Relatives, friends, colleagues, politicians and ministers bowed heads in memory of Georgi Kaloyanchev, the prominent and beloved Bulgarian actor, at a funeral service on December 21.

The ceremony at the Theatre of Satire was attended by actors Hristo Mutafchiev Valentine Danev, Svetoslav Peev, Tatiana Lolova, Stefan Danailov, Pavel Popandov,  Boyka Velkova, Vasil Popov, Yordanka Hristova.

Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandakova was among the first politicians to pay their last respects to the great actor, who died on Tuesday.

Later she was joined by Health Minister Desislava Atanasova, Culture Minister Rashidov, his deputy Mitko Dimitirov, Socialist party leader Sergey Stanishev.

"Bulgarians lost their dear Georgi Kaloyanchev, who devoted his life to the noble mission to inspire optimism and bring a smile to our faces," reads a letter of condolences by President Rosen Plevneliev.

"Kalata never stopped believing that we should always be guided by love and good intentions to blaze a trail. Through his talent Kaloyanchev did not stop reminding us who we are, why we are here and what we should be," said the letter of the head of state.

Kaloyanchev passed away at the age of 87 on Tuesday.

"Loved and revered by the audience, his colleagues and friends, Georgi Kaloyanchev will remain forever in our hearts with his bright talent and charismatic actor's presence in theatre and cinema", the Union of Bulgarian Actors said in a statement, circulated to the media.

Born in the city of Burgas on January 13, 1925, Kaloyanchev studied in the former theatrical school in Sofia. His first roles were in Sofia's National Theater.

The famous actor took part in some of the most emblematic and memorable Bulgarian movies, such as "Jack-of-All-Trades" (1962), "Tobacco" (1962), "The She-Wolf" (1965), "The Longest Night" (1967), "The Tied Up Balloon" (1969), "Bonne Chance, Inspector!" (1983) and "Bai Ganyo on His Way to Europe" (1991), among many others.

Kaloyanchev was a very versatile actor and will be remembered for both his comedy and dramatic roles.

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