Genadijs Dolganovs - Bio

Genadijs Dolganovs a veteran actor, theatrical director and children's entertainer, has been honing his craft since elementary school which culminated in him graduating in his native Latvia with a Masters in Acting/Directing in 1996.

It was during his youth, while Dolganovs was waiting for a friend who was rehearsing in the elementary school production of Tom Sawyer, when the drama teacher came out of the theatre and immediately cast him as Huckleberry Finn. You could say that acting chose Dolganovs.

As an only child growing up in Riga, Latvia Dolganovs benefited by participating in many school sports including soccer, volleyball, and swimming. As a collegiate, he was required to take fencing as part of his Masters curriculum. Karate and shooting round out his skills set.

An army recruit, Genadijs spent two years in service and learned to master automatic weapons, rifles and handguns. The handling of such machinery bodes well for his roles as special agents and tyrannical, menacing gangsters, and now in his role as copper ALEX in the new CTV/CBS series THE BRIDGE.

Moving to Toronto just ten years ago has seen Genadijs appear onscreen in many television series including SUE THOMAS, F.B. EYE, BLUE MURDER, THIS IS WONDERLAND, and 11th HOUR, before landing a recurring role in JEFF LTD. as Vladimir whose character is a circus owner and clown by day, gangster/mob boss by night. During this time, he also enrolled in the University of Toronto's Drama Program and graduated with a Masters last year.

THE BRIDGE (PILOT) which was shot last summer allowed Dolganovs to turn his 'standard' bad boy character, into a cop with issues. While the role of Alex seems scripted specifically for Dolganovs, it's a role he is inclined to master. As a former Russian KGB agent who fled Moscow he moved up the ranks from a cop with no local connections who kept in touch with previous questionable allies, and became a member of an elite group of individuals who form the Major Crimes Division. Alex can cold-heartedly shoot his victim dead in the blink of an eye because he hates criminals. He also loves honest, kind people.

Immediately picked up by CBS, the series is now nearing completion of the remaining 11 episodes and that has kept him busy all summer.

Prior to THE BRIDGE, he was cast in ZONE OF SEPARATION a mini-series, which aired earlier this year. His character, Officer Kulkin offered him an engaging role as an honest cop whose dedication to his country is undeniable and who is desperate to end the war between Muslims and Christians. He shared scenes opposite Colm Meaney and Enrico Colantoni,

And Dolganovs is not just a one trick pony. Prior to arriving in Canada with his family, he directed nearly 20 theatrical performances including SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES, THE JUNGLE BOOK and THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. Also, his interest in writing poetry has garnered him print recognition in the US.

Continuously working, Genadijs garnered roles in AIR EMERGENCY aka MAYDAY (US), THE BORDER, and MURDOCH MYSTERIES to name a few. His role in Mayday as Captain Kudrinsky affected the Russian aviation community so much so, that they use his episode as a training tool for the Airflot pilots.

Hitting the big screen with the likes of Mark Wahlberg and Beau Bridges in MAX PAYNE gave him a taste of the full feature experience, which he intends to continue to pursue.

To offset his darker roles, Dolganovs operates a childrens' entertainment company that arranges parties and includes clowns, tricks, magic and entertainment wherever his clients take him. It's that aspect of his personality that offers respite from his characters, and is what grounds him and brings him closer to his naturally sunny and charming disposition. Life imitating art.

Dolganovs passion for giving back to his community can be seen by his participation as a board member for the non-profit Council of Russian-Speaking Canadians whose mission is to help new immigrants adapt to their new homeland and to preserve Russian cultural traditions, provides children with summer camp experiences, and his organization also supports WWII Veterans.

Dolganovs is a true renaissance man. His energy and desire to do everything possible to make this a better world is sure to position him well. His role in THE BRIDGE airing internationally, and the Paul Gross, Frank Siracusa Whizbang Films latest new series CRASH & BURN is sure to guarantee his reach will be long.