13 Facts About Sergey Mikhalkov

Sergey Mikhalkov wrote the lyrics for the Soviet and Russian national anthems.

Sergey Mikhalkov penned words with writer El-Registan to accompany a musical score by the composer Alexander Alexandrov that became known as State Anthem of the Soviet Union.

Sergey Mikhalkov wrote new lyrics in 1970, but they were not submitted to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet until 27 May 1977.

Sergey Mikhalkov's younger brother Mikhail Mikhalkov was a notable writer as well as a KGB agent.

Use of the Soviet anthem, with Sergey Mikhalkov's lyrics, continued until 1991, when it was retired by President Boris Yeltsin after the USSR dissolved.

Apart from the national anthem, Sergey Mikhalkov produced a great number of satirical plays and provided scripts for several Soviet comedies.

Sergey Mikhalkov successfully revived a long derelict genre of satirical fable.

Sergey Mikhalkov was awarded three Stalin Prizes and numerous other awards.

Sergey Mikhalkov was decorated with a Hero of Socialist Labour and the Order of Lenin, among others, for his work during the Soviet period.

Sergey Mikhalkov died in Moscow on 27 August 2009, at the age of 96.

Sergey Mikhalkov's funeral, held at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, was attended by family, friends, and government officials.

Sergey Mikhalkov was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow with full military honors.

In 1936, Sergey Mikhalkov married Natalia Petrovna Konchalovskaya, granddaughter of Vasily Surikov.