Liev Schreiber at 59: How the Hollywood star champions Ukraine and taunts Putin

Hollywood actor and producer Liev Schreiber turns 59 on October 4, marking his role as a prominent international voice for Ukraine, which he supports through visits and public statements despite the ongoing war. Schreiber, who has Ukrainian roots through his maternal grandfather, demonstrated his growing Ukrainian language skills in 2024 by correctly explaining words like "unity" and "family" to boxer Oleksandr Usyk. He also left a handwritten note in Ukrainian aboard the icebreaker "Noosphere," thanking the crew and adding a blunt message: "Putin is an idiot!" In 2026, Schreiber revealed he now uses the Ukrainian word "zaliubky" in conversation, though he initially struggled with its pronunciation. He frequently visits Ukraine, including witnessing the aftermath of a Russian strike on Kyiv in August and visiting a home for families with seriously ill children.