Leonid Kharitonov: biography, filmography, personal life

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Leonid Kharitonov, whose biography is described in this article, is a Soviet theater and film actor, Honored Artist of the RSFSR. He was born on May 19, 1930 in a city located on the great Neva River, called Leningrad. Kharitonov's mother worked all the time as a doctor, and her father worked as an engineer. Lenya had a younger brother, whose name was Victor. The father and mother made a lot of efforts to instill in children a love of art and encouraged the brothers for their passion for theatrical and musical arts. Little Kharitonov tried not to miss the opportunity to read a poem or sing a song at family holidays, which were attended by many friends of his parents.

School years

Lenya, who had grown up a little, was enrolled by his parents in the rather prestigious gymnasium No. 239 in those days. A theater circle successfully worked in this educational institution under the guidance of the then-famous actress Maria Prizvan-Sokolova. Colorful narrations about the theatrical stage impressed the boy greatly, and he resolutely set himself the goal of becoming a great artist. Little Leonid Kharitonov, whose personal life was different from the rest of the students of the studio, was characterized by a good ability toacting art - he was quite successful in vocal singing, he knew how to boldly stay on stage, and absorbed pedagogical advice from the first time.

In his school years, the nickname "artist" stuck to him due to the fact that he was an obligatory participant in almost all the performances that were staged at that time at school. After the 9th grade, the boy passed the exams at the theater studio, but he was not enrolled there because he did not have a matriculation certificate by that time.

Student period

After graduating from school, Leonid Kharitonov successfully entered the university, where he selflessly studied law for a year, and filled his free time with his favorite pastime in a student drama club. The role of the auditor Bobchinsky made me seriously think about the career of a theater and film actor. In his university years, Kharitonov received an offer to serve in intelligence, while the condition was set that he could expect a long stay abroad, and, accordingly, many had to be sacrificed. The actor did not accept such an offer because of his great love for theatrical art. During the tour of the Moscow Art Theater in the city on the Neva, a set was announced for their school-studio. Nemirovich-Danchenko. The young man decided to take the exams. He passed all the stages perfectly and was enrolled.

The future film actor graduated from the school-studio in 1954 and was immediately enrolled in the list of actors of the theater troupe. In the same year, Kharitonov had the opportunity to play for the first time in the film "Schoolcourage", besides, he started playing there while still a student.

Leonid Kharitonov: films about soldier Ivan Brovkin

A year after the filming of "School of Courage", the film "Soldier Ivan Brovkin" appeared on the screens. In order to get used to the actor's costume of the hero, he was allowed to put on a soldier's uniform every day. And for a better understanding and study of the character of the hero Ivan, Leonid Kharitonov (the photo of the soldier is presented below) was engaged in drill military training for several hours a day, learned to drive a motorcycle and a tractor, and even abandoned the understudy singer.

He insisted on his own performance of all the songs involved in the picture. Leonid studied the comedy script for several months, carefully delving into every line, trying to fully imagine the cheerful soldier Brovkin, who was famous for his untimely and inappropriate actions. During the filming of "Ivan Brovkin", the artist's stomach ulcer worsened, which was acquired during the Leningrad blockade.

In the summer of 1955, on the streets of Sukhumi, a military patrol stopped a young soldier, because he did not greet an officer walking by and was not dressed according to the charter. The detained soldier not only did not stretch out at attention, but also tried to enter into an argument. He was taken to the commandant's office. After some time, the “detainee” left her with a smile in the company of the commandant himself. When the latter let him go, he warned that when wearing a military uniform, one must comply with the existing military regulations, and presentedofficer, whom Leonid did not greet, as an actor who played in the film "School of Courage".

After the appearance on the screens of "Soldier Ivan Brovkin" Leonid Kharitonov woke up a real idol of a whole generation. He received letters from soldiers, girls, mothers and grandmothers. He was inundated with invitations to meetings in clubs, educational institutions and industrial enterprises. Kharitonov, with his game, created the image of a new folk hero - an unlucky, but good-natured, modest and attractive boy. His characters both educated and delighted audiences of all ages. The actor himself was also something like a hero: he never made requests on personal matters, spent his life modestly, communicated with everyone on an equal footing, and did not allow refusal of help.

Leonid Kharitonov, whose filmography includes thirty-nine feature films, became a real national idol because of the role of Ivan Brovkin. But also a victim of the same role.

Actor's Amorousness

Leonid Kharitonov, whose biography testifies to the success of the female representatives, was an extremely amorous young man. According to the memoirs of his classmate Lev Durov, Lenya Kharitonov was not tall and did not have an athletic figure at all, but he enjoyed great success with his peers both at the university and at the studio school. And ended romances with them grew into friendship until the end of days.

Artist Kharitonov Leonid and his wife

The place of Kharitonov's first wife was taken by his classmate Svetlana Sorokina. They aresigned in the third year, their cohabitation lasted only two years. After a divorce from Leonid, Svetlana, who left her husband's surname, worked at the Film Actor Theater, then at the Satire Theater.

She claimed that Leonid captivated everyone with his good disposition and gentle nature. "Soldier Ivan Brovkin" brought the actor stardom. It so happened that the film that brought the actor to popularity broke the life of his first wife. Fans overcame him everywhere. He did not even think to hide the fact that he really liked female attention. On the set of the film "The Street is Full of Surprises", he developed an affair with D. Osmolovskaya. Svetlana was very offended by this and was very worried.

Osmolovskaya, who became the second wife, gave birth to a son to Leonid Vladimirovich. However, this family was destined to fall apart. The third and last wife of Kharitonov was at that time a student of the school of the Moscow Art Academic Theater Evgenia Gibova.

Actor's addiction

Kharitonov made friends with famous old-timers - B. Livanov, A. Gribov and V. Belokurov. The latter is known for the film "Valery Chkalov". The witty Boris Livanov joked about the stripe on the jumper worn by Belokurov, that it was the “filling line”. Leonid Kharitonov was greatly protected by the keys to his own car, while he put his hand in his pocket, claiming that he was driving, even when the car was not at all with him.

But Kharitonov's ex-wife Gemma claimed that the harmfuladdiction to alcohol still had a negative effect on acting life, because everyone tried to invite Lenya to spend time together and, accordingly, drink some kind of alcoholic drink. And the actor often did not have the spirit to refuse. At the beginning of her married life with Leonid, Osmolovskaya tried not to notice, but soon realized that it was impossible to endure all this. This addiction was the reason for the divorce. In this situation, the director of the theater in which she worked offered to help save Leonid. The help of friends helped to arrange the actor in a specialized clinic, where he stayed for several months. The treatment helped for a while, and then it all started again. The divorce from Gemma was quiet, without reproaches from Kharitonov due to his mild nature.

Loy alty to the Moscow Art Theater scene

In 1962, Kharitonov went to the Theater. Lenin Komsomol, and then - to the Drama Theater. Pushkin. However, he did not stay long in the last temple of theatrical art - in 1963 he again returned to the stage of the Moscow Art Theater.

But soon a kind of stagnant phenomenon formed in the Moscow Academic Theater - they staged too little. The head Oleg Efremov again promised to give Kharitonov a role, but, unfortunately, Leonid Vladimirovich was not on the list. They put on "Ward No. 6", where he had one of the main roles. Tatyana Doronina in the play became his partner. At first glance, it seemed that in the life of the actor Leonid Kharitonov, an actor's enlightenment had come. However, at one point this performance, dear to his heart, was for some reason removed from the repertoire. And later, nevertheless, they decided to restore it, but again the unexpected happened - all the scenery was destroyed by a strong fire.

Cause of serious condition

In the last years of his life, Kharitonov was extremely ill. In the summer of 1980, when the Moscow Olympics were held, the artist suffered a stroke. Then, on the set of the film "From the Life of the Head of the Criminal Investigation", 07/04/84, there was a recurrent stroke.

Forgotten Ivan Brovkin

In the eighties of the twentieth century, Kharitonov disappeared from movie posters, he was hardly remembered. Only the painting “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears” reminded him of his past fame; in it, at the entrance to the Theater of the Film Actor, one heroine screams with delight when the actor Leonid Kharitonov stands in front of her.

With age, Leonid Kharitonov acted less and less, in the main part he was engaged in teaching work, preparing himself for a real role. He was occasionally seen in episodes.

Artist Leonid Kharitonov did not want to repeat himself, and, unfortunately, no one gave new roles. He had many trips with performances in the USSR, but the most famous film actor of the 50s was never allowed to go abroad.

There was a split in the Moscow Art Theater on 06/20/87. Some of the actors remained with O. Efremov, and some moved to T. Doronina. Kharitonov did not want to go anywhere.

Death of a People's Star

20.06.87, due to another stroke, Leonid Kharitonov died suddenly. The films of this actor were filled with real vitality and kindness. Because of himLoy alty to the two split wings of the Moscow Art Theater at once, funeral speeches were delivered by both heads of this theater. A wreath "From Mom" (Tatyana Ivanovna Peltzer, who played the mother in "Ivan Brovkin") was placed on the tombstone, since his own mother was no longer alive.

Tombstone - the personification of the Moscow Art Theater split

The stele at the Vagankovsky cemetery looks like a stone seagull split into two parts, which symbolizes the collapse of the Moscow Art Academic Theater named after A. P. Chekhov. The words “Leonid Kharitonov” are carved on it. The actor Kharitonov Leonid himself became the hero of the documentary film "The Drama of Ivan Brovkin" shot later, his personal life was also covered.