One of the most famous actors in Russia, Eugene Lazarev was the first actor to play Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" in a Russian stage adaptation.

He formerly taught at the Stanislavsky Summer School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has been a Professor at Moscow Art Theater Studio School and at the Theater Academy of Russia. He was awarded the title of National Artist of Russia.

From 1986-90 he was Professor of Acting for Andrey Zvyagintsev, the Russian film director who was awarded the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival for his movie "The Return" (2003). Since January of 2008, he has been Professor of Acting at The School of Cinematic Arts in USC.