Vladimir Zeldin, The World's Oldest Stage Actor, Celebrates His 100th Birthday at Special Performance

According to The Moscow Times, Vladimir Zeldin, the world's oldest stage actor at 100 years old, celebrated his centenary Tuesday at the Russian Army Theater with a special gala performance.

Born in 1915, Zeldin became known after starring in Ivan Pyryev's romantic 1941 musical "They Met in Moscow." He is also famous for starring in stage productions of UNCLE VANYA and AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. In 1946, Zeldin joined the Red Army Theater where he played Aldemaro in Lope de Vega's THE DANCE MASTER. Recently at the age of 90, Zeldin played the role of Don Quixote in the musical MAN OF LA MANCHA.

His performance, 100 OR DANCING WITH TIME, was attended by Chief of the Presidential Staff Sergei Ivanov and the local theater elite. Even the president sent his regards.

"I am genuinely glad that on such a memorable date you will be in such wonderful creative form on the stage of the legendary Theater of the Russian Army," said President Vladimir Putin in an official message posted on the Kremlin website.

Zeldin was on stage for two and a half hours telling fans stories of his celebrated life, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

At 100 Zeldin shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to perform regularly and was one of the torchbearers for the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

"When I see kind eyes, when I hear the applause, when they come to the stage or to me backstage after the show and queue up so that I can autograph my book 'My profession is Don Quixote.' I cannot turn them down," Zeldin said.

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Photo Credit: Dmitry Lovetsky / AP