Actor Alexei Smirnov: biography, personal life, films

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

The image of a cheerful, good-natured and funny Fyodor from Gaidai's comedy "The Adventures of Shurik" is familiar to many since childhood. But few people know about the difficult life and the tragic fate of the performer of this role. The subject of the material is the actor Alexei Smirnov.

Stage Talent

Favorite artist was born on February 28, 1920. In the family, besides him, there was a younger brother Arkady. When the boys were small, their parents moved to St. Petersburg. The children grew up there. Dad died young. The sons were raised by their mother. She was a strong and confident woman. Fearing that she would not cope with her duties and would not be able to raise good young men, the widow rarely even let the boys out into the yard.

The first roles of Alexei Smirnov were still at school. The talent of the actor manifested itself quite early. He actively participated in the amateur class. Therefore, a handsome, young and energetic guy was accepted into the theater studio without hesitation. There the young man declared himself as a successful student. In 1940 he was admitted to the Leningrad Theater of Musical Comedy, where he took courses. Interestingly, the actor had no hearing.

He managed to play only one role when he was drafted into the army. Subsequently thunderedThe Great Patriotic War. The young man immediately signed up as a volunteer.

Then the artist left his girlfriend, whom he promised to marry immediately upon returning home.

The soul of the company

At the front, as well as on stage, Alexei Makarovich Smirnov was a real star. He differed from other soldiers in a good sense of humor and the ability to cheer. Often the man refused to obey the orders of higher officials. But disobedience to the actor was forgiven.

Another achievement of the artist is the concerts that he put on for his comrades at the front. Alexey played the main roles and acted as a director. The evenings he organized became a consolation for many soldiers. Most of all, the military liked the production of "Wedding in Malinovka", where later, ironically, actor Alexei Smirnov played one of the most striking roles.

In battle, the man was distinguished by extraordinary courage. He skillfully destroyed enemy equipment, captured the Germans and repeatedly saved his brothers from certain death.

For his devotion to the Motherland, Alexei was awarded many medals. He was awarded the Order of Glory I and II degrees. The title of Hero of the Union prevented getting shell shock.

Terrible news

Returning from the hospital, the first thing this man did was to part with his beloved, who was waiting for him. Then no one could explain such an act of a soldier. And only many years later it became known that after an injury at the front, Alexei Smirnov became infertile. The biography of a cheerful and kind artist was actually verysad.

Almost no one knew about the military exploits of the actor. It should be noted that the man did not maintain contact with colleagues. Although Alexei was invited to meetings every year and wrote to him repeatedly, he avoided friends in the regiment. Moreover, he never told his colleagues in the shooting department about the years spent at the front. The actor's acquaintances are sure that the reason for such actions lies in the fact that any memories of the war were extremely painful for the soldier's vulnerable soul.

Despite this, in those rare moments when Alexei Makarovich Smirnov spoke about the front, his stories were filled with humor and joy.

Main woman

Throughout his life, the artist considered himself a very ugly person. I thought that no one would like tall stature and an asymmetrical face. He knew that he could not have children, and therefore did not try to have a serious relationship with the young ladies. He was often seen on the set surrounded by a company of ladies. But the man was never alone with them.

The only woman in his life was his mother. Strong and he althy, she accompanied him to the war. But in 1941, the younger brother Arkady died at the front. This tragedy broke the woman. Her mental he alth was affected. Therefore, the actor Alexei Smirnov was forced to look after the unfortunate.

After the war, he settled in his old little communal apartment with his mother. Due to his modesty, the artist, even when he became popular (plus, taking into account military achievements), did not manage to achieve a separate apartment.

Bitter Glory

After the war, he worked in the theater. Due to his mother's illness, he refused to tour and lucrative offers. However, filmmakers soon liked his textured face. At first, the man was invited to play episodic comic roles. The first screen work was the picture "B altic Glory" in 1957. Further, proposals rained down on the artist one after another.

At first Alexei Smirnov played only humorous roles. The films “Striped flight”, “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”, “Operation Y”, “Aibolit-66” became hits. After these roles, the man was recognized on the streets.

However, the actor himself dreamed of playing a dramatic character. This opportunity was given by Leonid Bykov, a friend of Alexei, director and protagonist of the film "Only "old men" go into battle." Many critics and viewers noticed that these men did not play friendship in front of the camera.

Warm feelings for each other they carried through time. Therefore, Bykov's death in April 1979 greatly affected Smirnov's he alth. When he was subsequently taken to the hospital, the doctors found several more serious illnesses. On May 7 of the same year, the actor was supposed to be discharged. However, that night, the man had a heart attack. Very few people came to the funeral of the great artist.

Unknown hero

Children especially loved this good-natured man. They ran after him in a herd, and he played with them for hours on end. Another of his talents was woodcarving. Almost every kid Alexeicase gave some funny figurine. He took some of his work to an orphanage. There, the actor drew attention to one closed boy and even wanted to arrange guardianship over him. However, the authorities did not allow Smirnov to become a father.

In real life, Alexey was far from the image of a clown and slow-witted. He read a lot, had a serious library. At the same time, he collected insects and reptiles, which he collected on tour in different parts of the Union. There were many icons in his room. Often quoted Japanese poetry.

The man off stage dressed very simply. He usually wore tracksuits. Actor Alexei Smirnov never suffered from star disease. He spoke without hesitation to strangers on the street and greeted everyone who recognized him. He was a truly great man with a great soul.