The hero-lover and the modest intellectual: Two different fates of the strizhenov brothers-actors

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

Many of the film critics at one time liked to compare talents of the Strizhenov brothers-actors, which in the 50s flashed brightly in the firmament of Russian cinema. Modest, intelligent, generous with a rich inner world, Gleb was always opposed to Oleg - the youngest of the brothers, who was the absolute opposite of the elder. A charismatic, courageous, outwardly charming hero-lover - this is how the audience remembered Strizhenov Jr. from the films "The Gadfly", "Forty-first", "Not Justified" …

Dynasty of brothers Strizhenov

The Strizhenovs' surname became famous in the middle of the last century, when the brothers Gleb and Oleg began acting in films, and the smaller one hit the screens earlier than the older one for a couple of years. But at the beginning of this century, this surname is honorably borne by the successors of the dynasty - Alexander, Catherine and their daughter Alexandra. It is also worth noting that there were actually three Strizhenov brothers. The oldest was a brother (from his mother's first marriage) - Boris Alexandrovich Strizhenov (1919-1942), a lieutenant of the Red Army, a fighter pilot who died at Stalingrad during the Patriotic War.

The eldest of the dynasty of film actors, Gleb Strizhenov, was often perceived by the public not only as a talented actor, but as the brother of the brilliant Oleg Strizhenov. Unlike his stellar brother, he was less well-known, although his filmography includes about 45 film roles. Due to his extraordinary non-Soviet appearance and character traits, Gleb Alexandrovich got the roles of aristocrats, nobles, white officers, priests, as well as images of very complex personalities.

It had a strong core and an inner mystery. In the look of large sad eyes, one could read the nobility and depth of nature. But, absolutely not fitting into Soviet cinema, Gleb Strizhenov most often appeared in supporting roles, playing his characters in such a way that he was forever remembered by the audience. White officer from Optimistic Tragedy, priest in Elusive Avengers, Staff Captain Gremin in Tavern on Pyatnitskaya, war veteran Yakubov in Garage, Professor Glan in Through Thorns to the Stars … And what is the role of a general Von Schratt in "Days of the Turbins" or work in the paintings "Crazy Gold" and "Red and Black". All the directors considered the actor's appearance too chiseled, intelligent, although he himself always dreamed of diverse roles, including comic ones.

But due to his external data, his brother Oleg successfully played heroes-lovers and romantic movie heroes. Strizhenov Jr., who was called the Soviet Alain Delon, has always enjoyed great success with women. Films with his participation were doomed to overwhelming success. Nevertheless, directors were afraid to invite Oleg to roles in their films. And at the end of the 1960s, a completely unspoken order from the State Film Agency appeared: "Do not shoot Strizhenov!" All due to the fact that he often left many films without finishing shooting. Apparently, therefore, in his filmography there are not many more than 30 roles in films, he gave all his acting potential to the theater. So, the conflict between Oleg Alexandrovich and the Minister of Culture Yekaterina Furtseva and the famous director Sergei Bondarchuk is still remembered in the acting environment. Why the famous actor Oleg Strizhenov earned the fame of the "inconvenient" hero - read in our publication.

It is worth noting that there have never been significant disputes, strife, envy, or rivalry between the brothers. It seemed to many that Oleg was luckier than his brother. But, it only seemed. The thing is that Gleb lived his own life, built his career, not particularly striving for fame, success with the public, the desire to earn large fees. There was never any competition between the actors - on the contrary, Oleg Strizhenov admitted that he idolized his brother and was very upset by his early departure.

However, not only in their creative careers, the brothers were the complete opposite of each other, but also in their personal life - the elder was a one-man, well, and the younger had several wives and mistresses.

Gleb Strizhenov (1925-1985)

It so happened that Gleb's youth fell on wartime. When the Great Patriotic War began, he was only 16 years old. He, like many boys, was eager to go to the front in those dashing years. Therefore, having thrown on myself a couple of extra years, I found myself on the front line. In the very first battle, Strizhenov received a concussion and was declared unfit for service. So, since 1941, Gleb Strizhenov became an amateur actor.

Strizhenov, who had dreamed of becoming an artist since childhood, during the war years without professional education, but with incredible artistic talent, played on the stage of Moscow, Irkutsk, Vladimir, Ulyanovsk. Only after the Victory did Gleb go to study at the Moscow Art Theater School.

In 1953, Strizhenov graduated from his studies and was assigned to work at the Irkutsk Drama Theater. However, the actor did not have to serve for a long time in a provincial theater - soon he was called back to the capital to the Gogol Theater, where he met his future wife, also an actress, Lydia Antonova. A young shy young man perfectly played the guitar and sang romances, loved and knew how to recite poetry, how could you not fall in love with something like that …

The personal life of Strizhenov Sr. developed completely atypical for the acting environment: he was a monogamous person. True, only a few facts are known about the Strizhenovs' married life, told to reporters by his wife after the death of the actor. According to her, Gleb was an ideal family man; in the first place he always put not work, but his family.

The couple lived for several years in a civil marriage, believing that the stamp put in the passport would not affect their family life in any way. In those years, this was a rather non-standard and progressive opinion. And when it became known that Lydia was expecting a baby, they signed. With the birth of their daughter Elena and the stamps in their passports, nothing changed in their family, they still treated each other with trembling love and understanding. Gleb lived with Lydia for three decades in perfect harmony. And although Strizhenov Sr. had no less fans than Strizhenov Jr., he, according to his wife, due to his natural nobility, never allowed himself to give her a reason for jealousy.

Gleb Strizhenov passed away in 1985 at the age of 60. Lung cancer, which developed as a result of long-standing pneumonia and excessive smoking, severely undermined the artist's health. In the acting environment, it was rumored that he accelerated his departure himself, having drunk a lethal dose of sleeping pills and washed it down with alcohol. But no one has made any official confirmation of this fact. Whether this is true, or speculation - no one except the closest knows.

Oleg Strizhenov (born 1929)

Since childhood, Oleg was a very capable, agile, athletic guy. And being a passionate maximalist, he was a leader in everything, as they said then - a pervach. Therefore, being only the first - in the classroom, in the yard, in a fight … - was the motto of Strizhenov Jr.'s life.

By the age of 15, Oleg's creative talents literally cut through - he drew very decently, played the seven-string guitar, sang, and danced the tap dance skillfully. He, of course, like his brother, was preparing to become an artist, but in the post-war period the guy had to build the Paveletsky railway station and lay a railway for electric trains. Then there was a study at the Theater Art and Technical School (TCTU) at the fake department and the Shchukin school at the acting department, after which he was assigned to the Drama Theater of Tallinn.

It was at that time that they would begin to invite a young promising actor to various film projects that would make him incredibly popular, especially among a female audience. Almost from the first roles in the cinema, Oleg Strizhenov was assigned the role of a romantic hero.

Favorite women of Oleg Strizhenov. Marianna Bebutova-Gryzunova - the first wife of the actor

The actor's personal life did not work out right away, despite the fact that he had many fans both among spectators and among actresses. And all because all his life he loved only one woman, with whom it was not possible to enter into a marriage union immediately - only twenty years after the first meeting.

Oleg Strizhenov was married three times. The first wife is Marianna Bebutova, his partner in the film The Gadfly. In 1957, their daughter Natalya was born. And then it seemed to both of them that their family happiness would never end. However, after 10 years they separated. And there was a good reason for that …

Read about this love story of Oleg Strizhenov, which originated on the set: Oleg and Marianna Strizhenov: How The Gadfly Changed the Fates of the Actors.

An affair with Lyudmila Marchenko

Marianne that her husband had cooled down to her and was walking to the left began to guess long before the divorce. Rumors persisted about a close relationship with Isolde Izvitskaya, with whom the actor starred in the film Forty-first. But Strizhenov always denied a connection with Izvitskaya. And when rumors reached his wife that Oleg had got himself an 18-year-old mistress - actress Lyudmila Marchenko, her patience came to an end. She herself insisted on a divorce. However, Strizhenov and Marchenko did not develop further relations. They broke up, and the young actress had an abortion, after which she was never able to have children.

About her further fate - in our publication: Who Ruined Lyudmila Marchenko's Film Career: The Broken Fate of “Soviet Audrey Hepburn”.

Lyubov Zemlyanikina - Strizhenov's second wife

With his second wife, actress Lyubov Zemlyanikina (nee Lifentsova), Strizhenov met at the Moscow Art Theater. In 1969, they had a son, Alexander, who later became an actor, film director, screenwriter and producer. The couple separated, having barely lived together for 6 years. In 2008, Lyubov Strizhenova went to a monastery.

Lionella Pyryeva - the eternal love of Oleg Strizhenov

Lionella Pyryeva (nee Skirda, the ex-wife of Ivan Pyryev) is the third wife of Oleg Strizhenov, with whom he legalized relations in 1976 and lives with her to this day. But, for the first time, Oleg Alexandrovich saw her and fell in love for life in 1955. It was with Lionella that they had been waiting for each other for almost 20 years. - said the actor.

You will learn about this incredible love story from the publication: 2 star marriages and one passion of Lionella Pyryeva.

And since the actor has not let journalists into his life and does not give interviews for more than 10 years, leading a closed lifestyle, some have already managed to "bury" him. Fortunately, these rumors turned out to be unfounded. In August 2020, Oleg Strizhenov turned 91, and he lives happily with his wife. A son with a daughter-in-law, granddaughters, great-grandchildren often visit them. By the way, they have no common children with their wife. Did not work out…

- this is how the actor speaks warmly about his wife.