Oleg Vidov is a regular guest speaker at our Academy. He is a great example of what our International Course Program is pursuing to achieve with our students, except that Oleg did it all by himself. A once immigrant to the United States, Oleg paved his way into Hollywood by hard work, dedication and his ability to market himself as a true entertainer. Oleg’s career began in 1960 when he decided to inquire into the second biggest theatre arts & film university in Russia called VGIK. That same year he scored his first role in a picture called My friend, Kolka! (Друг мой, Колька!) by A. Saltikov. Oleg’s career kicked off while he still was a student at the VGIK getting lead roles in some of the best cinema created at that time such as А Тale of Czar Saltan (Сказка о царе Салтане), Simply a Miracle (Обыкновенное чудо) , The Lucky Gentlemen (Джентельмены удачи) and many more. In 1971 Oleg was invited to play a lead role as Morris Jerald in the The Headless Horsemen. Oleg’s bright portrayal along with a masterful execution of this role was responsible for his nationwide acclaim and marked his official breakthrough in the early 70’s becoming an idol to millions of Russians. An ever brighter career followed. In 1973 Oleg returns to VGIK but this time applies to the Directing major. Soon after, his move out west begins. He lands several roles in Yogoslavia (Serbia now). In 1988 Oleg gets his first Hollywood role in Red Heat where he plays a Russian cop and gets to work along with Arnold Schwarznegger who also plays a Russian cop and Oleg’s partner. Instantly Oleg’s career in Hollywood kicks off to a great start. Just one year later Oleg gets another lead role in Zalman King’s Wild Orchid and gets to work with Mickey Rourke. Major roles follow with many other American blockbusters such as Love Affair, Prisoner of Time, The Immortals, Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies, Thirteen Days, Monkey Love and others. Today Oleg Vidov is the President at Films by Jove, a distribution and production company for Russian cartoons worldwide. Thanks to Oleg’s efforts, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) now has a group called Real Russians aimed to promote Russians in ‘regular’ roles, where they don’t have to be portrayed as the bad guys or the drunks. Oleg’s sheer experience makes him one of the only or perhaps even the only actor who had such a bright and insightful career both in Moscow and Hollywood, making him an honored regular guest speaker at our Academy with lots to tell.