Innokenty Mikhailovich Smoktunovsky (russian: Иннокентий Михайлович Смоктуновский; born ''Smoktunovich'', 28 March 19253 August 1994) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. He was named 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 ...

in 1974 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 ...

in 1990.

Early life

Smoktunovsky was born in a Siberian village in a peasant family of

Belarusian Belarusian may refer to: * Something of, or related to Belarus * Belarusians, people from Belarus, or of Belarusian descent * A citizen of Belarus, see Demographics of Belarus * Belarusian language * Belarusian culture * Belarusian cuisine * Byelor ...

ethnicity.Dubrovsky, V. Ya. (2002) ''Иннокентий Смоктуновский. Жизнь и роли''. B. M. Poyurovsky (ed.), Moscow: Iskusstvo. . It was once rumored that he came from a Polish family, even nobility, but the actor himself denied these theories by stating his family was

and not of nobility. He served in the Red Army during World War II and fought in

Kursk Kursk ( rus, Курск, p=ˈkursk) is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym rivers. The area around Kursk was the site of a turning point in the Soviet–German stru ...

, Dnipro and Kyiv battles. In 1946, he joined a theatre in Krasnoyarsk, later moving to Moscow. In 1957, he was invited by

Georgy Tovstonogov Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov (russian: Георгий Александрович Товстоногов, – 23 May 1989) was a Russian-Georgian theatre director. He was the leader of the Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theater which was renamed after ...

to join the

Bolshoi Drama Theatre Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater (russian: Большой драматический театр имени Г. А. Товстоногова; literally ''Tovstonogov Great Drama Theater''), formerly known as Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theater (russian: ...

of Leningrad, where he stunned the public with his dramatic interpretation of Prince Myshkin in

Dostoevsky Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (, ; rus, Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский, Fyódor Mikháylovich Dostoyévskiy, p=ˈfʲɵdər mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ dəstɐˈjefskʲɪj, a=ru-Dostoevsky.ogg, links=yes; 11 November 18219 ...

's '' The Idiot''. One of his best roles was the title role in Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy's '' Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich'' (

Maly Theatre The Maly Theatre, or Mali Theatre, may refer to one of several different theatres: * The Maly Theatre (Moscow), also known as The State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia, in Moscow (founded in 1756 and given its own building in 1824) * The Maly Theat ...

, 1973).

Film career

His career in film was launched by Mikhail Romm's movie '' Nine Days in One Year'' (1962). In 1964, he was cast in the role of Hamlet in

Grigori Kozintsev Grigori Mikhailovich Kozintsev (russian: link=no, Григорий Михайлович Козинцев; 11 May 1973) was a Soviet theatre and film director, screenwriter and pedagogue. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1964. In 1965 ...

's celebrated screen version of Shakespeare's play, which won him praise from

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

as well as the Lenin Prize. Many English critics even ranked the ''Hamlet'' of Smoktunovsky above the one played by Olivier, at a time when Olivier's was still considered definitive. Smoktunovsky created an integral heroic portrait, which blended together what seemed incompatible before: manly simplicity and exquisite aristocratism, kindness and caustic sarcasm, a derisive mindset and self-sacrifice. Smoktunovsky became known to wider audiences as Yuri Detochkin in Eldar Ryazanov's detective satire '' Beware of the Car'' (1966), which revealed the actor's outstanding comic gifts. Later, he played Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in '' Tchaikovsky'' (1969), Uncle Vanya in Andrei Konchalovsky's screen version of Chekhov's play (1970), the Narrator in

Andrei Tarkovsky Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky ( rus, Андрей Арсеньевич Тарковский, p=ɐnˈdrʲej ɐrˈsʲenʲjɪvʲɪtɕ tɐrˈkofskʲɪj; 4 April 1932 – 29 December 1986) was a Russian filmmaker. Widely considered one of the greates ...

's '' Mirror'' (1975), an old man in Anatoly Efros's ''On Thursday and Never Again'' (1977), and

Salieri Antonio Salieri (18 August 17507 May 1825) was an Italian classical composer, conductor, and teacher. He was born in Legnago, south of Verona, in the Republic of Venice, and spent his adult life and career as a subject of the Habsburg monarchy ...

Mikhail Schweitzer Mikhail (Moisei) Abramovich Schweitzer (russian: Михаил (Моисей) Абрамович Швейцер, 16 February 1920, Perm – 2 June 2000, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter. People's Artist of the USSR (1 ...

's '' Little Tragedies'' (1979) based on Alexander Pushkin's plays. In 1990, Smoktunovsky won the Nika Award in the category Best Actor. He died on 3 August 1994, at a sanatorium, aged 69. The minor planet 4926 Smoktunovskij was named after him.

Filmography

* '' Murder on Dante Street'' (1956) as Young fascist * ''

Soldiers A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer. Etymology The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...

'' (1956) as Lieutenant Farber * ''

Close to Us ''Close to Us'' (russian: Рядом с нами, Rydom s nami) is a 1958 Soviet drama film directed by Adolf Bergunker. Plot The engineer together with the journalist went to the plant in Altai after studying at the institute and are confident ...

'' (1958) as Andrei * '' Letter Never Sent'' (1960) as Konstantin Fyodorovich Sabinin * '' Until Next Spring'' (1960) as Aleksei Nikolayevich Ruchyev * '' After the Wedding'' (1962) as Narrator's voice * '' Nine Days in One Year'' (1962) as Ilya Kulikov * '' Mozart and Salieri'' (1962) as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart * '' Hamlet'' (1964) as Prince Hamlet * ''

On the Same Planet ''On the Same Planet'' (russian: На одной планете) is a 1965 Soviet biographical drama film directed by Ilya Olshvanger. Plot The film tells about Lieutenant Reshetov, who observes the total collapse of the Russian army and decide ...

'' (1965) as Vladimir Lenin * '' Beware of the Car'' (1966) as Yuri Detochkin * ''

Degree of Risk ''Degree of Risk'' (russian: Степень риска) is a 1968 Soviet drama film directed by Ilya Averbakh. Plot The film tells about the doctor Sedov, who is forced to make a difficult decision about heart surgery of the famous mathematician ...

'' (1968) as Aleksandr Kirillov * '' The Living Corpse'' (1968) as Ivan Petrovich * '' Crime and Punishment'' (1969) as Porfiry Petrovich * '' Tchaikovsky'' (1970) as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky * '' Uncle Vanya'' (1970) as Ivan Petrovich Voinitsky ("Uncle Vanya") * ''

Ilf and Petrov Rode a Tram ''Ilf and Petrov Rode a Tram'' (russian: Ехали в трамвае Ильф и Петров, Ehali v tramvae Ilf i Petrov is a 1972 Soviet comedy film directed by Viktor Titov. Plot The film is a series of short comedies, based on humorous an ...

'' (1972) as Tram passenger * '' Taming of the Fire'' (1972) as Konstantin Tsiolkovsky * ''

Moscow-Cassiopeia ''Moscow- Cassiopeia'' (russian: Москва — Кассиопея, Moskva-Kassiopeya) is a Soviet comic science fiction film directed by Richard Viktorov based on a script by Isai Kuznetsov and Avenir Zak. Followed by ''Teens in the Universe'' ...

'' (1973) as I.O.O. * ''

The Heron and the Crane ''The Heron and the Crane'' (russian: Цапля и журавль, ''Tsaplya i zhuravl'') is a 1974 10-minute Soviet/Russian animated film directed by Yuri Norstein and produced by the Soyuzmultfilm. Summary Based on the folk tale about the unl ...

'' (1974) as Narrator's voice * ''

Daughters-Mothers ''Daughters-Mothers'' (russian: Дочки-матери) is a 1974 Soviet drama film directed by Sergey Gerasimov. Plot The film tells about a girl who grew up in an orphanage, not knowing her own mother. Suddenly, she receives an old letter th ...

'' (1974) as Vadim Antonovich Vasilyev * ''

A Lover's Romance ''A Lover's Romance'' or ''Romance for Lovers'' (russian: Романс о влюблённых, Romans o vlyublyonnykh) is a 1974 Soviet musical romantic drama directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. Plot Sergei and Tanya are in love with each other. Ser ...

'' (1974) as Trumpeter * ''

Teens in the Universe ''Teens in the Universe'' (russian: Отроки во Вселенной, Otroki vo vselennoy) is a Soviet 1974 science fiction film directed by Richard Viktorov based on a script by Isai Kuznetsov and Avenir Zak about teens in the universe. Pr ...

'' (1974) as I.O.O. * '' Take Aim'' (1974) as Franklin D. Roosevelt * '' Mirror'' (1975) as adult Aleksei's voice * '' The Captivating Star of Happiness'' (1975) as Ivan Bogdanovich Zeidler * ''

They Fought for Their Country ''They Fought for Their Country'' (russian: Они сражались за Родину, Oni srazhalis' za Rodinu) is a 1975 Soviet war film in two parts based on the eponymous novel written by Mikhail Sholokhov and directed by Sergei Bondarchuk ...

'' (1975) as Surgeon * ''

Twenty Days Without War ''Twenty Days Without War'' (russian: Двадцать дней без войны, translit=''Dvadtsat' dney bez voyny'') is a 1976 Soviet film based on a story by Konstantin Simonov, directed by Aleksey German and starring Yuri Nikulin and Lyudmi ...

'' (1976) as Vyacheslav's voice (played by Nikolai Grinko) * '' Trust'' (1976) as

Nikolay Bobrikov Nikolay Ivanovich Bobrikov (russian: Никола́й Ива́нович Бо́бриков; in St. Petersburg – June 17, 1904 in Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland) was a Russian general and politician. He was the Governor-General of Finla ...

* ''

The Princess on a Pea ''The Princess on a Pea'' (russian: Принцесса на горошине, Printsessa na goroshine) is a 1977 Soviet children's fantasy film directed by Boris Rytsarev. Plot Based on the tales of Hans Christian Andersen. When the time came f ...

'' (1977) as King * '' The Steppe'' (1977) as Moisei Moiseyevich * ''

On Thursday and Never Again ''On Thursday and Never Again'' (russian: В четверг и больше никогда) is a 1977 Soviet drama film directed by Anatoly Efros. Plot The film tells about a doctor who, before his wedding, wants to visit his mother, who lives i ...

'' (1977) as Ivan Modestovich * ''

The Barrier The Barrier is a lava dam retaining the Garibaldi Lake system in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is over thick and about long where it impounds the lake. The area below and adjacent to The Barrier is considered hazardous due to the u ...

'' (1979) as Antony Manev * ''

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears ''Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears'' (russian: Москва слезам не верит, Moskva slezam ne verit) is a 1980 Soviet romantic drama film made by Mosfilm. It was written by Valentin Chernykh and directed by Vladimir Menshov. The leadi ...

'' (1979) as himself (cameo appearance) * '' Little Tragedies'' (1979) as Antonio Salieri and Old Baron * '' The Queen of Spades'' (1982) as Chekalinsky * ''

Dead Souls ''Dead Souls'' (russian: «Мёртвые души», ''Mjórtvyje dúshi'') is a novel by Nikolai Gogol, first published in 1842, and widely regarded as an exemplar of 19th-century Russian literature. The novel chronicles the travels and adv ...

'' (1984) as Plyushkin * ''

Primary Russia ''Primary Russia'' (russian: Русь изначальная, Rus iznachalnaya) is a 1985 Soviet drama film directed by Gennady Vasilyev. Plot The film takes place in Ancient Russia, when Ratibor united the Slavs into one army and rebuffed the n ...

'' (1985) as

Emperor Justinian I Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovat ...

* ''

The Last Road ''The Last Road'' (russian: Последняя дорога) is a 1986 Soviet drama film directed by Leonid Menaker. Plot The film tells about the last days of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. The film tries to answer the questions: Wh ...

'' (1986) as

Jacob van Heeckeren tot Enghuizen Jacob Derk Burchard Anne, Baron van Heeckeren tot Enghuizen, also known as Baron van Heeckeren van Beverweerd (28 November 1792 – 28 September 1884), was a Dutch diplomat. He received the title baron of the First French Empire in 1813. Van ...

* ''

The Twentieth Century Approaches ''The Twentieth Century Approaches'' (russian: link=no, italics=yes, Двадцатый век начинается) is a 1986 Soviet film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about Sherlock Holmes. It is the fifth and final film in ''The Adv ...

'' (1986) as Lord Thomas Bellinger * '' Dark Eyes'' (1987) as Modest Petrovich * ''

Gardes-Marines, Ahead! ''Gardes-Marines, Ahead!'' or (russian: Гардемарины, вперёд!, Gardemariny, vperyod!) is a 1988 Soviet four-series television film (mini-series), the first of a series of films about Russian Gardes-Marines of the 18th century, dire ...

'' (1987) as

André-Hercule de Fleury André-Hercule de Fleury, Bishop of Fréjus, Archbishop of Aix (22 June or 26 June 165329 January 1743) was a French cardinal who served as the chief minister of Louis XV. Life and government He was born in Lodève, Hérault, the son of a tax f ...

* ''

First Encounter - Last Encounter ''First Encounter - Last Encounter'' (russian: Первая встреча, последняя встреча) is a 1987 Soviet detective film directed by Vitaliy Melnikov. Plot The film is about a law student, Pete, who is investigating the mu ...

'' (1987) as Counterintelligence colonel * '' Mother'' (1989) as Governor * '' A Trap for Lonely Man'' (1990) as Merlouche the artist * '' Genius'' (1991) as Mafia leader Gilya * ''

Dandelion Wine ''Dandelion Wine'' is a 1957 novel by Ray Bradbury set in the summer of 1928 in the fictional town of Green Town, Illinois, based upon Bradbury's childhood home of Waukegan, Illinois. The novel developed from the short story "Dandelion Wine", wh ...

'' (1997) as Colonel Freeley (voiced by

Sergey Bezrukov Sergey Vitalyevich Bezrukov (russian: link=no, Серге́й Вита́льевич Безру́ков, born 18 October 1973) is a Soviet and Russian film and stage actor, singer, People's Artist of Russia, the laureate of the State Prize of th ...

; released posthumously)

References

External links

*
Smoktunovsky's biography in ''The New York Times''.

Biography of Innokenty Smoktunovsky
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smoktunovsky, Innokenty 1925 births 1994 deaths 20th-century Russian male actors People from Tomsk Governorate Heroes of Socialist Labour Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Lenin Prize winners Recipients of the Medal "For Courage" (Russia) Recipients of the Nika Award Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR Audiobook narrators Male Shakespearean actors Russian people of Belarusian descent Russian male film actors Russian male stage actors Russian male television actors Russian male voice actors Soviet male film actors Soviet male stage actors Soviet male television actors Soviet male voice actors Soviet military personnel of World War II Soviet partisans Spoken word artists Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery