Vasily Lanovoy - 86: What viewers don't know about the famous actor

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

On January 16, the famous theater and film actor, People's Artist of the USSR Vasily Lanovoy celebrates his 86th birthday. Today he needs no introduction - he has more than 100 films on his account, many of which have become legendary: "Pavel Korchagin", "Scarlet Sails", "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina", "Officers", "Days of the Turbins" and etc. In the 1960-1970s. he was one of the most sought-after and popular actors. His professional life was very successful, but outside the set, misfortunes fell upon him one after another …

Vasily Lanovoy's father and mother were from the village of Strymba, Odessa region. In 1931, they moved to Moscow, fleeing hunger, and after 3 years they had a son. When he was 6 years old, the Great Patriotic War began, and these years became one of the most terrible for the family. A few days before the start of the war, the boy, along with his younger sister, was sent to Strymba to his grandfather and grandmother, while his parents remained in Moscow. Communication with the occupied by German troops Ukraine was cut off, and for almost 3 years they did not know anything about the fate of their children. Only after these lands were liberated, the mother was able to take her son and daughter to Moscow. During the war, Lanovoy's parents worked at a chemical plant, where they severely undermined their health and received a disability.

Lanovoy's acting future could be in big question because of an incident that happened during the war. Later he said: "".

The professional fate of Vasily Lanovoy was decided by chance. Once he and a friend, walking around the city, saw the playbill of the play "Tom Sawyer", staged by the participants in the drama club of the House of Culture at the plant. Likhachev. After they saw this production, they got the idea to enter this drama club. So at the age of 14, Lanovoy first appeared on the stage. And after 3 years he was entrusted with the main role in the play "Certificate of Maturity", which became fateful for him. After school, Vasily easily passed the competition at the Shchukin School, but he still doubted the choice of his future profession. He applied to the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University, but then he was offered to play in the film "Certificate of Maturity" the same role that he played in the play. After Lanovoy first got on the set, he left Moscow State University and returned to the Shchukin School.

After graduation, Lanovoy was accepted into the troupe of the Theater. E. Vakhtangov, however, at first he did not get serious roles. But within a few years he became a leading actor. But in the cinema, from the very first works, he began to play the main roles, which was largely facilitated by his spectacular appearance and the role of a romantic hero. The role of Pavel Korchagin in the film of the same name and the role of Arthur Gray in "Scarlet Sails" turned him into an all-Union star.

The son of simple peasants, Vasily Lanovoy possessed an innate aristocracy and on the screens looked like a real prince from a fairy tale, however, not only outward resemblance made the actor related to his hero. During filming, he repeated the act of Arthur Gray for his wife, actress Tamara Zyablova. At that time, she was vacationing in Yalta, where the film was filmed. The scene with the scarlet sails was supposed to be filmed in Koktebel, but Lanovoy persuaded the captain to raise the sails in Yalta. He recalled: "".

This tale lasted only 10 years and ended tragically: Tamara Zyablova died in a car accident. At that time, she was pregnant. The horror of the situation was that Lanovoy had not lost an unborn child for the first time. Zyablova was his second wife, and the first was the actress Tatyana Samoilova, whom Vasily met in his student years. Both spouses' film careers developed very rapidly, and they hardly saw each other, constantly disappearing on the set. Lanovoy dreamed that his wife would leave the profession, give birth to children and devote herself to the family, but Samoilova did not want such a future for herself. And when she found out about her pregnancy, she decided to interrupt her without consulting her husband. As it turned out, they could have had twins. The wife's act put an end to their relationship. This Lanovoy could not forgive his first wife.

Almost 8 years after the breakup, Vasily Lanovoy and Tatiana Samoilova met again - in the film "Anna Karenina" they played a couple in love. The actor said: "".

1971 turned out to be a turning point both in the acting and in the personal life of the actor. This year, his wife Tamara Zyablova died without having time to give him a child. But the film career took off again: in 1971 the film "Officers" was released, which was watched by more than 53 million viewers. According to the magazine "Soviet Screen", Vasily Lanovoy for the role of Ivan Varavva was recognized as the best actor of the year. His fit into the image of a bold, noble and romantic officer was one hundred percent - perhaps because this hero was close to him. The actor said: "".

Soon after this success, Lanovoy also found personal happiness: in 1972 he married actress Irina Kupchenko, with whom he remains to this day. This marriage turned out to be very harmonious and happy, but the tests for the actor did not end there. In 1973, the couple had a son, Alexander, and 3 years later, a son, Sergei. But they could have had another child - the youngest son had a twin brother who died at birth. And in 2013, a tragedy struck: 37-year-old Sergei died. Even after learning about the death of his son, Lanovoy did not cancel the performance and found the strength to go on stage.

The actor has always taken his profession very seriously and continues to appear on stage, even despite his health problems. On the eve of his 85th birthday, he was hospitalized due to problems with blood pressure, but this was not a reason for him to leave the theater. "", - says Lanovoy.

Once the actress Alla Demidova said about him: ““It's hard to disagree with her - and in adulthood, Vasily Lanovoy did not lose his charm and masculinity. At 80, he did somersaults on stage, and he called good genes and the absence of bad habits the secret of his excellent shape. It remains only to congratulate the actor on his birthday and wish him good health, mental and creative strength and long life!

Despite all the trials, Vasily Lanovoy does not consider his fate unhappy, and prefers to remain silent about his personal experiences. Just like his wife: What Irina Kupchenko does not talk about in an interview.