in a Tula theatre troupe, later performing in provincial theaters in Kaluga, Ryazan, Voronezh, and Kazan. In 1839, invited by Mikhail Shchepkin, he made his debut at the Maly Theatre in Moscow, where he served for the rest of his life. In the late 1840s, he became close to Alexander Ostrovsky's circle and became the primary popularizer of his dramaturgy. It was Sadovsky who introduced the Moscow public to the play "It's a Family Affair — We'll Settle It Ourselves". Among his most vivid stage characters were Lyubim Tortsov in "Poverty Is No Vice", Rasplyuev in "Krechinsky's Wedding", the Mayor in "The Inspector General", Dikoy in "The Storm", and Podkhalyuzin in "It's a Family Affair — We'll Settle It Ourselves". The online collection of the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum holds materials related to the life and work of Prov Sadovsky and the unique history of his theatrical dynasty.