“Dear Valentin Iosifovich!
Several generations of viewers have grown up in your roles.
And your ability to surprise, delight, create a real acting miracle on stage remains unchanged, ”reads a statement on the government's website.
The Russian prime minister thanked Gaft "for his skill and great love for art."
Earlier, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin congratulated People's Artist of the USSR Oleg Strizhenov on his birthday.