Yul Brynner (born July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985) was a Russian-American actor. He became widely known for his portrayal of King Mongkut in the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical The King and I, for which he won two Tony Awards, and later won an Academy Award for the film adaptation. Beyond acting, Brynner was also a director, photographer, and writer. He was famously private, yet also a charismatic personality who maintained an air of mystery. His shaved head — originally for The King and I — became his trademark look, influencing men’s fashion and challenging Hollywood’s beauty standards at the time.
His defining role came in 1951 when he was cast as the King of Siam in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical The King and I on Broadway. His shaved head, commanding presence, and unique charisma captivated audiences. He would go on to play the role more than 4,500 times on stage, winning a Tony Award for his performance. In 1956, Brynner reprised his role as the King in the film adaptation of The King and I, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The same year cemented his superstardom, as he also appeared in The Ten Commandments as Pharaoh Rameses II opposite Charlton Heston, and in Anastasia alongside Ingrid Bergman.
