Veniamin Smekhov is one of the figures in Russian culture who helps preserve the connections between different eras. He was acquainted with Mayakovsky's muse Lilya Brik, met Dmitri Shostakovich, was friends with Petr Fomenko, was one of the creators of Taganka Theater, shared a dressing room with Vladimir Vysotsky, acted with Smoktunovsky, played Athos in the film 'The Three Musketeers,' joined Slava Polunin's Academy of Fools and currently performs in the production 'The Last Summer' at the Theater of Nations and in the play 'Black and Simpson' at the Practice Theater.