Vasily Semyonovich Lanovoy (russian: Василий Семёнович Лановой; (16 January 1934 – 28 January 2021) 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 nation ...

and Ukrainian Russian actor who worked in the

Vakhtangov Theatre Yevgeny Bagrationovich Vakhtangov (also spelled Evgeny or Eugene; russian: Евге́ний Багратио́нович Вахта́нгов; 13 February 1883 – 29 May 1922) was a Russian-Armenian actor and theatre director who founded the ...

Moscow 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 ...

. He was also known as the President of Artek Festival of Films for Children. Lanovoy's honours include the

KGB The KGB (russian: links=no, lit=Committee for State Security, Комитет государственной безопасности (КГБ), a=ru-KGB.ogg, p=kəmʲɪˈtʲet ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪn(ː)əj bʲɪzɐˈpasnəsʲtʲɪ, Komitet gosud ...

Prize, the Lenin Prize, and the title of

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 2019, he received the title of

Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation (russian: Герой Труда Российской Федерации) is a state award of Russia. The title is awarded to citizens of Russia for special services in labour to the state and its people asso ...

Acting career

Lanovoy came to prominence through playing bold, dashing characters, combining heroic bravado with a sensitivity typical of Russian heroes, a tendency evident in many of his early features, such as ''

Certificate of Maturity ''Certificate of Maturity'' (russian: Аттестат зрелости, Attestat zrelosti) is a 1954 Soviet Union, Soviet drama film directed by Tatyana Lukashevich. Plot Gifted, but spoiled by the adoration of teachers and classmates, the youn ...

'' (1954) and '' Pavel Korchagin'' (1956). Lanovoy's many film roles from the 1960s include

Anatole Kuragin Anatole Vasilyevich Kuragin (russian: Анатолий (Анатоль) Васильевич Курагин) is a fictional character in Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel ''War and Peace'', its various cinematic adaptations, and an operatic adaptation as w ...

in Sergei Bondarchuk's ''

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 ...

'' and Count Vronsky in the screen version of ''

Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, «Анна Каренина», p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever writt ...

''. By this time, he has tried to create complex psychological portraits of his characters. However, he is best known for his roles in iconic 1970s

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

-themed films. Lanovoy portrayed Ivan Varavva, one of the main characters in the 1971 saga ''

Officers An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...

'' which became a life-affirming film for the

Soviet Army uk, Радянська армія , image = File:Communist star with golden border and red rims.svg , alt = , caption = Emblem of the Soviet Army , start_date ...

officers. He also played a supporting role of SS General

Karl Wolff Karl Friedrich Otto Wolff (13 May 1900 – 17 July 1984) was a German SS functionary who served as Chief of Personal Staff Reichsführer-SS (Heinrich Himmler) and an SS liaison to Adolf Hitler during World War II. He ended the war as the Supre ...

in the cult spy thriller TV-series ''

Seventeen Moments of Spring ''Seventeen Moments of Spring'' (russian: Семнадцать мгновений весны, Semnadtsat' mgnoveniy vesny) is a 1973 Soviet twelve-part television series, directed by Tatyana Lioznova and based on the novel of the same title by Yu ...

'' (1973). In 2000s, Lanovoy appeared primarily in the roles of Soviet-era party bosses, such as

Yuri Andropov Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (– 9 February 1984) was the sixth paramount leader of the Soviet Union and the fourth General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. After Leonid Brezhnev's 18-year rule, Andropov served in the po ...

in the 2005 TV film ''

Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev; uk, links= no, Леонід Ілліч Брежнєв, . (19 December 1906– 10 November 1982) was a Soviet politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1964 and 198 ...

''. In 2013, he played the role of Cardinal Richelieu in Russian movie ''

The Three Musketeers ''The Three Musketeers'' (french: Les Trois Mousquetaires, links=no, ) is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight ...

''.

Political views

In 2014, he signed a petition supporting the actions of

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...

in the annexation of Crimea, for which he was banned from entering

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

. Crimea is since March 2014 under dispute by Russia and Ukraine. He was critical of the (late 2013 until early 2014) Ukrainian

Euromaidan Euromaidan (; uk, Євромайдан, translit=Yevromaidan, lit=Euro Square, ), or the Maidan Uprising, was a wave of Political demonstration, demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protes ...

demonstrations, claiming that the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

were using

Ukrainians Ukrainians ( uk, Українці, Ukraintsi, ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. They are the seventh-largest nation in Europe. The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian language, Ukrainian. The majority ...

for their own political gain.

Personal life

Lanovoy was born to a family of Ukrainian peasants. His parents, originally from the rural

Odessa Oblast Odesa Oblast ( uk, Оде́ська о́бласть, translit=Odeska oblast), also referred to as Odeshchyna ( uk, Оде́щина) is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (province) of southwestern Ukraine, located along the northern ...

, escaped the famine to

. However, the

Nazi/

Romanian Romanian may refer to: *anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Romania **Romanians, an ethnic group **Romanian language, a Romance language *** Romanian dialects, variants of the Romanian language ** Romanian cuisine, tradition ...

occupation caught little Vasily in southern Ukraine with his village relatives while his parents were evacuated to the Soviet rear as workers with a military-critical industrial company. Lanovoy was married to

Irina Kupchenko Irina Petrovna Kupchenko (russian: Ирина Петровна Купченко; born 1 March 1948 in Vienna) is a Soviet and Russian stage and film actress. She rose to prominence after acting in Andrei Konchalovsky's 1969 movie adaptation of '' ...

, herself a famous Soviet actress educated in

Kiev Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...

. His first wife was another film star,

Tatiana Samoilova Tatiana Yevgenyevna Samoilova (russian: link=no, Татья́на Евге́ньевна Само́йлова; 4 May 1934 – 4 May 2014) was a Soviet and Russian film actress best known for her lead role in ''The Cranes Are Flying'' (1957). She ...

, best known for her leading part in ''

The Cranes Are Flying ''The Cranes Are Flying'' (russian: Летят журавли, translit. ''Letyat zhuravli'') is a 1957 Soviet film about the Second World War. It depicts the cruelty of war and the damage done to the Soviet psyche as a result of war, which ...

''. Lanovoy died from complications of

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

at a hospital in Moscow on 28 January 2021, less than two weeks after his 87th birthday.

Honors and awards

:1968 –

Honored Artist of the RSFSR Honored Artist of the RSFSR (, ''Zasluzhenny artist RSFSR'') was an honorary title granted to Soviet artists, including theatre and film directors, choreographers, music performers, and orchestra conductors, who had outstanding achievements in the ...

:1971 – Best Actor of the year, by a poll of the ''Sovetsky Ekran'' magazine (for the film ''Officers'') :1978 –

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 ...

:1980 – Lenin Prize - for participation in the documentary film ''The Great Patriotic War'' :1983 – KGB Award for the film "Fight at the crossroads" :1984 – Prize of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs - for the film ''Proceed to Eliminate'' :1985 –

:1994 –

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 ...

- for merits in development of theatrical art :2001 – Order of Honour :2004 –

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 ...

, 4th class - for his great contribution to the development of theatrical art :2004 – Order of Merit, 3rd class (Ukraine) - for high professionalism and considerable contribution to the development of Russian-Ukrainian cultural relations :2008 – Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class - for his contribution to the development of domestic theatrical and cinematic arts, a multi-year social work :2008 – Special Prize of the President of Belarus "for preserving and developing traditions of spirituality in the cinema" :2009 – "Great Literary Prize of Russia" (Russian Writers' Union), the prize "For the benefit of Russia" for his outstanding contribution to the development of Russian culture :2010 – Tsarskoselskaya art prize :2013 –

Order of Alexander Nevsky The Order of Alexander Nevsky ( ''orden Alexandra Nevskogo'') is an order of merit of the Russian Federation named in honour of saint Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263) and bestowed to civil servants for twenty years or more of highly meritorious se ...

:2014 – Order of Merit, 2nd class (Ukraine) - for a significant personal contribution to the socio-economic, scientific and technical, cultural and educational development of the Ukrainian state :2019 –

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1954) *'' Pavel Korchagin'' (1956) * '' Scarlet Sails'' (1961) * '' Striped Trip'' (1961) *''

Colleagues Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues. A colleague is a fellow member of the same profession. Colleagues are those explicitly united in a common purpose and respect each other's abilities to work toward that purpose. A colleague is ...

'' (1962) * ''

Going Inside a Storm ''Going Inside a Storm'' (russian: Иду на грозу, Idu na grozu) is a 1966 Soviet drama film directed by Sergei Mikaelyan. It was based on the novel by Daniil Granin, who also wrote a screenplay together with Mikaelyan. Plot summary Pro ...

'' (1965) * ''

'' (1966-1967) *''

'' (1967) *'' No Password Necessary'' (1967) * ''

Solaris Solaris may refer to: Arts and entertainment Literature, television and film * ''Solaris'' (novel), a 1961 science fiction novel by Stanisław Lem ** ''Solaris'' (1968 film), directed by Boris Nirenburg ** ''Solaris'' (1972 film), directed by ...

'' (1968 TV film) *'' The Sixth of July'' (1968) * ''

'' (1971) * ''

'' (1973 TV series) *''

Sea Cadet of Northern Fleet ''Sea Cadet of Northern Fleet'' (russian: Юнга Северного флота, Yunga Severnogo Flota) is a 1973 Soviet World War II film directed by Vladimir Rogovoy. Plot The film takes place during the war. The film tells about four Soviet ...

'' (1973) * ''

The Days of the Turbins ''The Days of the Turbins'' (russian: Дни Турбиных, translit=Dni Turbinykh) is a four-act play by Mikhail Bulgakov based upon his novel ''The White Guard''. It was written in 1925 and premiered on 5 October 1926 in Moscow Art Theatr ...

'' (1976) * ''

Soldiers of Freedom ''Soldiers of Freedom'' (russian: Солдаты свободы) is a four-part 1977 film epic directed by Yuri Ozerov and starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Yevgeny Matveyev, Vasily Lanovoy. It is a World War II historical drama and the sequel to 1970- ...

'' (1977) *'' A Strange Woman'' (1977) *'' Petrovka, 38'' (1980) *'' Ogaryova Street, Number 6'' (1980) *'' Start Liquidation'' (1983) *''

Black Square Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have ...

'' (1992) * ''

Trifles of Life ''Trifles of Life'' (russian: Мелочи жизни, Melochi zhizni) is the first Russian TV series. Broadcast on Channel One Ostankino in 1992-1995 (first year) and on the Channel One Russia in 1995. Plot The married Kuznetsovs are exp ...

'' (1992-1995 TV series) *''

The Aristocratic Peasant Girl ''The Aristocratic Peasant Girl'' (russian: Барышня-крестьянка, Baryshnya-krestyanka) is a 1995 Russian romantic drama film directed by Aleksey Sakharov. Plot A young master visits a neighboring estate. The girl Lisa wants to m ...

'' (1995) * ''Chivalric Romance'' (2000) * ''

'' (2005) * ''

'' (2013)

References

External links

* *
Vasily Lanovoy on the Vakhtangov Theatre webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lanovoy, Vasily 1934 births 2021 deaths 20th-century Russian male actors 21st-century Russian male actors Male actors from Moscow Academicians of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences "Nika" Honorary Members of the Russian Academy of Arts Members of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Lenin Prize winners Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of Honour (Russia) Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 2nd class Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class Russian nationalists Russian people of Ukrainian descent Russian male film actors Russian male stage actors Russian male voice actors Russian memoirists Soviet male film actors Soviet male stage actors Soviet male voice actors Spoken word artists Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery