Nikolay Gorlov was an Honored Artist of the RSFSR (15.06.1987). In 1935 he graduated from the theater technical school at the Gorky Moscow Art Theater. From 1929 to 1939 he was an actor at the Moscow TRAM, from 1939 to 1941 at the Soyuzdetfilm film studio, from 1941 to 1945 at the Tbilisi film studio, from 1945 to 1957 at the Theater-Studio of Film Actors. From 1957 he worked on contracts. A leading bit-part actor of Soviet cinema. A vivid comedic actor who played amusing characters 'from the people'. Among his films: 'Garmon', 'The Little Humpbacked Horse', 'The Twelve Chairs', 'The Lost Expedition'. Nikolay Gorlov began his creative life in the Theater of Working Youth - he had been fond of amateur performances since his youth. For some reason he believed that if he looked like Stalin and successfully parodied him, a glorious acting future was guaranteed. Gorlov was stopped in time, but the fame of his hilarious ability to caricature the leader has survived to this day.

He began acting before he received a diploma of professional education. Gorlov played the role of Mitya in the popular pre-war film 'Garmon'. Then there were roles in the films 'Duma about the Cossack Golota' (Ataman Levko), 'Friends from the Camp' (cook), 'Riders' (Major Puntsov), 'Yakov Sverdlov' (Mironov), 'Salavat Yulayev' (Arkhip). During the war, Nikolay Gorlov remained one of the most filmed actors. Then his star faded somewhat, Gorlov switched exclusively to bit parts, but he was invited as often as before. Among the actor's best works: Sasha ('Lyana'), Steshko ('When the Cossacks Weep'), Polesov ('The Twelve Chairs'), Usaty ('The Lost Expedition' and 'The Golden River'). Director Leonid Gaidai found a bit part for Gorlov in each of his films, considering him one of the representatives of his 'golden guard'.