He was born Yuriy Vladimirovich Nazarov in Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.

His father, Nikolai Aldomirovich Nazarov (1906–1971), was an ethnic Chechen Lieutenant of the Red Army, who served on the Eastern Front and in the Crimean offensive in 1944.

In March 2014 Nazarov signed a letter in support of the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine and Crimea.

[1] Crimea is since March 2014 under dispute by Russia and Ukraine.

[2] Yuriy Nazarov has starred in over 257 films and television productions.