Rudolf Nureyev - Actor Profile

Rudolf Nureyev

Acting
Updated: Apr 14, 2026
37Total Films
8.0 Highest Rated
Born: Mar 17, 1938
Birth Place: Irkutsk, USSR [now Russia]

About Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (17 March 1938 – 6 January 1993) was a Tatar dancer from the former Soviet Union, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women. He defected to the West, despite KGB efforts to stop him. According to KGB archives studied by Peter Watson, Nikita Khrushchev personally signed an order to have Nureyev killed Description above from the Wikipedia article Rudolf Nureyev, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

Rudolf Nureyev Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Rudolf Nureyev reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 37 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Rudolf Nureyev's work falls within the Documentary genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 14% of Rudolf Nureyev's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Romeo and Juliet, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best Rudolf Nureyev Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Rudolf Nureyev's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Rudolf Nureyev has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2021 Hervé Guibert, la mort propagande Self (archive footage) Flop Similar →
2018 Marius Petipa, le maître français du ballet russe self Flop Similar →
2018 Nureyev Self, Archive Footage Hit Similar →
2018 The Nutcracker - Flop Similar →
2016 Rudolf Nureyev. Island of His Dreams Himself (Archive Footage) Flop Similar →
2012 A Life for Ballet Self Flop Similar →
2005 Rudolf Nureyev alla Scala - Flop Similar →
1998 Nureyev Unzipped Self (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1997 Cinderella Film Producer Flop Similar →
1997 Nureyev: Dancing Through Darkness Self Flop Similar →
1994 The World of Jim Henson Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1991 Rudolf Nureyev Himself Flop Similar →
1989 The Margot Fonteyn Story Rudolf Nureyev Flop Similar →
1985 That's Dancing! - Hit Similar →
1983 Exposed Daniel Jelline Flop Similar →
1982 Marco Spada Marco Spada Flop Similar →
1982 Venezia, carnevale, un amore - Flop Similar →
1981 The Afternoon of a Faun Faun Flop Similar →
1980 Julie Andrews' Invitation to the Dance with Rudolf Nureyev Himself Flop Similar →
1980 Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet: Tribute to Nijinsky Himself/Petrushka/La Spectre de la Rose/Le Faune Flop Similar →
1977 The Royal Variety Performance 1977 - Flop Similar →
1977 Valentino Rudolph Valentino Average Similar →
1976 Petrushka Petrouchka Flop Similar →
1973 Don Quixote Basilio Flop Similar →
1972 I Am a Dancer Himself (James / Dancer / Armand / The Prince) Average Similar →
1972 The Sleeping Beauty Prince Florimund Flop Similar →
1972 The Special London Bridge Special Ballet Dancer Flop Similar →
1971 Singer Presents Burt Bacharach Himself Flop Similar →
N/A Afternoon of a Faun Faun Flop Similar →
1969 Political Portraits Himself Flop Similar →
1968 The Nutcracker Herr Drosselmeyer/The Prince Flop Similar →
1966 Swan Lake Prince Siegfried Super Hit Similar →
1966 Romeo and Juliet Romeo Super Hit Similar →
1965 The Day of the Oath Self Flop Similar →
1963 Swan Lake Prince Siegfried Flop Similar →
1963 An Evening With The Royal Ballet Self Flop Similar →
1958 When the Spirit Soars in Flight - Flop Similar →

Rudolf Nureyev - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Rudolf Nureyev?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Rudolf Nureyev is "Romeo and Juliet" with a rating of 8.0/10.

How many movies has Rudolf Nureyev acted in?

Rudolf Nureyev has been featured in at least 37 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Rudolf Nureyev?

Other notable films include "Swan Lake", "Nureyev", and "The World of Jim Henson".

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