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Zinoviy Gerdt was born on 21 September 1916 in Sebezh, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Pskov Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor and writer, known for Anemos stin poli (1996), The Golden Calf (1968) and Bindyuzhnik i korol (1989). He died on 19 November 1996 in Moscow, Russia.

Fridrikh Ermler was born on 13 May 1898 in Rechitsa, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Rezekne, Latvia]. He was a director and writer, known for The Great Force (1951), Great Citizen (1938) and The Turning Point (1945). He died on 12 July 1967 in Leningrad, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia].

Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who has been the first and only president of Belarus since the establishment of the office on 20 July 1994, making him the longest-sitting European president. Before his political career, Lukashenko worked as director of a state farm (sovkhoz), and served in the Soviet Border Troops and in the Soviet Army.

Tadeusz Dolega-Mostowicz was born on 10 August 1898 in Okunevo, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Hlybokaye Raion, Vitebsk Oblast, Belarus]. He was a writer and actor, known for District Attorney (1933), Forgotten Love (2023) and Bialy Murzyn (1939). He died on 20 September 1939 in Kuty, Stanislawowskie, Poland [now Kuty, Ukraine].

Marc Chagall was a Russian-Jewish artist and writer in Yiddish who moved to France and developed his highly original style by blending elements of traditional Jewish culture with cutting-edge innovations in modern art.

He was born Moishe Segal (Russified: Marc Zakharovich Shagalov) on July 7, 1887, in Liozno, a suburb of Vitebsk, Russia (now in Belarus). He was the first-born of nine children in the traditional close-knit Russian-Jewish family. Chagall's father and mother were cousins. His father, Khatskel Segal, was a herring merchant. His mother, Feiga-Ita, was a housewife. Chagall studied Torah and Talmud in Hebrew with Rabbi Ochre, and then with Rabbi Jatkin for basic education at home. At that time Jews were not admitted to schools in Russia, but Chagall's parents managed to get him admitted by bribing a school principal. Chagall's favorite classes were drawing and geometry.

Young Chagall made his first artwork for the Haggadah for his family on Passover. Then he did a copy of the portrait of composer Anton Rubinstein from the magazine "Niva". His first job was as a photo-retoucher at the photo studio of Meshchaninov in Vitebsk. Chagall briefly studied in the cheder of the Zarechenskaya synagogue, the biggest temple in Vitebsk. There he also sang as a cantor's assistant and studied violin. He later took painting lessons from Yehuda Pen in Vitebsk for two months. In 1907 Chagall went to St. Petersburg. There he studied art under Nikolai Roerich at the Imperial Society of Art Supporters; then under Leon Bakst and Mstislav Doboujinsky at Zviagintseva School of Art.

From 1910-1914 he lived in Paris on a stipend of 125 francs a month from a notable Russian-Jewish lawyer, Maxim Vinaver. Chagall settled in the Montparnasse community of La Ruche. There he associated with Guillaume Apollinaire, M. Jakob, A. Salmon, Robert Delaunay, Fernand Léger and others. During those four years in Paris he witnessed the emerging new styles of Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism and various avant-garde currents being created by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Amedeo Modigliani and Giorgio De Chirico, as well as other leading artists of the time. In May of 1914 Chagall went to Germany. There he became acquainted with the artistic experiments of Wassily Kandinsky. Chagall had his first solo show at the Sturm gallery in Berlin. Then, after the onset of World War I, he went back to Russia.

In May of 1915 Chagall married his first love, Bella Rosenfeld, the daughter of a wealthy jeweler in Vitebsk. She was the inspirational model for his famous series of paintings with passionate flying figures. In 1916 the Chagalls had a daughter, Ida. At that time he created his most vibrant and youthful paintings depicting his wife Bella flying with him in the skies above their hometown of Vitebsk.

Chagall was appointed the Commissar of Arts in Vitebsk Province after the Russian Revolution of 1917. He organized the new Vitebsk Art School and also taught there. He moved to Moscow in 1920. There he took an active part in the stage productions of the newly formed Moscow Jewish Theatre, of which he was the Art Director from 1920-1922. Chagall designed the stage decoration for the production of "Fiddler on the Roof", based on the story by Sholom Aleichem. Chagall's work was marked by surrealistic inventiveness and continued his emergence as a cross-cultural artist.

In 1922 the Chagalls fled the troubled Russia and moved to Berlin, then to Paris in 1923, as did many Russian intellectuals. He published his book of memoirs with illustrations in 1923. Then he made illustrations for "Dead Souls" by Nikolay Gogol, and began illustrating the Bible in 1930. In 1937 Chagall became a naturalized French citizen. In 1941, however, the Chagalls fled the German occupation of Paris and lived in New York until 1947. There Chagall designed decorations for the production of "Firebird" with the music of Igor Stravinsky and choreography by George Balanchine. Chagall also made a stage set for "Aleko" with the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In September of 1944 his beloved wife and inspirational muse Bella died.

Back in Europe, Chagall settled in Provence, France. His creativity was now inspired by his new love, Valentina (Vava) Brodsky, whom he married in 1952. His works during this period are marked with energetic and joyful feelings, expressed by vibrant lines and vivid colors. He expanded his creativity into sculpture, ceramics and stained glass, making stained glass windows for several Catholic and Protestant cathedrals in France, Switzerland and Germany. In 1960 Chagall created remarkable stained glass windows for the Synagogue of the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem. In the 1960s and 1970s he decorated the new Parliament in Jerusalem, the ceiling of the Grand Opera in Paris, the lobby of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and the National Bank Building in Chicago with a series of large-scale mosaic murals that define the language of 20th-century monumental art.

Mark Chagall died at the age of 97, on March 28, 1985, in Saint-Paul de Vence, France, and was laid to rest in Saint-Paul Town Cemetery, Provence, France.

Chagall's art is the pride of museum collections across the world. In 1973, the Musee National Message Biblique Marc Chagall (The Chagall Museum) opened in Nice, France. The Chagall family home on Pokrovskaia street in Vitebsk was turned into a memorial museum in 1992 and decorated with copies of his works in 1997.

Olga Ivanova was born on 4 February 1984 in Vitebsk, BSSR, USSR [now Belarus]. She is an actress, known for Hipsters (2008), Gagarin: First in Space (2013) and Roman v pis'makh (2011).

Gennadi Vengerov was born on August 27, 1959 in Vitebsk (Belarus).

After graduating from the Technical School for Architecture and Construction and a short-term employment as a construction engineer, he started his creative career as an announcer of the Vitebsk Regional Radio. He performed at the People's Theater in Vitebsk. In 1980 he was invited to be an actor at the professional scene to the Yakub Kolas Belarus National Academic Drama Theater.

Following his military service in the Soviet Army in 1983 he entered the School-Studio (Institute of Higher Education) at the Moscow Art Theater for the course by professors Viktor Monyukov and Vladimir Bogomolov. In 1986, on his 4th course year, together with his course mate Mikhail Yefremov - they established «Sovremennik-2» Theater. In 1989 he was invited to the troop of Moscow Academic Mayakovsky Theater.

Gennadi Vengerov continued his career in Germany in 1990 as an announcer of Deutsche Welle Radio and an actor of Dusseldorf Drama Theater. From 1995-2000 he has been an actor of Bochum Drama Theater.

Since 2004 he has been actively filming in Russian cinema and TV projects, participated in theatrical productions in Moscow, as voice over talent he made audio records for documentaries, fictional films and advertisements.

He is the brand voice of the Russian News Broadcasting Station - RSN and the Russian brand voice Euronews international channel. In 2009 he narrated TV-Show "Men's Stories with Gennadi Vengerov" on the Russian REN TV channel-

During his career Gennadi Vengerov starred in more than 140 movies in Russia, USA, England, Austria and Germany. At various times he worked with Jude Law, James Cromwell, Sean Bean, Til Schweiger, Christian Slater, Ving Rhames, Mario Adorf, Colm Meaney, Franka Potente, Jan Josef Liefers, Klaus Löwitsch and other famous actors.

He is widely known and recognized in Russia for the roles of blacksmith Vulkan (The Fighter series) and Major Volkov (Hour of Volkov series) and among German audience for the role businessman Viktor Strelnikov (Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten).

Vasiliy Bykov was born on 19 June 1924 in Bychki, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Vitebsk Oblast, Belarus]. He was a writer, known for Alpiyskaya ballada (1966), Alpiyskaya ballada and Tretya raketa (1963). He was married to Irina Suvorov and Nadia. He died on 23 June 2003 in Minsk, Belarus.

Luba Malina was born on 18 September 1909 in Dvinsk, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Daugavpils, Latvia]. She was an actress, known for Mexican Hayride (1948), The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) and Latin Rhythm (1938). She died on 12 July 1982 in New York, New York, USA.

Aleksandr Stolper was born on 12 August 1907 in Dvinsk, Dvinsk uyezd, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Daugavpils, Latvia]. He was a director and writer, known for Zhivye i myortvye (1964), Povest o nastoyashchem cheloveke (1948) and Far from Moscow (1950). He died on 11 January 1979 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].

S. Ansky was born in 1863 in Chashniki, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Vitebsk Oblast, Belarus]. He was a writer, known for The Dybbuk (1937), The Dybbuk or: Between Two Worlds and The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field (1997). He died on 8 November 1920 in Otwock, Poland.

Carl Don was born on 15 December 1910 in Vitebsk, Russian Empire [now Belarus]. He was an actor, known for Ransom (1996), Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) and Stardust Memories (1980). He died on 6 March 2001 in New York City, New York, USA.

Nikolay Yeryomenko was born on 14 February 1949 in Vitebsk, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Belarus]. He was an actor and director, known for Krasnoe i chernoe (1976), Tsarskaya okhota (1990) and Pirates of the 20th Century (1980). He died on 27 May 2001 in Moscow, Russia.

Immanuel Velikovsky was born on 10 June 1895 in Vitebsk, Russian Empire. He was married to Elisheva Kramer. He died on 17 November 1979 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Vladimir Burmeyster was born on 15 July 1904 in Vitebsk, Russian Empire [now Belarus]. He was a costume designer, known for Ruslan and Ludmila (1972), Uchitel tantsev (1952) and War and Peace (1965). He died on 5 March 1971 in Moscow, Russia.

Vitaliy Shlyappo (born June 18, 1975, in Vitebsk). Graduated from Vitebsk State University. Captain of the BSU KVN team (1999 and 2001 Major League Champion). Executive Producer, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Yellow, Black and White - one of Russia's most prominent Film and TV studios. Executive Producer of SUPER TV channel projects. A member of the Russian Television Academy. Executive Producer and writer of the feature films and TV series, The Kitchen, Hotel Eleon, Grand, Fitness, Smiths vs Smiths, The Last of the Magikyans, Traffic Light, Moms, Forever Young, One for All, Daddy's Daughters, The Kitchen in Paris, The Kitchen. Mortal Combat, SuperFamily, The Last Warrior, Son of a Rich, Hotel Belgrade, and others.

Yuliya Kadushkevich was born on 15 February 1985 in Vitebsk, BSSR, USSR [now Belarus]. She is an actress, known for Tungusskiy meteorit (2010), Golem and Ya pomnyu (2006).

Igor But was born on 1 December 1925 in Drissa, Vitebsk Oblast, Belorussian SSR. He is an actor, known for The Lonely White Sail (1937), Po sledam geroya (1936) and Vesenniy potok (1941).

Ivar Lissner was born on 23 April 1909 in Lievenhof, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Livani, Latvia]. He was a writer, known for Stückgut (1970). He was married to Ruth Niehaus. He died on 4 September 1967 in Chesières sur Ollon at Montreux, Switzerland.

Nathan Zarkhi was born in 1900 in Orsha, Mogilev Governorate, Russian Empire [now Vitebsk Voblast, Belarus]. He was a writer and actor, known for Pobeda zhenshchiny (1927), The End of St. Petersburg (1927) and Osobnyak Golubinykh (1924). He died on 17 July 1935 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].

Zhanna Vitenzon was born on 26 April 1929 in Vitebsk, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Belarus]. She is a writer, known for A Girl and an Elephant (1969), Varezhka (1967) and Swineherd (1980).

Boris Laskin was born on 22 July 1914 in Orsha, Mogilev Governorate, Russian Empire [now Vitebsk Voblast, Belarus]. He was a writer, known for Carnival Night (1956), Rodnye berega (1943) and Devushka s gitaroy (1958). He died on 22 August 1983 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].

Composer, songwriter ("April in Paris", "Autumn in New York", "I Can't Get Started"), author and pianist, educated at the Kiev Conservatory (which he entered at age thirteen) and a music student of Reinhold Gliere and Marian Dombrovsky. He had composed ballets for Diaghilev's Ballet Russe, but he fled Russia after the revolution. He composed the London stage scoes for "Yvonne" and "The Yellow Mask" and, after coming to New York in 1929, the Broadway stage scores for "Walk a Little Faster, "Ziegfeld Follies" (1934, 1936), "Cabin in the Sky", "Banjo Eyes", "Sadie Thompson", "Two's Company", "It Happens on Ice", "The Littlest Revue" (off-Broadway), the stage background score for "Time Remembered", and also "Zenda", in Los Angeles. He wrote songs for Broadway revues, including "Garrick Gaieties" (1930), "Thumbs Up!", and "The Show Is On", and he completed the score for "The Goldwyn Follies" after George Gershwin's death. During World War II, he was a Lieutenant Commander in the US Coast Guard which helped to inspire themes for his work on "Tars and Spars". He founded the Society for Forgotten Music, and served as its president. His autobiography is "Listen Here!". Joining ASCAP in 1934, his chief musical collaborators included E.Y. Harburg, Ira Gershwin, Ogden Nash, Howard Dietz, and John Latouche. His other popular-song compositions include "I Am Only Human After All", "Too Too Divine", "That's Life", "Speaking of Love", "So Nonchalant", "Water Under the Bridge", "I Like the Likes of You", "Suddenly", "What Is There to Say?", "Island in the West Indies", "Words Without Music", "Now", "Taking a Chance on Love", "Do What You Wanna Do", "Love Turned the Light Out", "Honey in the Honeycomb", "Cabin in the Sky", "We're Having a Baby", "Not a Care in the World", "Summer Is A-Comin' In", "The Love I Long For", "The Sea-Gull and the Ea-Gull", "Spring Again", "Roundabout", "Out of the Clear Blue Sky", "Just Like a Man", "That's What Makes Paris Paree", "London in July", "Good Little Girls", "You're Far from Wonderful", and "Madly in Love".

Irina Likso was born on 14 April 1920 in Vitebsk, RSFSR [now Belarus]. She was an actress, known for Man of Music (1952), Krylya (1956) and Gore ot uma (1952). She died on 4 April 2009 in Moscow, Russia.

Arturs Dimiters was born on 27 April 1915 in Vitebsk, Vitebsk uyezd, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Vitebsk Oblast, Belarus]. He was an actor, known for Kapteinis Nulle (1964), Vozvrashchenie s pobedoy (1948) and Pie bagatas kundzes (1969). He was married to Vija Artmane and Dzemma Skulme. He died on 1 November 1986 in Riga, Latvian SSR, USSR [now Latvia].