Soviet comedies are a whole cultural layer not only in domestic but also in world cinema. Talented directors filmed truly masterpieces in sparkling scenarios, and all this was complemented by a great game of actors. In cinema, it is believed that playing in comedy is much more difficult than in tragedy. Soviet actors could easily transform, and after comedies they gave out characteristic tragic roles. Together with thebiggest.ru we will look through the chronicles of old films, and in our film magazine the best comedians of the USSR.
1
Igor Ilyinsky (1901−1987)
A talented theater and film artist, screenwriter, director and master of the word of art was born in 1901, and at the age of 16 he has already played on the stage of the theater.
He began to act in silent films, and the talent of a comic actor was revealed in the form of an official by the name of Experienced in the famous comedy “Volga, Volga”. In 1956, “Carnival Night” was released by Eldar Ryazanov, and again the audience sincerely laughed at the director of the House of Culture, Ogurtsov, who was perfectly played by Ilyinsky.
Until the last days, Igor Vladimirovich remained faithful to the theater. For his merits, he was awarded many awards and prizes.
2
Sergey Filippov (1912−1990)
The Soviet comedian was born in a working class family in the city of Saratov in 1912. Career began on the stage of the ballet, but due to heart disease left the choreography.
Sergey Nikolayevich began to hone the comedian’s skills on the pop venues of the country, and in 1937 he made his film debut. Over the course of his career, he has participated in more than 100 films, and the Soviet and Russian cinema viewers remember his lecturer in the comedy Carnival Night. The phrase "Is there life on Mars?" gone to the people. Kisa Vorobyaninov in his performance became a national favorite.
In the last years of his life, he starred a little, but did not change the comedy genre. His last role was in the 1989 comedy "Private Detective, or Operation" Cooperation ", where he played an indignant pensioner.
3
Yuri Belov (1930−1991)
One of the most popular actors of 1950-1960, Yuri Belov was born in 1930, and after graduating from VGIK he began acting in films and working in the theater.
The first films brought him success and all-Union fame. “Girl without an address”, “Queen of a gas station”, “Unresponsive” became the pinnacle of his short film career. In the Soviet cinema, a magnificent duet of Yuri Belov and Nadezhda Rumyantseva developed.
His characters on the screen are always cheerful and funny, and in his life Yuri was a very reserved person, and behind the eyes of his colleagues called him "out of this world."
3
Nikolai Rybnikov (1930-1990)
A charming, cheerful person and a talented actor first appeared in 1951, playing a rural teacher. Nikolai waited a long time for his main role, and in 1956 he was invited to play steelmaker Alexander Savchenko.
The film "Spring on Zarechnaya Street" put Rybnikov among the most sought-after artists of the USSR. Suggestions from directors rained down one after another. The films “Height” and “Girls” consolidated their success.
In 1986, the actor played a small episode in the melodrama "Marry the Captain." According to surveys conducted by the magazine "Soviet Screen", the artist was recognized as the best performer of an episodic role.
4
Leonid Bykov (1928−1979)
The great director and talented artist was born in the village of Znamenka, Donetsk region, and during the war he was evacuated to Barnaul. At the end of the war he graduated from the Theater Institute and worked in the Kharkov Theater.
It is difficult to call Leonid Bykov a comic actor, but he embodied the image of Maxim Perepelitsa simply superbly. Good humor, funny situations in which the hero fell, caused the viewer to laugh. According to thebiggest editors, the film about Perepelitsa is one of the kindest and most emotional black and white comedies in the USSR.
As a director, he shot the comedy "Bunny" in which he played one of the main comic characters. “Only old people go into battle” became a picture of his life, which is still considered one of the best films about the Great Patriotic War.
5
Leonid Kharitonov (1930−1987)
Leonid dreamed about the career of an artist since childhood, but after graduation he entered the Law Faculty of the University in Leningrad. A year later, he dropped out of school, and successfully passed a competitive selection in a school-studio at the Moscow Art Theater.
A diverse actor could play in any role, and comic talent revealed in the epic about Ivan Brovkin. After the premiere of the film in 1955, Leonid becomes the idol of the generation of Soviet youth.
The heroes of Kharitonov not only educated, but also amused the viewer. After the first stroke, Leonid Kharitonov rarely appeared on the screen, and in "Moscow does not believe in tears" he played himself.
6
Evgeny Morgunov (1927−1999)
At the beginning of his career, Eugene was a comic episode. He played Stakhovich in The Young Guard, and in one of the cities he was attacked by boys, deciding that they had tracked down the traitor of the Motherland. So the actor was convincing in his role.
In the history of Soviet cinema and in the hearts of the audience, he entered the image of the experienced of the legendary comedies of Leonid Gaidai. After the tragedies, the actor was offered to play in a comedy, where he was immediately waiting for success after the release of “Moonshiners” and “Dog Watchdog Unusual Cross”.
And how splendidly and solemnly he played the poet Soyev in Pokrovsky Gates. And even the episodic role of a football referee in "Well Sitting" has become the pinnacle of acting. By the way, about the great players in the history of this sport, thebiggest.ru has a very interesting article with photos, descriptions and video clips.
7
Yuri Nikulin (1921−1997)
A wonderful man breathed and lived in a circus. Once in an interview with Nikulin they asked who he considered himself to be? “The second clown of the Soviet Union,” the actor replied. “And the first?” ... “And the first many,” said the beloved clown of the USSR with a smile.
In 1958 he made his film debut. He used circus comic tricks in his roles, and fell in love with the Soviet audience in the image of the eccentric Dunce from the famous Gaida three.
He played the main roles in truly popular comedy films “12 Chairs”, “Diamond Arm”, “Old Man-Robbers”. But in the cinema he managed to reveal his talent as a dramatic actor. “When the trees were big,” “Twenty Days Without War,” showed the viewer a completely different Nikulin.
8
George Vitsin (1917−2001)
All his life, the actor dreamed of playing Hamlet, and to prove himself in drama. But the appearance of Gregory was exploited in the comedy genre, and the role of the Coward in the inseparable trinity "Experienced, Dunce, Coward" brought him world fame and popular love.
In addition to the comedies of Gaidai, George Vitsin successfully starred in other films, in which he also got comic characters. In addition to the cinema, he played a lot in the theater, and also voiced cartoons and films.
For example, a talking cat speaks in Vitsin’s voice in “Sorcerers”, and in a cartoon, Kuzya Domovenok speaks in his cartoon voice.
9
Alexander Demyanenko (1937−1999)
Theater and film actor, the most talented dubbing master for many years has been hostage to one role. The image of a slightly unorganized, even absent-minded student Shurik brought him fame and love of the audience, but closed the road to many serious roles.
When affirming the roles of military leaders, scientists, party workers, the artistic council invariably recalled that Shurik could not play such roles.
But still, the career was successful. Throughout his life he played in more than one hundred films, and also voiced about 50 heroes of foreign films.
10
Mikhail Pugovkin (1923−2008)
Like many Soviet actors, Mikhail Pugovkin fought during the Second World War, and after being wounded he began working in the theater. In parallel with work on the theatrical stage, he successfully acted in films.
Bright, catchy images embodied on the screen by Mikhail immediately fell in love with the viewer. The artist considered the best years of creativity to be the period of work with Leonid Gaidai.
Zakhar Silych in “Ivan Brovkin on the virgin lands”, director Ivan Lukinsky, father Fyodor in “12 chairs”, Yasha-gunner in “Wedding Robin” - this is just an incomplete list of comic roles, perfectly played by Mikhail Pugovkin.
11
Evgeny Leonov (1926−1994)
The enormous charm, gentleness and openness made Yevgeny Leonov a favorite comedian of the Union. Fame came after the release of the movie "The Rumyantsev Case", and as a comedian the whole country recognized him during the premiere of the comedy "Striped Flight".
An easily recognizable squint, a look with a sly, charming smile became Leonov's main trump cards in the cinema. He showed the art of reincarnation in "Gentlemen of Fortune", and in "Athos" he perfectly played the role of Kolya's plasterer.
All the children of the Soviet Union know that the beloved fairy tale character of the cartoon Winnie the Pooh speaks in the voice of the legendary Soviet actor.
12
Savely Kramarov (1934−1995)
An original, bright and temperamental comedian with innate acting skills Savely Kramarov from the first appearance on the screen fell in love with the Soviet, and then the world audience.
Unusual appearance, squint and ability to make faces allowed him to create characteristic comic images ridiculously ridiculous, and sometimes silly.
Even a small episode in the famous comedy “Mimino” is remembered by the viewer, and anyone who watched the film remembers Kramarov’s phrase “Sorry, I will help Genatsvale in about five years ...”.
13
Leonid Kuravlev (1936)
At school, little Lenya did not study well, and therefore his sister advised him to go to a theater school, since there he did not need to take complex chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
On the second attempt, he became a student in the acting department of VGIK, and in 1959, still a student, he made his film debut. Kuravlev is a diverse, characteristic actor, but the audience remembered and loved his comic roles. Shura booths from "12 Chairs", but especially Athos from the comedy of the same name by George Danelia.
In the early 2000s, he embodied the unusual image of Colonel Ershov in the cult television series Streets of Broken Lights.
14
Mikhail Kokshenov (1936)
In the piggy bank of Mikhail Kokshenov, more than 120 movie roles, where he mainly appeared in a comic role. He got the images of a little stupid ambuls or rustic village guys.
The audience was remembered in the image of Stepan in the wonderful comedy “Sportloto-82”, as well as the mafioso Kravchuk in the comedy “The weather is good on Deribasovskaya, it rains again on Brighton Beach”.
Mikhail was often invited to appear in the comedy magazine "Jumble". After the collapse of the Union, he himself shot comedy films in which the best comedians of Russia were shot.
15
Borislav Brondukov (1938−2004)
Borislav was born in the village of Dubovaya in the Kiev region in a Russian-Polish family, and already becoming famous, he could not get rid of his Little Russian talk.
He began his career in the theater at the Arsenal plant, and then entered the Karpenko-Kary Theater Institute. Because of his appearance, he got the role of drunkards and loafers, although in the life of the Bronduks he did not drink alcohol at all.
One has only to recall the alcoholic Fedul in "Athos", the groom from the Ryazanov's "Garage", Izmailov from the comedy "Once Upon a Time," and a smile immediately appears. Even from the episode, the comedian, in his own words, could make candy.
16
Semyon Farad (1933−2009)
The real name of the beloved actor and comedian Ferdman, and his parents saw only a military future for his son. But Semyon dreamed about the scene.
While working at the factory, he spoke at the House of Culture on Mokhovaya, and then he was invited to television in the ABVGDeyka children's program. The sad clown Senya brought him all-Union fame, and Semyon began to be invited to the cinema.
It was the cinema that revealed the amazing comic talent of Farada. The roles in the comedy "Garage", the television movie "The Same Munchausen", "The Formula of Love", "Wizards" have become rightfully starred.
17
Anatoly Papanov (1922−1987)
Being wounded at the front, and becoming an invalid of group III, Anatoly left no desire to enter GITIS. After graduation, he left with his wife in Klaipeda to create a new theater, although he was invited to work by leading theaters of the Soviet capital.
Then he made his film debut, in which Papanov was quite convincing, both in tragic and in comic roles. A magnificent comic duo of Papanov and Mironov was created on the screen, where the actors complemented each other brightly.
He played more than 70 roles in the cinema, and the calling card was the voice acting of the Wolf in the popular Soviet animated film “Well, wait a minute!”.
18
Andrei Mironov (1941−1987)
Entertainer, talented theater and film artist Andrei Mironov graduated from the Shchukin School and was immediately enrolled in the troupe of the Satire Theater.
Fame came after the role of the shy veterinarian in the comedy "Three Plus Two." Then there were many memorable roles in sparkling comedies, where Anatoly Papanov acted as his constant partner.
His voice speaks the beloved and kindest character of Soviet cartoons Cote Leopold. In addition to working in the theater and filming a movie, he performed a lot on television. A frequent guest of the New Year's “Blue Lights”, “Around the Laughter” and other television shows.
19
Alexander Abdulov (1953−2008)
For the first time, Alexander came to the theater stage at the age of 5, and at the age of 21 he made his debut in cinema. After graduating from GITIS, he began working in the legendary Lenin Komsomol Theater, where he was invited by Mark Zakharov.
A diverse, characteristic artist could easily play any role. He managed both tragic and comic roles. He played great in detectives.
Among the comic roles, I especially remember the role of Jacob in the “Formula of Love”, as well as the television films of Mark Zakharov based on the plays of Grigory Gorin.
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Conclusion
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the traditions of the best Soviet comic actors were continued by Russian artists who successfully embody comedic images on the screens. Often, comedians become hostages of their role, from which it is then difficult to break out. But the love of the audience is the best reward, because after many years we continue to laugh at sparkling humor, and most of the phrases of our favorite comedic characters spread among the people and became winged. Thebiggest editors are waiting for your feedback, thoughts and criticism on the topic of the article. What other comedians of the USSR should be on this list? Write about this in the comments at the bottom of the article.
Posted by Valery Skiba