Vasiliy Ivanovich Bochkaryov, People's Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prizes of the Russian Federation, was born on November 22, 1942 in Irkutsk. In 1964 he graduated from Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School (the course of V.I. Korshunov) and joined the Maly Theatre’s company.

For one season (1964-1965), Bochkaryov worked at the Theatre on Malaya Bronnaya street, and then for 15 years - at the Moscow Theatre of Drama named after K. S. Stanislavsky. This is when Bochkaryov started his cooperation with Anatoly Alexandrovitch Vasiliev (artistic director of the Moscow Theatre «School of Dramatic Art»)

In 1979 Vasiliy Ivanovich joined the company of the Maly State Academic Theatre of Russia. By that time Bochkaryov was already an established and mature artist. He landed the lead roles right from his very first season in the theatre. To date, the artist has performed over 35 roles showcasing his immense talent in every production. He is not just an actor but a performer who impresses millions of viewers with his outstanding acting skills, bustling energy and charming self. Vasiliy is a truly unique artist with a rich inner world, powerful intellect, constant spiritual search, who exudes incredible energy, strength, and charisma onstage.

Bochkaryov identifies himself as an actor who likes to improvise'. He is keen to tease out the character's ambiguities and is endowed with a unique energy, which allows him to lead the partners, keeping the audience's attention throughout the performance. At the same time - and this is especially important for Vasiliy Ivanovich - he has «always been inclined toward being part of the ensemble, laying paint in the common cause, in the whole picture.»

One of his major roles was Boris Godunov in Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy’s drama «Tsar Boris», directed by Vladimir Beylis. Vasiliy managed to create a very peculiar image of a man seeking for power, who considers it to be a real burden. He could not part with himself - a living person and a sinner, wrote theatre critic M. Matskyavichene. For this role Bochkaryov has been awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation. In «Truth is Good, but Happiness is Better» by Alexander Ostrovsky Vasiliy Ivanovich played a retired officer Groznov, the role which earned the highest praise from both viewers and leading theater critics. This work brought Bochkaryov the second State Prize of Russia. Vasily Bochkaryov’s duet with Lyudmila Titova («The Last Sacrifice» by Alexander Ostrovsky), many theatre critics branded as the best romantic duet of the season. For portraying Flor Fedulych Pribytkov he received «The Golden Mask» as the «Best Actor».

Vasiliy Bochkaryov is arguably one of today’s greatest actors of the Maly Theatre’s company. He once again demonstrated his immense talent on the eve of his 75th anniversary, when he played another significant role - Alfred Ill in «The Visit of the Old Lady». «In the world created by Friedrich Dürrenmatt only God exists – the Golden Calf, to which my hero is being sacrificed. There’s a deep cathartic meaning in this role. Through the lack of faith, the denial of old sins and terrible fears Ill comes to a bitter understanding that everything has to be paid for. A human being becomes truly human, having experienced catharsis. Ill humbly accepts his fate, and the verdict of the gilded society. »

Vasiliy Bochkaryov worked with some of the renowned Russian theatre directors - Boris Lvov-Anokhin, Andrey Goncharov, Ivan Bobylev, Leonid Varpakhovsky, Anatoly Vasiliev, Boris Morozov, Leonid Kheyfets, Sergey Zhenovach, Adolf Shapiro, Yuri Solomin, Joseph Raihelgauz, and others.

Many of the Vasiliy’s works were distinguished by the professional theatre community:

- VII International Theatre Forum Zolotoy Vityaz («Golden Knight»)
«Best Actor»: Vasiliy Bochkaryov – Pavel Protasov («The Children of the Sun» by M. Gorky)

- International Stanislavsky Theatre Prize
«Best Actor»: Vasiliy Bochkaryov – Pavel Protasov («The Children of the Sun» by M. Gorky)

- «Star of Theatre»
«Best Actor»: Vasiliy Bochkaryov - Foma Opiskin («The Village of Stepanchikovo and Inhabitants» by F. Dostoevsky)

- «Viva, Comedy!» Festival
«Best Actor»: Vasiliy Bochkaryov - Foma Opiskin («The Village of Stepanchikovo and Inhabitants» by F. Dostoevsky)

- Diploma at the XIII International Theatre «Golden Knight» festival
«Best Actor»: Vasiliy Bochkaryov -Potap Potapich Karkunov («The Heart is Not a Stone» by A.Ostrovsky)

In 2003-13 Vasiliy Bochkaryov taught mastery of acting in Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School Russian, course of O.N. Solomina and Y.M. Solomin, where he staged two graduation plays - «Vanyushin's Children» by Sergei Naidenov «The Rainmaker» by N. Richard Nash. He also taught classes at V.I. Korshunov’s course.

In 2007 Vasiliy Ivanovich received an Academic Degree, the title of Associate Professor. In November 2012 Bochkaryov was awarded with a special diploma of the jury of the 32nd International Festival of the Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK) «For the preservation and development of a genuine Russian acting school» for putting on «Our Town» by Thornton Wilder. In 2013 Bochkaryov was an artistic director of the graduate course. Among his students are Valery Dmitriev, Ilya Lovky, Igor Pazych and other talented young actors.

In 1999 Vasiliy started a symbolic collaboration with the Moscow Theatre «School of Modern Drama». Currently, he landed the role in the «Monologues of the Cities», dedicated to 70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Starting from 2013 Bochkaryov has also worked in collaboration with the production center «Panorama». He performed in the play «Merry Men, or First Number» based on Neil Simon's play «The Sunshine Boys », where he brilliantly portrayed the grumpy comedian Willy Clark.

Since 2017 Vasiliy Bochkaryov plays in the famous production of the Sovremennik Theatre, «The Gin Game» by D. L. Coburn.

Vasiliy Bochkaryov has also amassed a formidable and versatile body of work as a television and film actor. He starred in «Scream of the Owl»,«Unexpected Joy», «Galina», «Ivan the Terrible», «House of Exemplary Content»,«Zoya», «Children of the Arbat», «Because I Love You», «Such a Short Long Life», etc.

Bochkaryov is an acknowledged voice actor, who lent his voice to Christopher Lee, John Hurt, Malcolm McDowell, Leslie Nielsen, Steve Martin. Vasiliy Ivanovich also voiced Professor Albus Dumbledore in from the Harry Potter franchise. In addition, he is the «official voice» of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard.