Yuri Kuklachev is not only a world—famous artist who created a unique cat theater, but also a man for whom family has become the foundation of life. Behind the scenes of his long—term success is a simple but incredibly deep philosophy: family is the main thing, and its values must be passed down through the generations. As part of the joint project of the Year of the Family and the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives “Family in Culture”, Yuri Kuklachev spoke about his family, love, life lessons and the creative dynasty that continues his work.
Yuri Kuklachev compares a family to a chemical process.
“If you look at two chemical elements, they are fused into a cone, and a completely new element is obtained. So is the family. Two people met, felt the energy, everything came together, everything caught fire,” he said.
The artist emphasized that it is important not only to create this “element”, but also to preserve it.
“The main thing is not to lose the original feeling. It’s a lifetime’s work,” he said.
Every morning at the Kuklachev house begins with a simple but very significant ritual: Yuri greets his wife with the words: “My golden Lenochka!”. This gesture became a symbol of their respect for each other, which permeates their entire lives.
“The most important thing is to respect each other,” said the artist.
At the same time, Yuri admitted that for 55 years he and his wife had often argued.
“We almost fight every day! But Lena always corrects me: “We don’t fight, we argue. A lot depends on a woman. She creates comfort and inspires,” the actor said fondly about his wife’s wisdom.
For Yuri, the story of his grandparents has always been an inspiration and an example of true family happiness. Their amazing union lasted for 60 years — years filled with love, support and respect for each other.
“They got married in their youth, but they weren’t officially married. And one day, already over the age of 80, we took them to the registry office so that they could register their marriage. It was a real miracle to see how two people remain faithful to each other and their love throughout their lives,” Yuri said.
This family example became a landmark for Yuri and a reminder of the main purpose of life.
“Being with a loved one, raising children, passing on values and supporting each other is what true happiness is,” he shared his thoughts.
Yuri is sure that the secret of a happy family life lies in the ability to appreciate every moment together. It is these simple but profound truths that he has absorbed from his family’s experience that help him find inspiration and maintain harmony in his own life.
According to Yuri, an important role in family life is played by conscience— an internal compass that every person has.
“Conscience is a guide that helps us live in harmony with ourselves and the world. It allows us not to go against our pure and radiant nature. This is especially important for married life: when a husband and wife become a family, they are no longer two separate people. The universe perceives them as a single whole. It is incredibly important to observe this unity, to be able to be grateful to each other and maintain harmony,” he said.
The Kuklachev family is not just a harmonious union, it is a real dynasty where love and creativity have become the basis of life. Yuri’s three children not only followed in their parents’ footsteps, but also found their own unique ways in art, enriching the world with original ideas and projects.
“Children are the greatest happiness, they are a gift from nature and the universe,” Yuri Kuklachev shared.
The eldest son, Dmitry, graduated from GITIS, where he studied drama directing. Today, he successfully combines dramatic art with unique performances where cats become the main characters. These productions are distinguished by their special context and depth, turning the performances of furry artists into real theatrical magic.
The middle daughter, Ekaterina, graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. She moved to Japan, where she became the country’s national artist and developed unique performances in which sand painting is combined with cat performances. One of her projects is dedicated to an urgent topic: the fight against excessive use of gadgets.
“She even has a performance against gadgets, which is a very modern theme,” Yuri said proudly.
The youngest son, Vladimir, graduated from the choreographic academy and worked abroad for a long time. But at one point, he realized that his home and family business were more important.
“One day he called me and said, ‘Dad, it’s so hot in here, I want to go home.’ I replied, “Son, come back. We will do a ballet with cats,” Yuri shared his memories.
This is how the unique production “The Nutcracker” appeared, where cats in tutus dance on stage, mesmerizing the audience.
For the Kuklachevs, family and creativity are inseparable. The cat theater has 34 performances in its repertoire. However, the true wealth, according to him, is children and grandchildren.
“Three angels gave us six grandchildren. We sit down at a huge table — what happiness it is!”, — the actor shared.
Yuri Kuklachev proves with his life and work that family is not just the chemistry of love, but also an art that inspires and fills the world with beauty. At the age of 75, he does not feel his age and feels young.
The story of the Kuklachev family once again reminds us that true harmony in a family is created through love, support and the common pursuit of dreams.
The special project of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives “Family in Culture” is a media project dedicated to the Year of the Family and designed to inspire viewers to reflect on their own attitude to family and family values, as well as provide them with examples of positive family relationships and support for each other.
