Shaken Kenzhetaevich Aimanov

Aimanov, Shaken Kenzhetaevich 

Born Feb. 15, 1914. Kazakh actor and director; People’s Artist of the USSR since 1959. Member of the CPSU since 1940.

Aimanov has been a member of the Kazakh Theater of Drama in Alma-Ata since 1933. Vivid social and psychological characteristics are inherent in his art. His best roles include Akhan-sere in Akhan-sere and Aktokty by Musrepov, Isatai in lsatai and Makhambet by Akhinzhanov, Koblandy in Koblandy by Auezov, Vedushchii in Abai by Auezov, Kodar in Kozy Korpesh and Baian Slu by Musrepov, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare, and Tikhon in The Storm by Ostrovskii. He also worked as a director and from 1947 to 1951 was chief director at the Kazakh Theater. Working in films since 1940, both as actor and director, Aimanov played Dzhambul in the film of the same name and directed the 1958 film Our Dear Doctor, among others. He was a deputy of the fourth and seventh convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR. In 1952 he received the State Prize of the USSR for his work in the theater, and in 1968 he received the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR. He has been awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.