How the 7 oldest Russian theater and film actors who have crossed the 90-year mark live and look

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

Now they write and talk a lot about young talented and not very talented film and theater stars. The press and glossy magazines are literally full of their photos and details from their lives. But today, in contrast to this, I would like to recall the talents that began to shine on the theater stage and delight spectators from blue movie screens at least 60 years ago. We, fortunately, were lucky to find these people and be their contemporaries. But the creative career of these the brightest stars of Russian theater and cinema began even before many of us were born.

In our review, we will talk about that distant era, about achievements, about roles and about the innermost of these wonderful people in the order of seniority.

Galina Petrovna Korotkevich - 99 years old

In August 2020, Galina Petrovna Korotkevich, a Soviet and Russian theater and film actress, People's Artist of the RSFSR, celebrated her 99th birthday (1974). Galina Petrovna was born on August 18, 1921 in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) into an artistic family. From childhood, little Gala was predicted a career as a ballerina, but she chose a theater university. True, young Galina was destined to hone her acting skills not in classes, but in the front propaganda brigade, where she, the only freshman, was enrolled for her ability to dance (ballet training was useful). And all four years she played on the front lines, in military units, mobilization points and hospitals. During the war, her propaganda team gave more than two thousand concerts.

- this is how Galina Petrovna recalled her front-line universities at that terrible time for the country.

A year after the victory, in 1946, Galina graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography and entered the stage. She outplayed almost all Russian classics and a lot of foreign ones. Full halls of the audience gathered to watch her play. So, throughout her career, the actress has played almost 800 hundred times the role in the play "Millionaire", and each time this production was held with a full house.

And although the actress devoted all of herself to the theater, there is also a filmography in her creative piggy bank with a dozen films that the viewer remembered for her bright performance. For the first time the audience saw her on the screen as a young beauty in 1953 in the film-play "Spring in Moscow" in the role of Nadezhda Kovrova. And in her last work, she appeared in the form of a gray-haired old woman - Baba Dunya in the TV series "Streets of Broken Lights-8" (2006).

The once energetic and incendiary Galina Petrovna, who passionately loved fishing and outdoor activities, now spends all her time with her family - her daughter and granddaughter. By the way, both followed in her footsteps, and she is very happy to share her acting secrets with them.

Yulia Konstantinovna Borisova - 95 years old

Yulia Konstantinovna Borisova - Soviet and Russian theater and film actress, People's Artist of the USSR (1969). Yulia Borisova was born on March 17, 1925 in the capital in a family of employees. In 1947 she graduated from the Shchukin Theater School. And she was immediately accepted into the troupe of the famous Vakhtangov Theater, to which she remained faithful throughout her creative career.

The first steps on the stage of the young artist did not go unnoticed. Many even then saw in her a new rising star. Since the 50s, Borisova became the prima of the theater and kept this bar all her life. By the way, in many performances her partner was the famous actor Mikhail Ulyanov, who once spoke about Yulia Borisova:

Unfortunately, she has only three works in cinema, because Yulia Konstantinovna categorically refused to act, explaining this by the fact that everything that she can tell her audience, she will say on the stage. True, when television performances became fashionable, Borisova was often involved in productions. Thanks to this, her amazing game could be seen in all corners of the huge Union. You will be surprised, but Yulia Konstantinovna still enters the stage of her native theater to this day. She has long been called the living legend of the theater. Vakhtangov.

You can read more about the fate of the talented actress in our publication: The most mysterious actress of the Russian stage, who does not give interviews and does not act in films.

Vera Kuzminichna Vasilyeva - 95 years old

Vera Kuzminichna Vasilyeva - Soviet and Russian theater and film actress, People's Artist of the USSR (1986), twice winner of the Stalin Prize. Vera Kuzminichna was born on September 30, 1925 in Moscow in Gusyatnikov Lane. As a child, she spent a lot of time at her father's homeland, in the village of Sukhoy Ruchey, Tver (then Kalinin) region.

School lessons were easy for the girl, and in her free time she read a lot, studied in a drama club, sang in the choir, with which she even performed at the Bolshoi Theater. - recalled, years later, the actress.

When the war began, young Vera had to go to work at the factory as a milling machine operator in order to get a work card, and in the evenings to continue her studies at the school for working youth. And after the Germans were driven away from the capital, in 1943, a recruitment of students was announced at the Moscow Theater School, and Vera immediately took the documents there and was immensely happy when she was on the list of enrolled.

At the beginning of her creative career, Vera Vasilyeva was incredibly lucky, she made her film debut while still a student. In 1945 she starred in a cameo role, and two years later she was offered the first major role of Nastya Gusenkova in the film "The Legend of the Siberian Land" by Ivan Pyriev. It was for this image that the aspiring actress was awarded the Stalin Prize. After this film, Vera Kuzminichna was noticed and loved by the audience. However, the conflict with the director Ivan Pyriev almost put an end to the career of an actress. And why this happened, read in our publication: Why the star of "The Legend of the Siberian Land" did not receive roles in the cinema.

Be that as it may, today in her filmography there are about fifty films. And much more Vasilyeva played roles in the Moscow Academic Theater of Satire. How does the famous actress Vera Vasilyeva live 9 years after her husband's death.

Vladimir Petrovich Zamansky is 94 years old

Vladimir Petrovich Zamansky - Soviet and Russian theater and film actor, People's Artist of the RSFSR (1988). Vladimir Petrovich was born on February 6, 1926 in Kremenchug. In 1941, 15-year-old Volodya was left an orphan: he did not know his father, and his mother died in an air raid of enemy bombers.

Arriving with his aunt in Uzbekistan, the boy began to look for ways to get to the front. Adding the missing years to himself, Volodya begged for the front. After completing the courses of reconnaissance radio operators, he was on the front line in May 1944. Despite the fact that the future artist had to fight for only a year, he received many military awards for courage and heroism. And after the end of the war, he continued to serve in the ranks of the Soviet Army in Poland.

However, fate taught Vladimir Zamansky an unpleasant lesson - in 1950, on charges of beating a platoon commander, he was sentenced to nine years in camps. He worked at construction sites in Kharkov, built Moscow University. But after three years he was amnestied.

Returning to a free life, Vladimir graduated from an evening school in Kharkov and entered the Moscow Art Theater School, from which he graduated in 1958. He served at the Sovremennik Theater. In 1959 he began acting in films. But, of course, the main role played by Vladimir Zamansky was Alexander Lazarev in the military drama of Alexei German "Check on the roads". Although the film was shot in 1971, it was shown to a wide audience 15 years later. It was for this role that in 1988 Vladimir Petrovich was awarded the State Prize of the USSR, and in the same year he received the title of People's Artist. The actor's filmography includes more than fifty films and about a dozen roles in the theater.

Why did the popular artist leave worldly affairs in 1998 and left with his wife to Murom, where he lives to this day, leading a secluded, reclusive lifestyle, read in our publication: 58 years of marriage and a 15-year vow of silence: Vladimir Zamansky and his Snow Queen.

Yuri Ivanovich Kayurov - 93 years old

Yuri Kayurov - Soviet and Russian theater and film actor, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1963), People's Artist of the RSFSR (1979), laureate of two State Prizes of the USSR. Yuri Ivanovich was born on September 30, 1927 in Cherepovets (now the Vologda region).

With the beginning of the war, the father of the future artist went to the front, from where he never returned, and Yuri and his mother moved to a village near Belozersk. There he graduated from the seven-year school, entered a vocational school, received the 5th grade of a turner. In 1944, Kayurov was sent to the Leningrad plant "Vulkan". A year later, he studied at the Kuibyshev Naval Aviation School. Yuri Kayurov finished his service in the navy in Leningrad as an artillery sailor aboard the cruiser Aurora.

During the service, he actively participated in amateur performances, studied in a theater studio. And after demobilizing in 1949, he was immediately admitted to the second year at the A. N. Ostrovsky Leningrad Theater Institute, which he graduated in 1952. By distribution, he became an actor in the Saratov Drama Theater, where he served for 15 years.

In cinema, Yuri Ivanovich began acting in 1960, making his debut in the film "Morning". And in 1961, with the light hand of Ivan Pyriev, Yuri Kayurov was approved for the role of young V. I. Lenin in the film "At the beginning of the century" - about the life and work of the future leader at the very beginning of his political career. It is worth noting that it was the performance of the role of Ilyich that brought the actor resounding popularity. And Kayurov played Lenin during his creative career in eighteen films.

Among other films in which the actor starred, it is worth mentioning "Angle of Fall", "Kremlin Chimes", "Walking Through the Torment", "Marshal of the Revolution", "Poem of Wings", "State Border". The complete filmography of the actor is almost 70 films.

The actor appeared on the stage of the Maly Theater until 2011. He stopped acting in films much earlier. Now on a well-deserved rest, leads a rather active lifestyle, likes to communicate with journalists, gives interviews with pleasure.

Nina Nikolaevna Urgant - 91 years old

Nina Nikolaevna Urgant - Soviet and Russian theater and film actress, People's Artist of the RSFSR (1974), laureate of the USSR State Prize.

Nina Urgant was born on September 4, 1929 in the city of Luga, Leningrad Region. Her father, Nikolai Urgant, was Estonian by nationality, though Russified (that's why the actress's surname is of Estonian origin.) He was a Chekist, and in the 30s the wife and four children of the Soviet officer Nikolai Urgant traveled half of the country with him. And before the war in 1941, the family ended up in the Latvian city of Daugavpils. When it all started, the Germans occupied the city in a few days. The father left with units of the Soviet army, and the family remained in the occupation. 12-year-old Nina with her brothers and sister had to hide in basements all the time in order not to be taken to Germany. But the worst thing would be if the Germans knew that they were the children of a Chekist. Many knew about this, but no one betrayed them.

After the release of Daugavpils, Nina Urgant went to school again. Not a single cultural event of the school could do without an active and talented girl. Nina soulfully read poetry, playing the guitar, sang songs of the war years. Even in those years, the nickname "Ninka-artist" was assigned to her. Recognition and admiration for her talent gave her courage, and the girl submitted documents to the Leningrad Theater Institute. Having withstood a large competition, she entered, and in 1953 she graduated from the university.

Since 1954, Nina Urgant has been an actress of the Leningrad Lenin Komsomol Theater, and later served at the Pushkin Academic Drama Theater. She also made her film debut in 1954 in the film Tiger Tamer. However, her most significant role, which deserved popular love, was the role of nurse Raya in the film "Belorussky Station" (1970). Her last role was in the film Asian (2008), where Nina Nikolaevna played Oshkinchikha. In total, the actress has more than 50 roles in her filmography.

As for the personal life of the actress, it was quite eventful. Read about this in our publication: Three disappointments of Nina Urgant: Why the actress does not harbor anger at the men who left her.

Nina Urgant has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for ten years. Unfortunately, despite treatment, the disease progresses. But the actress with all her might and with the help of her family is trying to maintain her sanity and the ability to move independently.

Oleg Alexandrovich Strizhenov - 91 years old

Oleg Alexandrovich Strizhenov - Soviet and Russian theater and film actor, People's Artist of the USSR (1988). Oleg Alexandrovich was born on August 10, 1929 in Blagoveshchensk-on-Amur (Far East). At the age of 6 he moved to Moscow with his family. In 1953 he graduated from the Shchukin Theater School. A year of working as an actor in Tallinn, another year in Leningrad, and then again in Moscow, where, since 1957, he became an actor in the Film Actor's Studio Theater.

Oleg Strizhenov very powerfully and vividly declared himself the main roles in the films "The Gadfly" (1955) and "Forty-first" (1956), thanks to which he became famous as one of the most romantic heroes of Soviet cinema. True, in the cinematic environment, Strizhenov's complex and uncompromising character was legendary for many years. However, he himself never denied that he was always overly demanding in his work - both to himself and to those around him.

It is because of his character and principles that the actor abandoned many iconic movie roles. But we could see him in the role of Andrei Bolkonsky in the film "War and Peace" by Sergei Bondarchuk, and Alexei Vronsky in "Anna Karenina", and there is no need to talk about theatrical roles. He often gave up what became the hallmark of other actors. They say the truth - character is destiny.

Nevertheless, the actor's filmography is about four dozen films. Almost the same number of roles was played by the actor in different theaters of the country. Now the actor leads a secluded life, he is reluctant to give interviews. He is seriously interested in painting, spends a lot of time at the easel. His wife and grandchildren support him in everything.

And in conclusion, I would like to thank these wonderful people for their selfless work, for the fact that with their play they brought into the life of the audience and moments of admiration, empathy, and understanding of life. To thank and wish health, as well as sincere attention and love to grateful fans of their work.