Asanali Ashimov is a Soviet, Kazakh actor, theater and film director, screenwriter, teacher, Hero of Labor of Kazakhstan, Laureate of the USSR State Prize, and People’s Artist of the USSR.

He was born on May 8, 1937 in the Zhayilma village of the Zhambyl region. After school, the young man planned to enter an agricultural institute, however, his fate changed radically due to a chance of meeting with Askar Tokpanov. A famous film director persuaded the young Asanali to apply to the theater by all means.

In 1961, he graduated from the theatrical faculty of the current Zhurgenov Academy of Arts in Almaty. Since 1963, Ashimov began his duties as a director and actor of the Auezov Kazakh Drama Theater in Almaty, where many performances were staged with his wet thumb.

The bright milestones of his work were the images he created in the performances of various kinds. These are Kerim in the “Abai” tragedy by M. Auezov, Kebek in the “Yenlik-Kebek” tragedy, Aishuak in the “Kara kypshak Kobylandy”, Zharasbai in the “Morning Echo”; Kodar in “Kozy Korpesh – Bayan sulu” by G. Musrepov; Joseph Tataevich in “Ascent to Fujiyama” by K. Mukhamedzhanov and Ch. Aitmatov; Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, Don Juan in M. Frisch’s “Don Juan or the Love of Geometry”, Yelaman in the “Blood and Sweat” drama by A.Nurpeissov, the main character in Vovnyanko’s stage play “Apat” (disaster), etc. A role of Dr. Clausen in the “Before the sun goes down” drama by G. Hauptmann is significant as well.

At the same time, Asanali’s recognition was brought by his memorable images in the cinema. It is worth noting that Ashimov played his first major role in 1969 in an outstanding film drama based on the eponymous poem “Kyz-Zhibek”.

Asanali Ashimov, Meruyert Utekesheva and Kuman Tastanbekov in the “Kyz-Zhibek” film

True fame and popularity came to the actor after the main role in “The End of the Ataman” (Chieftainfilm) film by the famous director Shaken Aimanov. In this film, based on the real events, Asanali played the Soviet intelligence officer Shadiyarov. For the masterfully embodied image, the actor received the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR in 1972 and gained truly all-union glory.

The master of scenic art embodied on the screen such vivid images as Kaymen in the “Wings of Song”, Karazhal in “The Messengers Hurry”, the Director in “The Taste of Bread”, old man Omirbai in the “Uncle, I will kill you”, Mr. Ka in the “Who Are You, Mr. Ka?”, as well as Genghis Khan in “The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars” by B. Mansurov. Moreover, the outstanding actor starred in over 30 films.

Asanali Ashimov in the film “In One District” 

Along with acting, he worked in film directing: performances staged at the stage of the M. Auezov Theater: “Amangeldy” by G. Musrepov, “Is there a poison that I did not drink...” by I. Orazbayev, “Akbilek” by Zh.Aimauytov, “The Inspector General” by N. V. Gogol, “Farhad – Shirin” by N. Hikmet, as well as performances staged at the stage of other theaters of the country and films shot at the Kazakhfilm studio: “The Year of the Dragon” (1981), “Shokan Ualikhanov” (1985), “Wormwood” (1986), “Kozy Korpesh – Bayan Sulu” (1992) and “House at the Salty lakes”.

Since 1990, Asanali Ashimov has been the president of the “Elim-ai” film studio. An actor has a huge number of titles, awards and honorary regalia on his account. He is one of the organizers of the “Stars of Shaken” international film festival, as well as a member of the jury of many foreign international film festivals.

Asanali Ashimov is the author of the books “The Song of Maira” (1995), “With love, Your Asanali Ashimov” (2008).

A huge contribution that the outstanding actor made to the national art was appreciated worthily. For the role of Shadiyarov in “The End of the Ataman” (Chieftainfilm) film, he received the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR (1973), and for the character sketch of Yelaman in the stage play “Blood and Sweat” (A. Nurpeissov, directed by A. Mambetov) he got the State Prize of the USSR (1974).

For his significant contribution to the development of cinematography, he was awarded the Tarlan Independent Prize (2000), holder of the “Otan” Order (2001), holder of the “Kurmet” Order (2007), “Parasat” (2007), holder of the “Honored Art Worker” (2012) medal from the Kazakh Ministry of Culture, and awarded the Dostyk Order (2014) as well. He lives in Almaty city.