GRIGORY YEFIMOVICH RASPUTIN
1872 - 1916

What a character. So thought Alan Rickman and agreed to play Rasputin in the movie Rasputin.

His real name was Grigory Yefimovich Novykh. They nicknamed him Rasputin, which is Russian for "debauched one." Sweet. Early in his life Rasputin quickly fathered four kids with his young wife. He then decided it was high time to travel the world.

His trips brought him to Mount Athos, Greece, and Jerusalem. If you're interested to know where Mount Athos is located, here's a map. With this company you can travel to Mount Athos, but it looks like you have to be male and you have to like monks.

Anyhow, Rasputin finally ended up at St. Petersburg where he became the Czarina's personal adviser (define "adviser") and caused scandal after scandal. His reputation was that of a healer and seer. Plus he liked women, of course. Like... many of them. Here you can see Rasputin surrounded by his admirers.

Photo: Liberty's Victorious Conflict:
A Photographic History of the World War, (Woman's Weekly, Chicago, 1918)

Extreme Russian conservatives tried to end Rasputin's life and invited him for poison tea and cookies. But he ate and drank it all without showing any sign of being poisoned. His host, by then a nervous wreck, shot him just to be on the safe side.

Rasputin, still not dead, dragged himself into the courtyard, where he got shot again. But, you guessed it, he was still quite perky and didn't die until he got thrown into the icy river Neva. There he drowned. One tuff sucker.