A failed cosmonaut and a hardened womanizer: What fans don't know about the most charming comedian of Russia Yuri Galtsev

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Today it is very difficult to believe that famous comedian of the country Yuri Galtsev in his early youth, he was still that womanizer who possessed not only his famous charisma that has not yet faded away, but also an athletic body, as well as a mane of hair that framed a rather beautiful face. However, it is even more difficult to believe that the current artist, who has received many clown awards and popular love for his sharp humor and lively direct talent, has dreamed of becoming an astronaut since childhood … Yes, what he dreamed there, he even applied to several universities of military aviation. About these and many other amazing facts from the life of the most charming humorist in Russia, further - in the review.

The mere mention of the name of one of the country's most famous comedians, Yuri Galtsev, can bring a smile even to people completely devoid of a sense of humor. And this is absolutely not surprising, since the artist, who has a rather eccentric appearance and amazing charisma, has an extraordinary magnetism that attracts viewers of all ages from different social strata.

Ranks. Achievements. Awards

Yuri Nikolaevich Galtsev is a Russian pop and clownery artist, TV presenter, parodist, singer, theater, film and television actor. Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (2003), permanent artistic director of the Arkady Raikin Variety Theater in St. Petersburg (from 2008 to the present day).

The filmography of Galtsev, as an actor, today comprises more than six dozen feature films and serials, where the artist played characters corresponding to his role. Also irresistible are the characters of several cartoons who speak in the voice of Yuri Nikolaevich. And this is not to mention the humorous television programs in which Yuri Galtsev is a regular participant: "Visor, or Royal in the Bushes", "Smehopanorama", "Kyshkin House", "Full House", "Izmailovsky Park", "Yurmalina", "Two funny goose ".

As for the awards, just recently, and more specifically on March 30, 2020, Galtsev was awarded the medal "For Services to the Fatherland" II degree for his great contribution to the development of national culture and art.

He is also the owner of many prizes and awards, titles and titles of various all-Russian and world festivals and competitions. Here are some of them: "Rubber Face" (France, 1995), "Best Actor of the Year" (St. Petersburg 2000), "Golden Ostap" (St. Petersburg, 2001), "Golden Nose" (Riga, 1999), Galtsev also won the Grand Prix of the All-Russian Variety Artists' Competition (Moscow, 1999) and the Arkady Raikin Cup and the Gold Medal of the festival of satire and humor "MORE SMEHA" (Riga, 2000).

Turning the pages of a biography

Curiously, the very fact of the artist's birth was already associated with astronautics, since our hero was born on April 12, 1961 in the city of Kurgan, Kurgan region. It was on this significant day that Yuri Gagarin was the first in the world to conquer space.

- this is what the artist himself says about the origin of his name. Well, it goes without saying that the parents immediately named the newborn boy Yuri, in honor of the hero of the country. Thus, this epoch-making event was symbolically reflected in the fate of an ordinary boy from a simple Soviet family.

Nikolai Afanasyevich Galtsev, Yura's father, was an honored builder of the USSR, director of a plant of reinforced concrete products, and by nature and disposition he was a charming merry fellow and a ringleader who was adored not only by women, but by everyone who ever came across him. He excellently played many musical instruments and was the soul of any company.

The father devoted himself entirely to raising his son, took him on hikes, hunting and fishing. Thanks to Nikolai Afanasyevich, little Yurka got a bicycle before all his peers, then a moped, and then a motorcycle. Together, he and his father designed and made homemade boats and catamarans. In a word, Yuri's childhood, patronymic, and youth passed in an amazing atmosphere where he was formed both as a person and as a future artist.

From an early age, Yuri was a big music lover, bought records: Queen, The Beatles, Chicago, Nazareth and especially Yes. Curiously, from the age of thirteen he made money on records on his own., - Galtsev admitted once, giving an interview, about the sources of his income at that distant time.

An excellent ear for music, inherited from his father, allowed young Galtsev to masterfully master the skill of playing the guitar, as well as graduate from a children's music school in the accordion class. By the way, in the 9th grade, the guy wrote his first song and became famous throughout the district. At that time, all the girls of the school were dry on a cute, cheerful and unusually charismatic guy, and he, of course, used it.

The wreck of a childhood dream

However, Galtsev Jr. in no way connected his future with music, or with stage, and even more so with cinema. He dreamed of becoming an astronaut, like Gagarin. Therefore, after school, I decided to enter the Tambov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, but did not pass for health reasons. Later he applied to the Kurgan Higher Military-Political Aviation School and the Chelyabinsk Higher Tank School, and everywhere the failure pursued our hero.

And then at the call I had to go to serve in the Army. It was there that all his talents came in handy. However, after returning from service, Yuri Galtsev, at the insistence of his parents, went to study at the Kurgan Machine-Building Institute with a degree in Automotive Industry.

First love and new horizons

Here, in the machine building, our hero met a girl, whom he introduced to her parents almost immediately as a future wife. But, as you know, early marriages do not differ in durability. After the birth of their first child, Misha's son, the former lovers decided to divorce.

Back in his student years, mastering the technical profession, Yuri headed the propaganda theater, played and sang in the VIA Truvers. Then the future artist first came to Leningrad and fell in love with this city at first sight. The actor recalls: Two years later, when he received a technical education, he returned here as a young engineer to seriously pursue an acting career and entered LGITMiK - the theater department.

Artistic career

In 1988, Yuri Galtsev graduated from the Leningrad State Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography with a degree in Musical and Speech Stage. The course was led by Isaak Romanovich Shtokbant. At the institute he met and made friends with Gennady Vetrov and Sergei Selin. Later he worked with Gennady Vetrov at the Buff Theater, in 1993 Elena Lebenbaum (Sparrow) came to work at the theater, with whom the actors created many amazing performances. Then followed by "Farses" (1993-1995), "Litsedei" (1995-1998), where Galtsev played in many variety performances. At the same time, the artist's work in the cinema was also very successful.

In 1999 Galtsev organized his own "YUTYUG" - Yuri Galtsev's Universal Theater, where he played in the performances "Virtuosos of the Neva", "Yura from St. Petersburg", "Funny Pictures". In 2000 he won the Arkady Raikin Cup at the Sea of Laughter international festival in Riga. He was the only laureate in the history of the festival who received the A. Raikin Cup from the hands of M. M. Zhvanetsky.

In December 2008, he was appointed artistic director of the Arkady Raikin State Variety Theater in St. Petersburg, where he still serves. In parallel, he teaches acting skills at the St. Petersburg State Academy of Theater Arts, organizes festivals, and also often appears as a jury member in humorous competitions, however, he himself takes part in various shows with pleasure.

Love that works wonders

Leafing through the pages of the biography, I would certainly like to talk about the personal life of a celebrity. While still a freshman at the theater institute, Galtsev met his second wife, Irina Rakshina, also a future actress. After the first year, they worked together in a construction brigade in the Kazakh SSR. Yuri Galtsev is the soul of any company, he sang songs with a guitar around the fire at night, told funny anecdotes. It was impossible not to fall in love with him. However, in a series of beautiful stately girls who themselves fought an attractive and charming guy from Kurgan, Ira seemed the quietest and most invisible.

Apparently this was what caught the girl of the mischievous woman and the womanizer, and he, by all means, decided to slay her - either for show, or really got carried away seriously. But only Irina turned out to be a tough nut to crack. Why did she need a notorious womanizer?

And then for Galtsev real love torments began. He began to look after Irina according to all the laws of the romantic genre, was shy from her gaze, sighed under the windows. And he knew for sure: if the fortress falls, he will definitely make her an offer. Of course, the fortress soon fell, and how could it be otherwise …

And when Yuri brought his bride to Kurgan to introduce him to his parents, they were seriously confused - they did not imagine their daughter-in-law like that. Everyone knew that Galtsev Jr. was a lover of tall, brightly painted beauties, impudent and cheerful. And here, small and completely inconspicuous, but changed their son beyond recognition.

Next to Irina, Yuri finally settled down, became compliant, did not take his eyes off the girl, did not let go of himself. The dramatic changes in the son, of course, struck the parents and now they were already crazy about the future daughter-in-law.

When the young people got married in 1987, they first had to live in a hostel, then rent a room in a communal apartment, and even work as janitors for a separate corner. They had to get up early and sweep the streets of their hometown, as well as shaking out trash cans. However, few from the acting environment could boast of an easy start in those days.

By the way, after the wedding, Irina very quickly tamed Galtsev, discouraging all unreliable fans and close girlfriends from him. And by that time he himself had quite consciously settled down. Moreover, in 1990, the creative family acquired offspring, Rakshina gave birth to a daughter, who was named Maria.

When her daughter grew up, she did not dare to follow in her father's footsteps, but received the profession of a journalist, graduating from the relevant university. But journalism did not appeal to the energetic girl, and she easily realized herself as a fitness trainer. And everything would be nothing in a pious family, if not for one - "but" …

New love: truth or fiction

It has long been believed that Galtsev ended his love for women once and for all. A few years ago, the popular comedian Yuri Galtsev turned out to be the hero of the gossip. Stubborn rumors literally spread around Peter about either the real or the mythical romance of the 55-year-old artist with his ward, Maria Nasyrova.

The maestro did not confirm this absurdity in the attacks of the press in none of his interviews with the maestro. And Irina Rakshina herself assured that their family hearth still warms with a loving flame.

There is no smoke without fire

Nevertheless, at that time, the 24-year-old brunette was quite consistent with the type of girls whom Galtsev loved so much in his youth: tall, stately, sultry. Rumors appeared due to the fact that Galtsev himself, having declared himself at the celebration of the birthday of Vyacheslav Manucharov with Masha Nasyrova, either jokingly or seriously, publicly declared that his companion was his beloved.

Nevertheless, the whole evening the couple behaved very restrainedly, which finally confused some of the participants in the celebration. However, the majority of those present at the end of the evening had no doubts that the artist was faithful to his manner of conducting a conversation, he was just joking. Of course, this attack by Galtsev immediately leaked to the press, which can inflate an elephant even from a fly. Later, the artist was even accused of unsuccessful PR. The story did not receive a resonant continuation, although the artistic director appeared in public places with Nasyrova more than once.

Continuing the theme of the artists of the humorous genre, a story about the ups and downs of the queen of pranks and parodies of the Russian stage Elena Vorobei.