Background
He was born in Belarusian town Rechytsa into a Jewish family.
in the film "Elusive Avengers"
He was born in Belarusian town Rechytsa into a Jewish family.
In 1930 he entered the architectural department of the Academy of fine arts. He also entered the studio of the Bolshoi Theatre of Drama (course of K.K.Tverskoy).
During his students years he earned by working as supernumerary in the BTD. After graduation, he worked as a metal craftsman at the plant Krasny Putilovets in Leningrad. Then he entered the studio of this theater (course of K.K.Tverskoy). At the end of his education, Kopelyan became the actor of the main staff of the BTD. All best plays in BDT are connected with his name.
His reading the text from the author in films Seven notes in silence (1967), Meetings with Gorky (1969), Memory (1971) and television film Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973, State prize of the RSFSR in 1976) was unique. Kopelyan became People's Artist of the USSR in 1973.