Kalibek Kuanyshpayev (1893-1968) – outstanding Kazakh actor, People's Artist USSR (1959), one of the founders of the professional theatrical art of Kazakhstan.

Born on April 25, 1893, in the village of Sarytau, Karkaraly region. In 1916, he was mobilized for the construction of defensive structures in Belarus, then worked at a tannery in Omsk and as a distiller livestock. Supported the October Revolution, for some time he headed the village council.

Stage activity began in the 1920s years, when he performed as a folk comedian at the Koyanda fair. In 1925 in Kzyl-Orda he participated in the creation of the first professional Kazakh theater (now the Kazakh State Academic Drama Theater named after M. O.

Auezova). In 1928 moved to Alma-Ata, where he worked until 1964 , having played more than 150 roles.

Since 1937, he acted in films, wrote plays, satirical stories and poems for radio and stage. Published the collections "Tuyreuish" ("Hairpin") and "Shansharlar" (“Wits”) In collaboration with Shakhmet Khusainov, he created the plays “Shansharlar” and “Ak Zhaulyk — kok Zhaulyk.”

In 1943, he joined the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, and from 1946 to 1958, he was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In 1959, he received title of People's Artist of the USSR.

Died on June 7th, 1968. Buried in Alma-Ata at the Central Cemetery. The Kazakh State Academic Music and Drama Theater in Astana is named in his honor.