Throughout all his life Georgi Vitsin impersonated cowardly milksops, the characters which he surely was not in reality. What he really was it is one of the most brilliant and unique comedy actors of Russia.
Georgi Mikhailovich Vitsin was born in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), or according to unofficial data, in Zelenogorsk (formerly town Terijoki of Finland) on 23 April 1917, just in between the two revolutions. In a children’s play he so emotionally and passionately was performing the dance of shaman that teachers advised him to go in for ballet in a serious way. Yet after finishing school Vitsin decided to go in for theatre “in a serious way” and entered Maly Theatre School. Soon, however, he was expelled reportedly “for careless attitude to classes”. Next autumn Vitsin decided to try his wings again and passed exams in three theatre studios at once. He chose to study in Theatre School of Vakhtangov Studio, MXAT-2 and was trained there from 1934 to 1935.

For the first time he appeared on screen as a railroader in Sergei Yutkevich’ film Zdravstvuy, Moskva! (Hello Moscow!) (1945).
Georgi Vitsin started with films of various genres and gained fame as boxer Vasya in the film Zapasnoy igrok (The Reserve) (1954). Before playing in the film Vitsin had to work out for a whole month. Finally, when rehearsing a boxing combat he let himself go and attacked his partner in a real way. Pavel Kadochnikov, being a professional boxer reacted automatically; as a result Vitsin came to himself with a fracture in his rib, and yet the actor went on acting, his chest tightened with a towel.

The Reserve (1954)
In this film there was a hard trick scene on water skis. A stuntman was supposed to perform it, but the film director decided to embolden Vitsin to do it himself. Together with the scriptwriter they fabricated a letter as if from a certain “admirer Klava” informing that she would be watching him, the bravest actor, flying on water skis. In the end the letter was giving a hint at a possibility of close personal acquaintance. Vitsin read the letter and agreed to perform the stunt; he played the scene in a brilliant way but after it he said to the happy film director: “You could have invented a more interesting name for the girl”.

Operation Y (1965)
But there came about the second period of Vitsin’s acting – the epoch of Troos (translated as Coward). His frail and slender figure appeared side by side with Byvaly (Experienced) played by Morgunov and Balbes (Booby) played by Nikulin, the satirical trio ridiculing vices of society. Each of these characters was a personification and generalization.
Vitsin’s Coward in the comedies Pyos Barbos i neobychainy kross (Dog Barbos and the Unusual Race) (1961), Samogonshchiki (Bootleggers) (1961), Operatsiya Y i drugiye priklyucheniya Shurika (Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures) (1965),

Kidnapping Caucassian Style (1966)
Unexpectedly the actor appeared in the tragicomic role of a desperate criminal in the brilliant comedy Dzhentlmeny udachi (Gentlemen of Fortune) (1971). The sinister man with a barking voice and sentimental memories who attempts to hang himself – in this image Vitsin managed not only to tackle modern issues but also to find new colours for developing his “mask line”.
Unfortunately he was not offered many roles with “explosive” background, like that of the father from the popular comedy Ne mozhet byt! (Impossible!) (1975). The master of eccentricity, grotesque, and sidesplitting transformation, Vitsin was used purely as a comic actor, though in this aspect he was also underestimated. Though this habitual mask hampered Vitsin’s creative quest, viewers remember numerous works of the talented comedy actor who created portraits of his indecisive characters with subtle irony and grotesque.

Balzaminov's Marriage (1965)
Georgi Vitsin was a master of transformation. At the age of 48 he played the twenty-year old Misha Balzaminov, at 37 - the eighteen-year old Vasya Veshushkin in Zapasnoy igrok (The Reserve) (1954) and when he was only 36 he portrayed the old man Musij in Maksim Perepelitsa (1955).

For the Matches (1980)
Georgi Vitsin played his last roles in 1994 in several films.
Apart from cinema, Georgi Vitsin was very much into dubbing animated cartoon films. Considering this aspect of creativity no less serious and important he approached his animated characters with Stanislavsky system.

In spite of the plenty of his characters Vitsin’s talent deserved something greater and he never played the major role of his life. “Vitsin is awfully gifted and both of us together are not worth his finger”, his partners Nikulin and Morgunov said about him.

On 22 October 2001 the People’s Artist of the Soviet Union passed away. Georgy Vitsin was laid to rest at Vagankovskoe Cemetery, Moscow.
In one of his last interviews Georgi Vitsin said: “Do not fuss, people. Life takes so much time!”
A monument to Georgi Vitsin was set up in Zelenogorsk in 2008 marking the town’s 460th jubilee and the 90th anniversary since the actor’s birthday.
Sources:
rusactors.ru
aif.ru
Russian Wiki