Soviet, Russian and Israeli theater, film and dubbing actor, TV presenter; Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1984). Member of the Public Council of the Russian Jewish Congress.

Leonid Semenovich Kanevsky was born on May 2, 1939 in Kiev in a Jewish family. My mother studied piano at the Kiev Conservatory, graduated from the 2nd year, got married at the age of 19, left the conservatory and went with her husband to the Caucasus, where he worked. In 1933, the elder brother Alexander was born, 6 years later Leonid was born.

At the age of 17, he left for Moscow and entered the Shchukin College for the course of Vera Konstantinovna Lvova.

From 1960 to 1967, he was an actor of the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater.

From 1967 to 1991 — actor of the Moscow Theater on Malaya Bronnaya.

His film debut was a cameo role in the film "Forty Minutes before Dawn" (1963).

The actor was widely known for the role of police major Alexander Tomin in the TV series "The Investigation is conducted by Experts", as well as the role of a smuggler in the comedy "Diamond Hand" and haberdasher Bonacieux in the mini-series "D'Artagnan and Three the Musketeer."

In 1991, he repatriated to Israel, where, together with director Eugene Arie, he created the Gesher Drama Theater in Tel Aviv (translated from Hebrew - "bridge"); the basis of his troupe are Russian actors who played on the stages of Moscow and Leningrad theaters.

In 2003, he was the host of the TV game "The Ninth Shaft" on the Israeli Channel 9.

From January 2006 to the present — presenter of the documentary TV show "The investigation was conducted ..." on "NTV".

In 2009, he starred in the TV series "Semin" and "Semin. Retribution."

He also took part in the dubbing of the cartoon "Cars 2" in the role of scout Finn Mcmistle.

Over the years of his creative activity, the actor has starred in more than fifty films and television series.

Member of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation.