Actor, Author, Composer. He will be best remembered for participating in the biographical film, "Patton" (1970). He was one of the Russian musicians who played the Balalaika, a Russian stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck, and three strings, along with Herman Mariani, Leon Stewart, Max Gralnick, Philip Smith, Ramez Idriss, Robert Roberti, Sergi Rodionoff, Steve Crlenica, Vasil Crlenica, and William Nadel, and who can be heard on the Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the film. The director Franklin J. Schaffner won Best Director for the film and the actor George C. Scott who played 'General George S. Patton' was awarded the Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film at the 43rd Academy Awards in 1971. In addition, the film also won or was nominated for several other distinguished awards. He also wrote and recorded the symphonic suite, "California Sketches," and the piano and orchestra pieces, "Symphonie Tsigane," and "Los Angeles Concerto." He was born as Nicolai Petrovitch Bulgakov in Belgorod, Russia, on October 18, 1908. He moved to the United States and was educated at the University of California where he received a BS or Bachelor of Science Degree. He then pursued a music career, eventually becoming an author and actor. He made his actual film debut playing the role of the 'Orchestra Leader' in the film comedy, "Cracked Nuts" (1931). The film which was directed by Edward F. Cline, which was written for the screen by Ralph Spence and Al Boasberg, and which also starred Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, and Dorothy Lee, tells the story of a young man who wants to impress his fiancee's aunt, by becoming the king of a small kingdom, but the people there have already crowned one, and who has won this honor by gambling. So he plans a coup d'etat. He tries to achieve this with a bomb, but then something goes wrong. He is also remembered for his roles in classic television westerns including as 'Alexis' in the episode entitled, "The Assassins," of the television series, "Johnny Ringo," which originally aired on February 18, 1960, and as 'Kotrok' in the episode entitled, "The Good Will Tour," of the television series, "The Real McCoys," which originally aired on October 28, 1962. Besides, "Cracked Nuts" (1931), and "Patton" (1970), his many other film credits include, "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962), "Darling Lili" (1970), and "The Devil's Daughter" (1973). Besides, the episode entitled, "The Assassins," of the television series, "Johnny Ringo," which originally aired on February 18, 1960, and as 'Kotrok' in the episode entitled, "The Good Will Tour," of the television series, "The Real McCoys," which originally aired on October 28, 1962, his many other television credits include, "The Man Called X" (1957), and "The Rogues" (1964). His last role was playing 'Bruno Stragor' in the classic blaxploitation horror film, "Blackenstein" (1973), which was directed by William A. Levey, and which also starred John Hart, Ivory Stone, Joe De Sue, and Andrea King. He retired from films shortly thereafter but continued in music. He passed away in Hollywood, California, on February 18, 1983, at the age of 74, and he was buried in the Angeles Abbey Memorial Park in Compton, California. For his dedication to music, he was awarded the Gershwin Hollywood Bowl Memorial Award.