He studied at the seminary, Yaroslavl, then the pastor, who lived in Yaroslavl. As a fellow countryman FG Volkov, Dmitrevsky became a party to his submissions, performing mostly female roles, and together with the troupe Volkova arrived in St. Petersburg.

New Dmitrevsky performed in Tsarskoe Selo Osneldy role in the tragedy Sumarokov Horev ", and the Empress wore Osneldu diamonds and immediately called Dyakonov Dmitrevsky on its similarity to the Polish Count Dmitrevsky composed while Knight Embassy in St. Petersburg.

Subsequently Dmitrevsky switched to male roles, and after the death of Volkova (1763) won first place in the court's troupe, and in 1765 he was sent abroad to improve.

Execution of them, on their return, the role Sinawa was a true triumph of the artist. A year later Dmitrevsky again went abroad, in order to recruit French actors for the St. Petersburg court theater.

A nice idea Volkov – a theater public, for all classes available – for a long time with no success, and only by the energy Dmitrevsky was created "free Russian theater (on the Empress meadow) Charles Knipper. The management of the newly established St. Petersburg Drama School (1779) also was charged Dmitrevsky, teach students' recitation and of acting. At one time Dmitrevsky taught geography, history and literature in the Smolny Convent. In addition to the title of "chief actor, he was carrying and directing duties.

In the late 1790's. Dmitrevsky left the scene, which was the last time playing in 1812, 30 August, in a patriotic play Viskovatov "universal militia. Thunderous applause greeted a decrepit old man, with excitement with difficulty speaking. At the end of life Dmitrevsky blind and died in St. Petersburg October 27, 1821 (interred in the Volkov Cemetery).

Dmitrevsky had a reputation as a highly educated man. The only example of an actor-academician, Dmitrevsky and in literary circles generally respected. By his advice turned even conceited Sumarokov, on the instructions it is often correct their tragedy.

Be consulted and Knyazhnin, and Fonvizin (the final finishing of "minor"), and IA Krylov, who appeared to Dmitrevsky with one of his youthful works. Many of the names of pupils Dmitrevsky famous in the history of the Russian stage, such Steeps, Gamburov, Vorobyev, Karatygin, Sandunova, Semenov, Yakovlev et al

He was an admirer of the ruling at the time Pseudoclassical repertoire.

Literary studies Dmitrevsky began very early. Along with Sumarokov and Volkov, Dmitrevsky was one of the principal forces of the dramatic literature of the first years of our stage, for which supplies much of transfers and alterations from the French, sometimes Italian.

He wrote a lot of tragedies, comedies and comic operas: "Antigone" (muzyk. drama from Italy. SPb. 1772), "An honest criminal" (Note from Fr.), "Beverly" (a tragedy, with Fr., St. Petersburg. 1773 and MA 1787), "Armida" (opera, with IT., St. Petersburg. 1774), "pensive" (Note, with Fr., St. Petersburg. 1778), "Dianino tree" (opera, with IT., St. Petersburg . 1792), "a rare thing" (opera in Italy.) and many others. etc., did not survive to our time.

Translated poem Thomson Four Seasons "(MM 1798 and 1803), issued a" Eulogy AP Sumarokov "(St. Petersburg 1807), published in the" bees "Sumarokov poems and participated in the translation Anacharsis published by the Academy (in 1804 – 09).

About 20 years Dmitrevsky, on behalf of the Russian Academy, worked on "History of Russian Theatre," but his manuscript was burnt in a fire at the academy. Dmitrevsky resumed his work, but he was not printed.

Actor Ivan Nosov, in compiling his "Chronicles of the Russian theater" (p. 1883), enjoyed the original "History of Russian Theatre" Dmitrevsky, but did not mention where he had seen.

Kony, in his article: "Russian theater, his fate and historians" ("Russian Stage", 1864) reported a few facts gleaned them from different zapisochek and scraps, written with his hand Dmitrevsky and found them in the papers of the actor Yakovlev, another Dmitrevsky.

Academician of MI Sukhomlinov (seeHis "research and articles on Russian literature and education, v. II, the joint venture. 1889) proved that the German "The news of several Russian writers 1768 (napech. in" Materials for the history of Russian literature ", PA Efremov, the joint venture. 1867) came out of the pen Dmitrevsky.