Nurmukhan Zhanturin


Nurmukhan Seitakhmetovich Zhanturin was a Soviet and Kazakh stage and film actor and director, People's Artist of the Kazakh SSR.

Biography

Nurmukhan Zhanturin was born in the settlement of Kondaurovo, Guriev Region on April 22, 1928. At the age of 14 he started working as an operator's assistant in a Guriev oil prospecting group, and later attended motion picture operator courses in Alma-Ata. He graduated from Alma-Ata Movie School in 1950 and the Acting Dept. of the Ostrovsky Institute of Performing Arts in 1952 and soon joined Auezov Theater. His first screen roles go back to 1948, while 1967 saw Zhanturin officially employed at Kazakhfilm Studios. He returned to the theater in 1988 and continued to work there until his death in 1990.
Zhanturin's best-known roles include Chokan Valikhanov, Kodar, Kebek and Syrym, Arman, Kaben, Sanzhan, Doctor, Sintaro, Molière, as well as Iago and Macbeth in Shakespeare's Othello and Macbeth.
Mark Donskoy spotted Zhanturin's talent when scouting the Central Asia for actors for his movie Alitet Leaves for the Hills. Nurmukhan played the role of a young man named Tumatuge. This first screen role paved his way to popularity. Nurmukhan's other well-known roles included Kerim, Dzhoomart, Alzhanov, Abakir, Tagay, Tanabay, Ablaykhanov, Kurmangazy. He first appeared as Shoqan Walikhanov in the 1957 movie His Time Will Come. Zhanturin's eponymous role in Sultan Baybars brought him a prize for Special Achievements in Acting at Sozvezdie-90 USSR national festival. He performed a total of more than 50 roles on screen.

Stage career

Auezov Theater :
Director:
  • 1961 — Marriage.

Family

Margarita Zhanturina – spouse;
2 daughters: Zhanna Zhanturina is a well-known art historian in Kazakhstan, and Bakhyt Zhanturina, Doctor of Philology.

Awards and honours

Legacy

  • Atyrau Regional Philharmonic Hall named after Nurmukhan Zhanturin ;
  • Regional Theater of Music and Drama named after Nurmukhan Zhanturin ;
  • Nurmukhan Zhanturin monument in Aktau ;
  • Sculptures to Asanali Ashimov, Khadisha Bokeeva, Sabira Maikanova and Nurmukhan Zhanturin were installed in front of Makhambet Academic Theater of Drama in Atyrau. The group is called 'Creative Discussion'.