His father, Sergey Petrovich Velyaminov (1898-1976), was from a hereditary military and ancient noble family, known from the 11th century. His mother was Tatiana Ermilovna (1893–1972). Pyotr Velyaminov was arrested at the age of sixteen in 1943 charged with anti-communist activities and sentenced to a Gulag camp. He spent nine years at prison. Here he joined an amateur theatrical group. After his release in 1953 he began performing in the Abakan Drama Theatre. He received the award
People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1985 and also People's Artist of the
Chuvash Republic. He had three children, including a son Sergei Velyaminov (born 5 February 1964) who became an actor like his father. He was married to the daughter of popular Soviet actor
Georgy Burkov. He was buried on 17 June 2009 at Literatorskiye Jetty of
Volkovo Cemetery in St. Petersburg. == Selected filmography ==