A POPULAR ACTOR : MUSCOVITES MOURN ANDREI MIRONOV

Scores of thousands of Muscovites turned out Thursday for the funeral of a beloved actor, Andrei A. Mironov, in a traffic-stopping demonstration of grief and respect.

Mironov, 46, died Monday on the stage while performing the title role of “Figaro” in Riga, the capital of Latvia.

People of all ages jammed the sidewalks around the Satire Theater, on Moscow’s Garden Ring Road, hoping to catch a last glimpse of their favorite star before his burial in Vagankovo cemetery.

It was the largest demonstration of affection for a popular actor since an enormous crowd jammed Taganka Square in 1980 to mourn the death of Vladimir Vysotsky, a poet and balladeer who wrote biting, satirical verse.

“He was my favorite actor, and I came to say goodby to him,” a middle-aged woman said.

She carried a single red flower and she was blocks away from the head of the line, with little hope that she would be admitted to the theater for a final look at the handsome Mironov.

Millions of Soviet moviegoers had seen him in the leading role in such films as “My Friend, Ivan Lapshin,” a grim account of Soviet life in the 1930s, and in such comedies as “The Diamond Hand.”

Ironically, Mironov’s co-star in movies and at the Satire Theater, Anatoly D. Papanov, 64, died earlier this month, inflicting a double loss on theater buffs in Moscow.

Three members of the ruling Politburo who are concerned with cultural matters, Vitaly Voritnikov, Alexander Yakovlev and Boris Yeltsin, signed Mironov’s obituary in the periodical Soviet Culture.

“If such words as ‘a beautiful death’ are possible, then that’s what we would like to say about Mironov’s,” said Izvestia, the official government newspaper, in noting that he died in the midst of a performance.

“He never worked at half-speed,” Soviet Culture said.

The line of admirers stretched for at least six blocks, winding through parks and around corners with remarkable discipline. Many of the people standing patiently in a chill drizzle outside the theater carried bouquets in a gesture of respect for Mironov.

“Mironov was a great actor and he had an ability to touch the audience,” said a middle-aged, balding man near the end of the line. “We will miss him.”