Born into poverty, Aleynikov lost his family at an early age, forcing him to street-life before transitioning to an orphanage in the early 1920s. ย He discovered a love of movies when a local film projectionist began training him in the craft. ย Following time in a Russian labor compound, Aleinikov studied drama in Leningrad and made his film debut in the 1932 film โCounterโ. ย His talent for music and comedy led him to numerous roles of varying degree of local fame that grew as World War II intensified. ย He continued to star and support in films until disagreements between him and production teams intensified, leaving him without work until his 1955 performance in โLand and Peopleโ. ย His career often suffered disturbances due to his heavy reliance on alcohol, which would later take his life. ย