# Nikolay Binev

Nikolay Binev (Bulgarian: Николай Бинев; 5 July 1934 - 8 December 2003) was a Bulgarian theater and film actor. During most of his career he was the soul and history of the Mladezhki Theater, Sofia and remained devoted to it until the end of his life. In 2006, in his honor, the theater was named after him.

## Biography and career

Binev was born on 5 July 1934 in the town of Sliven, Bulgaria. In 1958 he graduated as an actor in Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts.
In 1959, after several months on the stage with the Ruse Theater, Binev entered the Mladezhki Theater, Sofia where he stayed until the end of his life. "...Binev was an encyclopedist and a man with a unique sense of humor..." said the director Andrey Avramov. He was also known for his delicate and remarkable way of dealing with people. At the stage of the theater Binev created eminent performances in plays as: Socrates by Guilherme Figueiredo, Amadeus by Peter Shaffer, The Dresser by Ronald Harwood, King John by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, When the Roses Dance by Valery Petrov and so on. He was honored twice with ASKEER, Bulgarian award of theater art.
Binev started his film career in the beginning of the 1960s. Most notable are his performances in Amendment to the Defense-of-State Act awarded with Golden Rose at FBFF Varna'76 (Festival for Bulgarian Featured Films) and the TV series Nights with the White Horses with the memorable role as Academician Urumov for which he was awarded from the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers and the city of Sofia. During the last years of his career Binev participated in some foreign productions as East/West (1999) with Catherine Deneuve.
He was decorated with the high government prize the Order of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.
In 2004 the Mladezhki Theater, together with Binev's wife Domna Ganeva, released a CD named Nikolay Binev singing. The edition includes some of his musical performances among which are arias from Verdi's operas and songs from the musical Yesterday by Lyubomir Denev.
Binev died in 2003 at the age of 69.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1961 | Stramnata pateka / The Steep Path | Tihiya | Bulgarian: Стръмната пътека |
| 1966 | Mazhe / Men | | Bulgarian: Мъже |
| 1970 | Sbogom, priyateli! / Farewell, Friends! | the head of the school | Bulgarian: Сбогом, приятели! |
| 1971 | Ne se obrashtay nazad / Don't Turn Back | the medical auxiliary | Bulgarian: Не се обръщай назад |
| 1971 | Nyama nishto po-hubavo ot loshoto vreme / There Is Nothing Better Than Bad Weather | Bauer | Bulgarian: Няма нищо по-хубаво от лошото време |
| 1972 | Avtostop/ Hitchhiking | the writer | Bulgarian: Автостоп |
| 1972 | Sartse choveshko / A Human Heart | the minister | Bulgarian: Сърце човешко |
| 1972 | Obich / Affection | the manager | Bulgarian: Обич |
| 1973 | Kato Pesen / Like a Song | Margarita's father | Bulgarian: Като песен |
| 1973 | Poslednata duma / The Last Word | the investigator | Bulgarian: Последната дума |
| 1973 | Golyamata skuka / The Great Boredom | Todorovr | Bulgarian: Голямата скука |
| 1975 | Otkade se znaem? / Where Have We Met? | | Bulgarian: Откъде се знаем? |
| 1975 | Nezabravimijat den / The Memorable Day | | Bulgarian: Незабравимият ден |
| 1976 | Spomen za Bliznachkata / Memory of the Twin Sister | narrator | Bulgarian: Спомен за близначката |
| 1976 | Dopalnenie kam zakona za zashtita na darzhavata / Amendment to the Defense-of-State Act | the delicate | Bulgarian: Допълнение към закона за защита на държавата |
| 1977 | Zvezdi v Kosite, Salzi v Ochite / Stars in Her Hair, Tears in Her Eyes | Dinko Syarov | Bulgarian: Звезди в косите, сълзи в очите |
| 1977 | Slanchev udar / Sunstroke | Lazarov | Bulgarian: Слънчев удар |
| 1978 | Chuy petela / Hark to the Cock | Old Toshe | Bulgarian: Чуй петела |
| 1978 | Umiray samo v kraen sluchay / Dying in the Worst | Dreyk | TV series Bulgarian: Умирай само в краен случай |
| 1979 | Bumerang / Boomerang | the writer Boris Krastev | Bulgarian: Бумеранг |
| 1979 | Kashtata / The House | Kupenkov | Bulgarian: Къщата |
| 1979 | Sami sred valtzi / Alone Among Wolves | doctor Delius | TV series Bulgarian: Сами сред вълци |
| 1980 | Yumrutsi v Prastta / Fists in the Soil | Kamenov | Bulgarian: Юмруци в пръстта |
| 1982 | Esenno slantse / Autumn Sun | Mr. Teodosiy | Bulgarian: Есенно слънце |
| 1982 | Nay-tezhkiyat gryah / The Worst Sin | the meek | Bulgarian: Най-тежкият грях |
| 1983 | Konstantin filosof / Constantine the Philosopher | | Bulgarian: Константин философ |
| 1983 | Tretoto litze / Third Side of the Coin | Professor Pangarov | Bulgarian: Третото лице |
| 1983 | Meko kazano / Speaking Mildly | | Bulgarian: Меко казано |
| 1984 | Poetat i dyavolat / The Poet and the Devil | the professor | Bulgarian: Поетът и дяволът |
| 1985 | Denyat ne si lichi po zaranta / Day Is Not Obvious from the Morning | Tomas | TV series Bulgarian: Денят не си личи по заранта |
| 1985 | Noshtem s belite kone / Nights with the White Horses | Academician Urumov | TV series Bulgarian: Нощем с белите коне |
| 1987 | Dvoyna primka / Double Noose | | TV mini-series Bulgarian: Двойна примка |
| 1990 | Nemirnata ptitza lyubov / Love Is a Willful Bird | the actor | Bulgarian: Немирната птица любов |
| 1992 | Vampiri, talasami / Vampires, Spooks | Shani | Bulgarian: Вампири, таласъми |
| 1993 | Fatalna nezhnost / Fatal Tenderness | Boris Liteyski | Bulgarian: Фатална нежност |
| 1993 | Zhrebiyat / The Lot | Farhi | Bulgarian: Жребият |
| 1994 | Lyubovni sanishta / Love Dreams | | Bulgarian: Любовни сънища |
| 1997 | Sulamit | | Bulgarian: Суламит |
| 1998 | Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights | Pop-Pop | |
| 1999 | Bridge of Dragons | The Doctor | USA production |
| 1999 | Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite | Judge (as Nikolay Binev) | |
| 1999 | East/West | Sergei Kozlov | Bulgarian: Изток - Запад Russian: Восток-Запад French: Est-Ouest |
| 2002 | Derailed (2002 film) | Vincent Gruber | |
| 2002 | Pansion za kucheta / Dogs' Home | Filip | Bulgarian: Пансион за кучета |
| 2003 | Alien Hunter | Dr. Alexi Gierach | |