Zolotukhin was born in the Bystry Istok village (modern-day Bystroistoksky District of the Altai Krai, Russia) into a peasant family just one day before the Great Patriotic War started.

[2] In 1964 he moved to the newly established Taganka Theatre under Yuri Lyubimov where he spent the rest 50 years, taking part in many plays.

[3][4][5] In 1965 Zolothukhin appeared in his first movie Package based on the children's novel by L. Panteleyev, in the leading part of a goofy Red Army soldier.

[8][9] In 2007 he took part in the 5th State Duma elections as A Just Russia candidate, heading the Perm Krai regional group.

Finally he left the theatre, and the remaining actors chose Zolotukhin as the head of Taganka despite his health problems.

In accordance with his will, he was buried in his native village Bystry Istok at the Altai Krai, on the territory of the Russian Orthodox church which he had built.