All Kmit are obstinate and famous: The fate of the heirs of the acting dynasty Petka from "Chapaev"

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

The surname Kmit in the world of cinema is known thanks to several actors who were related by family ties. The founder of the dynasty was Leonid Kmit, who became famous for his role as Petka in the legendary film "Chapaev". His heirs followed in his footsteps, in many ways following his path. All of them were distinguished by a very obstinate character and explosive disposition, and colleagues were often afraid of them, and directors were afraid to invite them to the shooting. Perhaps that is why all Kmit's creative destinies were very similar: a meteoric rise - early glory - and the same quick decline of a career …

Leonid Kmit

Alexey Kmita (with an emphasis on the last syllable) was born in 1908 in a simple family, his father was a stoker, and his mother was a weaver. Alexey started working early, getting a job as a mechanic at the Leningrad Machine-Building Plant, but he always dreamed of an acting profession. True, he had one problem that prevented the realization of this dream - he stuttered badly. Nevertheless, Alexei began to study in theater workshops, and then graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Performing Arts. His film debut took place in 1928, in the era of silent films. And when the era of sound films began, Alexey was going to say goodbye to the profession. But then something happened, which is usually said: "There would be no happiness, but misfortune helped." Once Alexei fell into a snow-covered well, and from fear and stress, the stuttering disappeared forever.

From the very first roles in the movie, Alexei appeared in the credits as Leonid Kmit: he removed the last letter of the surname for euphony and called himself his yard nickname - Lenka (derived from "Lesha"). This name soon became known throughout the country: in 1934 Leonid Kmit played the role of Petka in the film "Chapaev", which became his trademark. But after that, there were no more such vivid roles in his film career.

They say that Keith had a very obstinate and quarrelsome character. Being a vain man, he strove to be the best, often clashed with colleagues, argued with the directors, explaining to them how to shoot this or that episode. Because of this, many simply did not want to contact him and did not invite him to the shooting. Once, at the anniversary of the cinema, the artists were awarded orders, and one Kmit was replaced with a medal. And the actor threw it at the Minister of Cinematography Ivan Bolshakov with the words: ""

He did not get roles also because the audience stopped recognizing him. The fractured nasal septum prevented him from breathing, which prompted him to undergo plastic surgery. A straight nose looked more aesthetically pleasing, but the audience remembered Petka as snub-nosed, and with a new face he lost his individuality and charm. Leonid Kmit spent his last years in complete oblivion and loneliness. New roles were no longer offered, the audience forgot about him. In March 1982, the actor passed away at the age of 74.

Inna Kmit

In his first marriage with the circus artist Alexandra Demyanenko, Leonid Kmit's daughter Inna was born in 1932. A few years later, the couple separated, and Inna remained to live with her father. When she was 10 years old, her mother died in the camps where she was being held on charges of espionage. Inna followed in her father's footsteps and also chose an acting profession. She graduated from the Shchepkinsky Theater School and performed on the stage of the Lenkom Theater.

Her film career lasted only 9 years, during which time she played 5 roles, 2 of which were the main ones. The first role in the film "She Loves You" brought popularity and recognition to the 24-year-old debutante. But she did not enjoy her success for long. Inna inherited not only talent from her father, but also an obstinate character. When in 1963 a new director, Anatoly Efros, came to Lenkom, he began to show the young beauty signs of attention. Once it seemed to her that they were too intrusive, she slapped him in the face. After that, Inna was forced to leave the theater.

In the late 1950s. the actress started working on television and soon decided to leave the acting profession. Since 1965, Inna Kmit has no longer acted in films. She graduated from directing courses, filmed documentaries, and eventually became the director of the "Time" program. Inna had a congenital heart defect, which was the reason for her premature departure. She passed away in 1996 at the age of 63.

Ekaterina Kmit

In the second marriage with actor Boris Bystrov, known for the leading role in the film "Aladdin's Magic Lamp", Inna Kmit had a daughter, Catherine, who continued the acting dynasty. In many ways, she repeated the fate of her grandfather and mother. Her parents also divorced early when she was 8 years old, and she took her mother's last name. In 1988, Ekaterina Kmit graduated from the pop department of the State School of Variety and Circus Art, after which she performed on the stage of the Theater "At Nikitskiye Vorota" for about a year. Just like her mother, she left the theater because of the director's harassment. After that, she worked as a fashion model and participated in beauty contests. The actress herself later said: "".

At the age of 13, Ekaterina played her first film role, and then continued her film career in the early 1990s. Cinematography in those days was going through a crisis, many films were released in which directors tried to attract the attention of the audience with provocative content "on the topic of the day." The main characters in them were often bandits and women of easy virtue. There were several similar roles in the filmography of Ekaterina Kmit, but it is rather difficult to single out successful ones among them. In the new movie, her type was unclaimed, and after 2007 the actress no longer appeared on the screens.

In an interview, Catherine said: "". And this is not a metaphor: once the grandfather, Leonid Kmit, gave his granddaughter a piano. And when she did not live up to his expectations and did not start making music, he chopped him to pieces with an ax. The same fate awaited the guitar.

Denis Kmit

Leonid Kmit, in addition to his own daughter Inna, had an adopted son, Denis. His own father, actor Nikolai Gritsenko, did not recognize him, and Leonid adopted him in his second marriage with photojournalist Galina. And Denis also largely repeated the fate of his relatives, although he had the most difficult trials. He also started acting very early, at the age of 8 he made his debut in the film "Gypsy". He also graduated from a theater university - the Moscow Art Theater School. Fame also came to him very early: at 22, Denis played one of the main roles in Leonid Gaidai's comedy "Sportloto-82". His film career also ended early, but for different reasons.

Soon after filming the movie "Sportloto-82" Denis fell from the height of the second floor and received a serious spinal injury, which is why he was confined to a wheelchair and had to leave the acting profession. In the 1990s. he played 2 more film roles, but this was the end of his film career. In July 2019, Denis Kmit died at the age of 60.

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