Oleg Nikolayevich Yefremov (russian: Оле́г Никола́евич Ефре́мов, 1 October 1927, Moscow, Soviet Union – 24 May 2000,
Moscow, Russia
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million r ...
) was a
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
and
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eight ...
n actor and
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre (or MAT; russian: Московский Художественный академический театр (МХАТ), ''Moskovskiy Hudojestvenny Akademicheskiy Teatr'' (МHАТ)) was a theatre company in Moscow. It was f ...
producer. He was a
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR ( rus, Народный артист СССР, Narodny artist SSSR), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union.
Nomenclature and significan ...
(1976) and a
Hero of Socialist Labour
The Hero of Socialist Labour (russian: links=no, Герой Социалистического Труда, Geroy Sotsialisticheskogo Truda) was an honorific title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries from 1938 to 1991. It repre ...
(1987).
In 1949, he graduated from
Moscow Art Theatre School
Moscow Art Theatre School is the studio school of the Moscow Art Theatre. It is a state educational institution that has existed since 1943. The initiator of the studio school was Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.
Oleg Yefremov debuted as a film actor in the melodrama '' The First Echelon'' in 1955. Since then he was regularly acting in films, and his every appearance on screen turned to be a real event for millions of spectators. Some of his most notable roles were in the films ''
The Alive and the Dead
''The Alive and the Dead'' (russian: Живые и мёртвые, Zhivye i myortvye) is a 1964 Soviet film directed by Aleksandr Stolper based on the eponymous 1959 novel ''The Living and the Dead'' by Konstantin Simonov.
Plot
The film takes ...
Aybolit-66
''Aybolit-66'' (russian: Айболит-66) is a 1966 Soviet family comedy film directed by Rolan Bykov. It is based on a story by Kornei Chukovsky. The film features Oleg Yefremov as the good ''Aibolit'' and Rolan Bykov as the evil ''Barmalei''. ...
'' (1966), and ''
Beware of the Car
''Beware of the Car'' (russian: Береги́сь автомоби́ля, translit. ''Beregis Avtomobilya'', English titles ''Uncommon Thief'', or ''Watch out for the Automobile'') is a 1966 Soviet crime comedy drama film directed by Eldar R ...
'' (1966).
In 1956, having gathered around himself students and graduates of the School-Studio, both his coevals and pupils, Oleg Yefremov organized the Studio of Young Actors (subsequently — the Moscow famous
Sovremennik Theatre
Moscow Sovremennik Theatre (russian: Московский театр «Современник») is a theatre company in Moscow founded in 1956. "Sovremennik" means "Contemporary".
and became its first director. Since 1970 he was an actor and a Chief Producer of the
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre (or MAT; russian: Московский Художественный академический театр (МХАТ), ''Moskovskiy Hudojestvenny Akademicheskiy Teatr'' (МHАТ)) was a theatre company in Moscow. It was f ...
named after
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov (russian: link=no, Алексе́й Макси́мович Пешко́в; – 18 June 1936), popularly known as Maxim Gorky (russian: Макси́м Го́рький, link=no), was a Russian writer and social ...
. In 1976 the actor became a Professor of Moscow Art Theatre School-Studio.
Biography
Early life
Oleg Nikolayevich Yefremov was born on 1 October 1927 in Moscow. His father was Nikolai Ivanovich Yefremov, his mother Anna Dmitrievna Efremova.
He grew up in a large communal apartment on the
Arbat Street
Arbat Street (Russian ), mainly referred to in English as the Arbat, is a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical centre of Moscow, Russia. The Arbat has existed since at least the 15th century, which makes it one of the ...
. His father served as an accountant in the
Gulag
The Gulag, an acronym for , , "chief administration of the camps". The original name given to the system of camps controlled by the GPU was the Main Administration of Corrective Labor Camps (, )., name=, group= was the government agency in ...
system, and the future actor spent a part of his adolescence in the
Vorkutlag
The Vorkuta Corrective Labor Camp (), commonly known as the Vorkuta Gulag or Vorkutlag (Воркутлаг), was a major GULAG labor camp of the Soviet Union located in Vorkuta from 1932 to 1962.
The Vorkuta Gulag was one of the largest camps in ...
camps, where he became closely acquainted with the criminal world.
In childhood Yefremov attended a drama club at the House of Pioneers.
Theatre
He graduated from the School of the
Moscow Art Theatre School
Moscow Art Theatre School is the studio school of the Moscow Art Theatre. It is a state educational institution that has existed since 1943. The initiator of the studio school was Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.
From 1949 to 1956, Yefremov worked at the Central Children's Theater, where he played more than 20 roles, including Ivan ("Humpbacked Horse"), Coviel ("The Philistine in the Nobility"), Kostya Poletayev ("Pages of Life"), Alexey ( "In a good time!"). There he also made his debut as a director of the production of vaudeville "Dimka the Invisible" (1955).
In 1956, Oleg Yefremov organized the "Young Actors Studio" (later - the Moscow Theater "Sovremennik") and became the artistic director of the theater. On the stage of "Contemporary" he played in the performances "Forever Living" (Boris), "Destination" (Lyamin), "Nobody" (Vincenzo De Pretore). Among his directorial works are Five Evenings by Alexander Volodin, Eduard Rostan's Cyrano de Bergerac, Leonid Zorin's Decembrists trilogy, Alexander Svobin's Narodovoltsy, Mikhail Shatrov's Bolsheviks, Victor Rozov's Traditional Collection, Chekhov.
In 1970, Yefremov became the chief director of the Moscow Art Theater. After the division of the troupe in 1987 - the main stage director of the
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre (or MAT; russian: Московский Художественный академический театр (МХАТ), ''Moskovskiy Hudojestvenny Akademicheskiy Teatr'' (МHАТ)) was a theatre company in Moscow. It was f ...
. For thirty years in the Art Theater, he has staged more than 40 performances and himself played in 14 of them. Among his works - "Dulcinea Tobosskaya" (the role of Don Luis), "Copper Grandmother" (Pushkin's role), "Duck hunting" (Zilov's role), "Party Committee Meeting" (Potapov's role), "Boris Godunov" (the title role). He staged Anton Chekhov's plays: "Ivanov" (1976), "The Seagull" (1980), "Uncle Vanya" (1985), "The Cherry Orchard" (1989), "The Three Sisters" (1997). His last, unfinished, directorial work was "Cyrano de Bergerac".
Film
Oleg Yefremov played about 70 roles in feature and television films, the most famous of which are: '' The First Echelon'' by
Mikhail Kalatozov
Mikhail Konstantinovich Kalatozov ( ka, მიხეილ კალატოზიშვილი, russian: Михаил Константинович Калатозов; 28 December 1903 – 26 March 1973), born Mikheil Kalatozishvili, was a So ...
, ''The Soldiers were Advancing'' by
Leonid Trauberg
Leonid Zakharovich Trauberg (russian: Леонид Захарович Трауберг, 17 January 1902 – 14 November 1990) was a Ukrainian Soviet film director and screenwriter. He directed 17 films between 1924 and 1961 and was awarded the ...
, ''
The Alive and the Dead
''The Alive and the Dead'' (russian: Живые и мёртвые, Zhivye i myortvye) is a 1964 Soviet film directed by Aleksandr Stolper based on the eponymous 1959 novel ''The Living and the Dead'' by Konstantin Simonov.
Plot
The film takes ...
'' by Alexander Stolper, ''Someone Is Ringing, Open the Door'' by
Alexander Mitta
Alexander Naumovich Mitta (russian: Алекса́ндр Нау́мович Митта́; born 28 March 1933 in Moscow) is a Soviet and Russian film director, screenwriter and actor.
Mitta's birth name was Alexander Naumovich Rabinovich (russian ...
, ''
Beware of the Car
''Beware of the Car'' (russian: Береги́сь автомоби́ля, translit. ''Beregis Avtomobilya'', English titles ''Uncommon Thief'', or ''Watch out for the Automobile'') is a 1966 Soviet crime comedy drama film directed by Eldar R ...
'' by
Eldar Ryazanov
Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov (russian: Эльдар Александрович Рязанов; 18 November 1927 – 30 November 2015) was a Soviet and Russian film director, screenwriter, poet, actor and pedagogue whose popular comedies, satiriz ...
Tatyana Lioznova
Tatyana Mikhailovna Lioznova (russian: link=no, Татьяна Михайловна Лиознова; 20 July 192429 September 2011) was a Soviet film director best known for her TV series '' Seventeen Moments of Spring'' (1973).
Film career
All ...
and ''Battalions ask for Fire'' by Vladimir Chebotarev and Alexander Bogolyubov.
Other activities
Since 1949, Oleg Yefremov taught acting in the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio, produced several acting and director's courses, was a professor and head of the acting department.
He was one of the founders and the first secretary of the board of the
Union of Theatre Workers of the Russian Federation
The Union of Theatre Workers of the Russian Federation or STD of RSFSR (russian: Союз театральных деятелей Российской Федерации (СТД РСФСР), links=no) is the principal actors and theatrical workers ...
.
Death
Oleg Yefremov died on 24 May 2000 in Moscow. He was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Personal life
Oleg Yefremov was married to
Sovremennik Theatre
Moscow Sovremennik Theatre (russian: Московский театр «Современник») is a theatre company in Moscow founded in 1956. "Sovremennik" means "Contemporary".
actor
Alla Pokrovskaya
Alla Borisovna Pokrovskaya (russian: А́лла Бори́совна Покро́вская; 18 September 1937 – 25 June 2019) was a Soviet-Russian actress and educator.
Life
Pokrovskaya was born in Moscow her father was the opera director ...
In the 2013 television series '' The Thaw'', Oleg Yefremov was portrayed by his grandson, Nikita Yefremov.
Selected filmography
*1955: '' The First Echelon'' (Первый эшелон) - ''Alexey Uzorov''
*1960: ''
Probation
Probation in criminal law is a period of supervision over an offender, ordered by the court often in lieu of incarceration.
In some jurisdictions, the term ''probation'' applies only to community sentences (alternatives to incarceration), such ...
Mission
Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to:
Organised activities Religion
*Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity
*Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...
'' (Командировка)
*1961: Lyubushka (Любушка) — Olimp Ivanovich Lutoshkin, rider
*1962: My Little Brother (Мой Младший Брат) — Viktor Yakovlevich Denisov, scientist, Dima's older brother
*1964: ''
The Alive and the Dead
''The Alive and the Dead'' (russian: Живые и мёртвые, Zhivye i myortvye) is a 1964 Soviet film directed by Aleksandr Stolper based on the eponymous 1959 novel ''The Living and the Dead'' by Konstantin Simonov.
Plot
The film takes ...
'' (Живые и мёртвые) - ''Captain Ivanov''
*1965: ''
War and Peace
''War and Peace'' (russian: Война и мир, translit=Voyna i mir; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy that mixes fictional narrative with chapters on history and philosophy. It was first published ...
'' (Война и мир) - ''Dolokhov''
*1965: '' Someone Is Ringing, Open the Door (The Girl and the Bugler)'' (Звонят, откройте дверь) - ''Dresvyannikov''
*1966: ''
Beware of the Car
''Beware of the Car'' (russian: Береги́сь автомоби́ля, translit. ''Beregis Avtomobilya'', English titles ''Uncommon Thief'', or ''Watch out for the Automobile'') is a 1966 Soviet crime comedy drama film directed by Eldar R ...
Straight Line
In geometry, a line is an infinitely long object with no width, depth, or curvature. Thus, lines are one-dimensional objects, though they may exist in two, three, or higher dimension spaces. The word ''line'' may also refer to a line segment ...
'' (Прямая линия) - ''Colonel''
*1967: '' Three Poplars in Plyushcikha'' (Три тополя на Плющихе) - ''Sasha''
*1966: ''
Aybolit-66
''Aybolit-66'' (russian: Айболит-66) is a 1966 Soviet family comedy film directed by Rolan Bykov. It is based on a story by Kornei Chukovsky. The film features Oleg Yefremov as the good ''Aibolit'' and Rolan Bykov as the evil ''Barmalei''. ...
'' (Айболит-66) - ''doctor Aybolit''
*1968: '' Once More About Love'' (Ещё раз про любовь) - Kartsev
*1969: ''King the Deer (Il re cervo)'' (Король-олень) - ''Durandarte''
*1970: '' Shine, Shine, My Star'' - Fedor, artist
*1970: '' The Flight'' (Бег) - ''Colonel''
*1970: '' The Polynin Case'' (Случай с Полыниным) - ''Polynin''
*1971: ''
All The King's Men
''All the King's Men'' is a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story of charismatic populist governor Willie Stark and his political machinations in the Depression-era Deep South. It was inspired by the real-life story of U.S. ...
'' (Вся королевская рать) - ''Adam Stanton''
*1972: '' Hello and Goodbye'' (Здравствуй и прощай) - ''Burov''
*1974: ''
Moscow, My Love
''Moscow, My Love'' (russian: Москва, любовь моя, Moskva, lyubov moya, ja, モスクワわが愛) is a 1974 Soviet-Japanese romantic drama directed by Aleksandr Mitta and Kenji Yoshida. The film tells the story of Yuriko, a girl f ...
'' (Москва, любовь моя) - ''Doctor''
*1976: ''
Rudin
''Rudin'' (russian: «Рудин», ) is the first novel by Ivan Turgenev, a famous Russian writer best known for his short stories and the novel '' Fathers and Sons''. Turgenev started to work on it in 1855, and it was first published in the lite ...
'' (Рудин) - ''Rudin''
*1976: '' Surgeon Mishkin's Days'' (Дни хирурга Мишкина, TV mini series) - ''Mishkin''
*1977: '' Open Book'' (Открытая книга) - ''Marlin''
*1977: ''
Rudin
''Rudin'' (russian: «Рудин», ) is the first novel by Ivan Turgenev, a famous Russian writer best known for his short stories and the novel '' Fathers and Sons''. Turgenev started to work on it in 1855, and it was first published in the lite ...
Sergey Rakhmaninov
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of ...
''
*1980: ''
The Imaginary Invalid
''The Imaginary Invalid'', ''The Hypochondriac'', or ''The Would-Be Invalid'' ( French title ''Le Malade imaginaire'', ) is a three- act ''comédie-ballet'' by the French playwright Molière with dance sequences and musical interludes (H.495, H. ...
'' (Мнимый больной) - ''Argan''
*1980: '' Once Upon a Time Twenty Years Later'' (Однажды двадцать лет спустя) - ''Painter''
*1984: '' Another Man's Wife and a Husband under the Bed'' (Чужая жена и муж под кроватью) - ''Alexander Demyanovich''
*1985: '' Battalions Ask for Fire'' (Батальоны просят огня) - ''Colonel Gulyayev''
*1986: The Secret of the Snow Queen (Тайна Снежной Королевы) - Fairy Tale’s Voice
*1990: The Hat (Шапка) — Pyotr Nikolaevich Lukin, Organizing Secretary of the Moscow branch of the Writers' Union
*1991: And the wind returns... (И возвращается ветер…) — Sergei Iosifovich Yutkevich
*1995: '' Shirli-Myrli'' (Ширли-мырли) - ''Nikolai Grigorievich, neighbor of the Krolikovs''
*1998: Compositions for Victory Day (Сочинения ко Дню Победы) — Dmitry Kilovatov
*1998: Chekhov and Co. (“Holy Simplicity” / “In a Foreign Land”) (Чехов и Ко.) — Father Savva Zhezlov / landowner Kamyshov
Honours and awards
*
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize (russian: links=no, Государственная премия СССР, Gosudarstvennaya premiya SSSR) was the Soviet Union's state honor. It was established on 9 September 1966. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, t ...
, three times;
**1969 - a stage trilogy ''Decembrists'', ''Narodnaya Volya'', ''Bolsheviks''
**1974 - for the performance ''Steelworkers'' by Gennady Bokarev
**1983 - for the play "So we will win!" by Mikhail Shatrov
* Honored Art Worker of the RSFSR (1967)
*
People's Artist of the RSFSR
People's Artist of the RSFSR (russian: Народный артист РСФСР, ''Narodnyj artist RSFSR'') was an honorary title granted to Soviet Union artists, including theatre and film directors, choreographers, music performers, and orchest ...
(1969)
*
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR ( rus, Народный артист СССР, Narodny artist SSSR), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union.
Nomenclature and significan ...
(1976)
* "Golden Mask" - prize-looking actors of the Moscow theaters (1976)
* Union TV Festival Jury Prize in Leningrad (''Days of the surgeon Mishkin'', 1976)
*
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour (russian: Орден Трудового Красного Знамени, translit=Orden Trudovogo Krasnogo Znameni) was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to th ...
(30 September 1977)
*
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin (russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina, ), named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was established by the Central Executive Committee on April 6, 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration ...
(1987)
*
Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples (russian: oрден Дружбы народов, translit=orden Druzhby narodov) was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military unit ...
Hero of Socialist Labour
The Hero of Socialist Labour (russian: links=no, Герой Социалистического Труда, Geroy Sotsialisticheskogo Truda) was an honorific title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries from 1938 to 1991. It repre ...
(1987)
*
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
The Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (russian: Орден «За заслуги перед Отечеством», ''Orden "Za zaslugi pered Otechestvom"'') is a state decoration of the Russian Federation. It was instituted on 2 March 1994 by P ...
, 3rd class (1997)
* Crystal Turandot Award (1997) - for valiant service to the theatre
*
State Prize of the Russian Federation
The State Prize of the Russian Federation, officially translated in Russia as Russian Federation National Award, is a state honorary prize established in 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. In 2004 the rules for selection of laureates ...
, twice
**1997 - to maintain and develop the traditions of Russian psychological theatre in the play ''Three Sisters'' by
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...
Anapa
Anapa (russian: Ана́па, ) is a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the northern coast of the Black Sea near the Sea of Azov. Population:
History
The area around Anapa was settled in antiquity. It was originally a major seaport (Si ...
(1997)
* Golden Aries award (1997) - for his contribution to cinema
* Special Jury Prize of the National Theatre Award Golden Mask (1998) - for the play ''Three Sisters'' by Anton Chekhov
* Moscow Mayor's Award ''for a unique contribution to culture'' (1999)