The Hollywood Dream of Alexander Kuznetsov: How Jack Vosmerkin Really Became an American
The Hollywood Dream of Alexander Kuznetsov: How Jack Vosmerkin Really Became an American

Video: The Hollywood Dream of Alexander Kuznetsov: How Jack Vosmerkin Really Became an American

Video: The Hollywood Dream of Alexander Kuznetsov: How Jack Vosmerkin Really Became an American
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Alexander Kuznetsov as Jack Vosmerkin, 1986
Alexander Kuznetsov as Jack Vosmerkin, 1986

In the 1980s. Aleksandr Kuznetsov was one of the most sought-after and popular Soviet actors. The films "Primorsky Boulevard" and "Aelita, do not bother men" brought him fame, and his role in the film "Jack Vosmerkin -" American ", which is called his calling card, became prophetic for him: in the 1990s. the actor emigrated to the United States and spent 17 years there. And unlike many of his compatriots, he managed to achieve success in Hollywood.

Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Hello from the Front, 1983
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Hello from the Front, 1983

Parents of Alexander Kuznetsov had nothing to do with the world of cinema - his father was an engineer, and his mother was a teacher of literature, and at first he himself was not going to connect his life with the acting profession. After school, Alexander entered the Moscow Aviation Institute, but during classes in a student theater studio, he suddenly discovered that he was really interested in a completely different field of activity. In his last year, he dropped out of the institute and decided to apply to the Shchukin school. Luck smiled at him - he entered on the first try.

Actor in his youth
Actor in his youth

Even in his third year, Kuznetsov was accepted into the troupe of the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya, at the same time he began acting in films. And after 3 years, incredible popularity came to him - after the main role in the film "Jack Vosmerkin -" American ". This role became not only significant in his film career, but also prophetic in his fate: a few years later the actor received an invitation to work in Hollywood.

Aleksandr Kuznetsov
Aleksandr Kuznetsov
Aleksandr Kuznetsov
Aleksandr Kuznetsov

Before his departure, he managed to play in several more films, and one of the most notable and popular was "Primorsky Boulevard". At that time, Kuznetsov was already a real star, and he was approved for the main role without samples. The shooting took place in Odessa, and this city has always remained special for the actor. He still remembers hospitable residents of Odessa, who treated him to corn, fried mussels and dried fish on the beach.

Alexander Kuznetsov as Jack Vosmerkin, 1986
Alexander Kuznetsov as Jack Vosmerkin, 1986
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Primorsky Boulevard, 1988
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Primorsky Boulevard, 1988

In 1989, Leonid Gaidai invited Kuznetsov to play the lead role in the film "Good weather on Deribasovskaya, it rains again on Brighton Beach", but at that moment the actor just received an invitation to star in an American project and was forced to refuse the famous director, about which then regretted. But Dmitry Kharatyan, who eventually got this role, still thanks him for it.

Shot from the film Primorsky Boulevard, 1988
Shot from the film Primorsky Boulevard, 1988
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Primorsky Boulevard, 1988
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Primorsky Boulevard, 1988

Kuznetsov later told about his decision to move to the USA: "".

Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Alaska Kid, 1993
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Alaska Kid, 1993
Shot from the movie Ice Runner, 1993
Shot from the movie Ice Runner, 1993

Over the 17 years spent in the United States, the actor managed to achieve certain success: he starred in an episode of the series "Beverly Hills 90210", in the 13-episode project "Alaska Kid", in the films "Ice Runner", "Peacemaker", "Destroyer", Space Cowboys, NYPD. His partners on the set were Sylvester Stallone, Nicole Kidman, George Clooney and Clint Eastwood. In 1995, Kuznetsov founded his International Actors School, and conducted master classes and trainings at other acting schools in Los Angeles.

Still from the film Peacemaker, 1997
Still from the film Peacemaker, 1997
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Shadowboxing, 2004
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Shadowboxing, 2004

In 2002, he was lucky enough to work with Quentin Tarantino as a teacher - in the TV series "Spy" it was necessary to teach the actors to speak a few phrases in Russian. And after that, Tarantino invited him to play an episode in the movie "Kill Bill". A contract was signed with him, rehearsals began. But on the eve of filming, the director decided to rewrite the script, and suddenly it turned out that the role of Kuznetsov was removed from him. However, the financial agreements remained in effect, and although the actor never played in this film, he received the promised fee.

Still from the movie Code of Honor-5, 2011
Still from the movie Code of Honor-5, 2011

However, the fame he had in the 1980s. in the USSR, he failed to achieve. And therefore, when in the early 2000s. he was again invited to work at home, he decided to return to Russia. Since then, he has been actively acting in films and TV series: "Karpov", "Capercaillie. Continuation "," Unequal marriage "," A man from nowhere "," Freud's method "," Death track ", etc.

Actor Alexander Kuznetsov
Actor Alexander Kuznetsov

Today, 58-year-old Alexander Kuznetsov lives in Russia, but often visits Los Angeles, where his two sons remained to live. In 2017, he founded the Moscow International Film School and opened an acting school in Tallinn. He says about the reasons for his return: "".

Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Mirrors of Love, 2017
Alexander Kuznetsov in the film Mirrors of Love, 2017

One of Kuznetsov's brightest partners on the set was Natalya Gundareva, with whom he played in the film "Aelita, Don't Bother Men." For the love of theater and cinema, she had to sacrifice a lot: What did Natalia Gundareva regret until the end of her days.

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