How the hot-tempered character of actor Viktor Proskurin ruined his career

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

In February of this year, Viktor Proskurin celebrated his 68th birthday - an actor who barely managed to get into the world of cinema and it is even more difficult to stay in it. The fact is that, despite his extraordinary talent, Proskurin had an amazing ability to become a participant in numerous conflict situations, the cause of which, in most cases, was his quick-tempered nature.

Through hardships to the cinema

Victor Proskurin wanted to become an artist since childhood. He dreamed of mastering the profession of a clown, the boy really liked the constantly festive atmosphere that reigns in the circus arena. These dreams, unfortunately, were not destined to come true. It turned out that it was necessary to enter the circus school after the 4th grade, and the guy came there much later.

Failure did not break the young Proskurin and did not destroy his desire for self-expression. That is why, having reached the age of fifteen, Proskurin enrolled in a theater group that worked at the Palace of Pioneers. It was there that in 1968 he was noticed by the assistant director Georgy Pobedonostsev and offered the role of Vitka in the film "Eaglet Chapaev".

After filming, the young man decided to change his occupation and enter a theatrical university. Small stature, red-haired with slanting eyes - it was hardly possible to call Viktor Proskurin a handsome man. And although there are many characters in the world of cinema that do not shine with beauty, Viti Proskurin's external data created serious obstacles on the way to the coveted acting glory. So, for example, when he entered the Moscow Art Theater, he was directly pointed out to his small stature, at the Shchukin School, the members of the examination committee did not like slanted eyes, and in Shchepka they simply advised him to give up his dream and continue working at a shoe factory.

However, Proskurin ignored caustic remarks and stubbornly continued to storm the theatrical universities. He handed over the documents to GITIS. Only there he was kicked out straight from the exam. The reason for this, according to members of the commission, was Proskurin's offensive behavior. And all he did was that while reading the fable, he bent down after a member of the commission who had dived under the table, who had just at that time untied his shoe lace.

This blow also did not break Proskurin, and on the second attempt he still entered the theater school, but now at Shchukinskoye. There were no more problems with my studies. Moreover, being a sophomore, Viktor Proskurin was lucky enough to star in the famous film of that time "Big Change". There he portrayed a malicious truant and dance lover Genka Lyapishev. True, Proskurin liked the role of Ganji more, but the director decided that Alexander Zbruev would play it. But the director did not doubt for a minute about the candidacy for the role of Genka Lyapishev and literally immediately gave it to Proskurin. By the way, even screen tests were not required. And the artist, then still a future one, gave his best, playing it in such a way that Genka's catchphrase: “you go, go to school, and then bam! And the second shift”was repeated by the whole country for many years.

At the height of glory

After graduating from Shchuka, Proskurin worked in the legendary Taganka of Yuri Lyubimov. However, he did not last long there. History does not know what was the reason for leaving the theater. Despite his scandalous character, the actor carefully avoided talking about his own failures and answered such questions with the laconic “Didn't work out”.

A real creative success awaited the actor at the Lenkom Theater of Mark Zakharov, in which he played many roles and finally took place as an actor. Real success was brought to him by the image of the executioner in "Til". Then there were many more productions, in particular, the play "The guy from our yard", which earned a huge number of positive reviews in the press.

It was during his work in Lenkom that the actor Stanislav Zhdanko, not particularly successful at that time, came to the premiere of the film "Thief" together with his friend Valentina Malyavina.

During a dinner at the aforementioned couple's house, which was attended by Proskurin, Zhdanko could not hide his envy and announced his decision to continue his work in Lenkom too. “Who needs you there? - Proskurin quipped.

It is not known whether this phrase or something else provoked an unpleasant event, but the next morning Stanislav Zhdanko was found dead.

Malyavin was accused of the murder of the actor, but she managed to add Proskurin to this tragedy. Fortunately, the actor was only a witness in the case, so the unpleasant event did not affect his stage career in any way. Moreover, she was confidently gaining momentum. The images that Proskurin embodied on the screen were not just different, they were absolutely different from each other.

Viktor Proskurin played his best roles at the end of the last century. Just what is the "Cruel Romance", in which Proskurin played Vasily Vozhevaty - a kind-hearted friend of Larisa's dowry, who by the end of the picture turned into a cruel merchant. And in "Once Upon a Time 20 Years Later" the hearts of many viewers were won over by the father of many children, who was successfully played by Proskurin. In "The Queen of Spades" he was Herman, in the drama "Turn" - a driver, in "Spring Call" - a recruit Kononov. But the role of border guard Alexander Blinov in the film "Marry the Captain" made him truly famous.

Proskurin had the main quality of an actor, which the members of the selection committee could not see in him - he was a person.

Black line

The demand for cinema has led to a reduction in the number of theatrical roles that the filming actor was offered less and less. Outraged by this circumstance, Proskurin decided to talk with the head of Lenkom, Mark Zakharov. The quick temper of the actor played a cruel joke on him. The conversation turned out to be not particularly pleasant, and Proskurin hastily wrote a letter of resignation. Only after some time did the actor realize what a big mistake he made then. Subsequently, he repeatedly tried to recover in Lenkom, but failed.

After Lenkom, Proskurin continued his activities at the Ermolaeva Theater. By the way, there he gave all the best, because they stopped offering him worthy roles in the cinema.

In the mid-90s, the actor got into a serious car accident, in connection with which he had to suspend his creative activity. The recovery period lasted more than one year. All this time, Proskurin retained a place in the troupe, he was even paid a salary. True, he almost never appeared on stage.

This state of affairs did not really like the new artistic director of the theater, Oleg Menshikov, who soon raised the question of Proskurin's dismissal. Following him, on the insistent recommendation of the management, Dogileva had to resign. Only if she did not become silent, completely preaching Menshikov, then Proskurin wished to save face and therefore left with dignity, declaring that he had no desire to take part "in this everyday life."

The artist continued to act in films, although not as often as before. And, as before, in whatever role Proskurin played, he always appeared before the audience in a new way.

Personal life

In his personal life, Proskurin was not particularly lucky. The first wife of the artist was classmate Olga Gavrilyuk, who gave birth to his only daughter, Alexandra. True, the couple divorced, not having lived together for a year.

With another wife, also an artist Tatyana Derbeneva, the actor lived for three whole years. But this marriage also fell apart due to the new passion of the artist Svetlana Kalganova. With this woman, Proskurin finally managed to create a family, they lived together for twenty years. But this marriage was not destined to exist forever. Having survived the consequences of a terrible accident together, the couple broke up.

The last wife of the actor was Irina Honda, with whom he lives to this day. Currently, Proskurin is not much removed. Which, by the way, worries his fans. Probably, this is real glory when the audience does not want to forget the actor. Who knows, maybe the directors will still offer Proskurin a really good role, worthy of the talent of this actor? And we will wait for his appearance on the screen.