Yevgeny Pavlovich Leonov (russian: link=no, Евгений Павлович Леонов; 2 September 1926 – 29 January 1994) was a

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

and

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

n actor who played main parts in several of the most famous

Soviet films The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

, such as ''

Gentlemen of Fortune ''Gentlemen of Fortune'' (russian: Джентльмены удачи, Dzhentlmeny udachi) is a 1971 Soviet crime comedy film, filmed at Mosfilm and directed by Aleksandr Sery. The stars of the film include famous Soviet actors such as Yevgeny Leon ...

'', ''

Mimino ''Mimino'' (russian: Мимино, ka, მიმინო, hy, Միմինո) is a 1977 comedy film by Soviet director Georgiy Daneliya produced by Mosfilm and Gruziya-film, starring Vakhtang Kikabidze and Frunzik Mkrtchyan. Anatoliy Petritsk ...

'' and ''

Striped Trip ''Striped Trip'' (russian: Полосатый рейс, Polosatyi reys) is a 1961 Soviet comedy film directed by Vladimir Fetin, with the acclaimed tiger tamer Margarita Nazarova in the main role. The movie was seen by 45.8 mil. viewers on the y ...

''. Called "one of Russia's best-loved actors",''Death: Yevgeny Leonov.''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

(London). 23 February 1994. he also provided the voice for many Soviet cartoon characters, including ''Vinny Pukh'' (''

Winnie-the-Pooh Winnie-the-Pooh, also called Pooh Bear and Pooh, is a fictional Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepard. The first collection of stories about the character w ...

'').

Early life

While growing up in a typical Moscow family, he dreamed of becoming a war-plane

pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...

, which was a very common desire of many boys of the World War II period. This is also often attributed to the fact that his father worked in an airplane factory. During the

Great Patriotic War The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe (Baltics), and Sout ...

he and his whole family worked in a weapon manufacturing/aviation factory. After the war, he joined 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 ...

school, where he studied under

Mikhail Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich Yanshin (russian: Михаи́л Миха́йлович Я́ншин) (20 October 1902 – 17 July 1976) was a Soviet Union, Soviet stage and film actor. Biography Yanshin was born in the city of Yukhnov, located in the pre ...

Career

In his first film, Leonov was cast as an extra and did not receive any recognition. He later became

Georgiy Daneliya Georgiy Nikolayevich Daneliya ( ka, გიორგი ნიკოლოზის ძე დანელია; russian: Георгий Николаевич Данелия; 25 August 1930 – 4 April 2019), also known as Giya Daneliya ( ka, გ� ...

's regular, appearing in all of his features, including ''

'', ''

Autumn Marathon ''Autumn Marathon'' (russian: Осенний марафон, Osenniy marafon) is a 1979 Soviet romantic comedy-drama, a winner of 1979 Venice Film Festival, San Sebastian Film Festival and 1980 Berlin Film Festival awards in the best director an ...

'', ''

Afonya ''Afonya'' (russian: Афоня) is a Soviet comedy and drama film produced by Mosfilm and first released in 1975. The film became the Soviet box office leader of 1975 with a total of 62.2 million ticket sales. The film was shot on location in Y ...

'' and ''

Kin-dza-dza! ''Kin-dza-dza!'' (russian: link=no, italics=yes, Кин-дза-дза!) is a 1986 Soviet film released by the Mosfilm studio and directed by Georgiy Daneliya, with a story by Georgiy Daneliya and Revaz Gabriadze. Plot The story begins in 1980s M ...

''. According to th
Allmovie
"his short, round stature, expressive eyes, broad and open face, slow movements, and slightly slurred speech made him ideal for the comic roles in which he specialized". But he also attracted critical notice for his tragic parts and the invariable naturalness of his acting. Many notable actors were said to avoid appearing in the same films with Leonov, for his natural manner of acting made them seem strained. Despite Leonov's brief appearance in Daneliya's ''Autumn Marathon'' (1980) (one of his most popular films), the role won him the Best Actor at the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

. In ''Autumn Marathon'', it is said, Leonov brilliantly demonstrates the typical Leonov anti-hero. He gave a hilarious portrayal of a simple, nosey man who drank too much and who adored nothing more than talking nonsense as long as anyone could stand it. Among the other films he was instrumental in raising to the classic level were ''Gentlemen of Fortune'' and ''Belorussian Station'', both made in 1971.''Russia Parts With a Comic Legend.'' John Freedman.

The Moscow Times ''The Moscow Times'' is an independent English-language and Russian-language online newspaper. It was in print in Russia from 1992 until 2017 and was distributed free of charge at places frequented by English-speaking tourists and expatriates s ...

No. 392. 3 February 1994. Like all of Leonov's movies, they are frequently rerun on television. Reportedly, "Leonov was to Russians what

Fernandel Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (8 May 1903 – 26 February 1971), better known as Fernandel, was a French actor and singer. Born near Marseille, France, to Désirée Bedouin and Denis Contandin, originating in Perosa Argentina, an Occitan to ...

was to the French." He performed over 200 roles and was the Russian cinema's best-known supporting actor. In 1991 (or in 1988Леонов Евгений - Биография - Актеры советского и российского кино
Евгений Леонов (Evgeniy Leonov) - биография - советские актёры - Кино-Театр.РУ

), when touring in Germany, he suffered a massive heart attack, which put him into a coma for 10 days (or 16 days). His life was saved only after major surgery and Leonov recovered – only to begin a schedule of performances at the

Lenkom Theatre Lenkom Theatre, formerly known as Lenin’s Komsomol Moscow Theatre or Moscow Leninist Komsomol Theatre is the official name of what was once known as the Moscow State Theatre named after Komsomol, a Communist youth league set up by Vladimir Len ...

. In 1993, a year before his death, Leonov was asked during a film festival "What years in the Russian theatre's life were the most productive?" Leonov replied: Leonov died on 29 January 1994 on his way to the Lenkom Theatre to perform in ''The Prayer for the Dead'' (''A Memorial Prayer''). When his death was announced in the auditorium, the audience spontaneously flooded into the church across the road and lit candles in mourning. Over half a million people turned out in freezing conditions for a procession to a memorial service. He is buried in

Novodevichy Cemetery Novodevichy Cemetery ( rus, Новоде́вичье кла́дбище, Novodevichye kladbishche) is a cemetery in Moscow. It lies next to the southern wall of the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist ...

in Moscow near other outstanding figures of Russian culture.''Sviridov buried in Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.'' Viktoria Dunayeva.

TASS The Russian News Agency TASS (russian: Информацио́нное аге́нтство Росси́и ТАСС, translit=Informatsionnoye agentstvo Rossii, or Information agency of Russia), abbreviated TASS (russian: ТАСС, label=none) ...

9 January 1998.

Filmography

;Actor *''

Happy Flight is a Japanese comedy film directed by Shinobu Yaguchi about pilots and flight attendants. All Nippon Airways (ANA) backed the creation of the film. The airline sponsored a giveaway of ''Happy Flight'' DVDs and other items to certain members of ANA ...

'' ''(Счастливый рейс)'' (1949) as Firefighter (uncredited) *''

Sporting Honour ''Sporting Honour'' (russian: Спортивная честь}) is a 1951 Soviet sports film directed by Vladimir Petrov and starring Aleksei Gribov, Grigori Sergeyev and Margarita Lifanova. It was awarded the Stalin Prize, although political ...

'' ''(Спортивная честь)'' (1951) as Waiter (uncredited) *''

Submarine chaser A submarine chaser or subchaser is a small naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare. Many of the American submarine chasers used in World War I found their way to Allied nations by way of Lend-Lease in World War II. ...

'' ''(Морской охотник)'' (1954) as cook *''

Road A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation. There are many types of ...

'' ''(Дорога)'' (1955) as driver Pasha Yeskov *'' Criminal Case of Rumyantsev'' ''(Дело Румянцева)'' (1956) as driver Mikhail Snegiryov *'' A Unique Spring'' ''(Неповторимая весна)'' (1957) as Alexey Koshelev *'' The street is full of surprises'' ''(Улица полна неожиданностей)'' (1958) as Yevgeniy Pavlovich Serdyukov *'' Difficult happiness'' ''(Трудное счастье)'' (1958) as Agathon *'' Tale of newlyweds'' ''(Повесть о молодожёнах)'' (1959) as Fedor *'' Ne imey 100 rubley...'' ''(Не имей сто рублей...)'' (1959) as Ivan S. Mukhin *''Povest o molodozhyonakh'' (1960) as Fedya *''

Artwork A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art or art object is an artistic creation of aesthetic value. Except for "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature ...

'' ''(Произведение искусства)'' (196, Short) as Sasha Smirnov *'' Snow tale'' ''(Снежная сказка)'' (1959) as Old Year *''

'' ''(Полосатый рейс)'' (1961) as Gleb Shuleykin *'' Cheremushki'' ''(Черёмушки)'' (1962) as Barabashkin *'' Serf actress'' ''(Крепостная актриса)'' (1963) as Count Ivan P. Kutaisov *'' Short humoresques'' ''(Короткие истории)'' (1963, TV Movie) as client *''

Don Tale ''Don Tale'' (russian: Донская повесть) is a 1964 Soviet drama film directed by Vladimir Fetin. Plot The film tells about a red Cossack and his beloved woman, who, during childbirth, confesses to him that he is a spy for the White ...

'' ''(Донская повесть)'' (1964) as Yakov Shibalok *''

Thirty Three 33 (thirty-three) is the natural number following 32 and preceding 34. In mathematics 33 is: * the largest positive integer that cannot be expressed as a sum of different triangular numbers. * the smallest odd repdigit that is not a prime num ...

'' ''(Тридцать три)'' (1965) as Ivan S. Travkin *''Nad nami Yuzhnyy Krest'' (1965) as Disabled-seller in the market *''

The Snow Queen "The Snow Queen" ( da, Snedronningen) is an original fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. It was first published 21 December 1844 in '' New Fairy Tales. First Volume. Second Collection'' (''Nye Eventyr. Første Bind. Anden Samli ...

'' ''(Снежная королева)'' (1967) as King Erik XXIX *''Parviyat kurier'' (1968) as Kritski *''

Illusionist Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It ...

'' ''(Фокусник)'' (1968) as Stepan Nikolaevich Rossomakhin *'' Do not be sad'' ''(Не горюй!)'' (1968) as soldier Yegor Zaletayev *'' Zigzag udachi'' ''(Зигзаг удачи)'' (1968) as photographer Vladimir Oreshnikov *'' Literature lesson'' ''(Урок литературы)'' (1968) as Pavel Vronsky, Nina's father *''

Virineya ''Virineya'' (russian: Виринея) is a 1968 Soviet drama film directed by Vladimir Fetin. Plot Civil War. Virineya is a despised creature in the remote village of Nebesnovka. Clever, beautiful, desperate head, she herself, out of a sense of ...

'' ''(Виринея)'' (1969) as Michael *''

Carrousel A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round ( international), roundabout (British English), or hurdy-gurdy (an old term in Australian English, in SA) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular ...

'' ''(Карусель)'' (1969, TV Series) as Ivan I. Nyukhin (voice) *''

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...

'' ''(Чайковский)'' (1970) as Alyosha *''

Shine, shine, my star "Shine, Shine, My Star" (russian: "Гори, гори, моя звезда") is an acclaimed Russian romance. The authorship of the song was uncertain for some time, being ascribed to various people, including Nikolay Gumilyov and Ivan Bunin. A po ...

'' ''(Гори, гори, моя звезда)'' (1970) as Pasha, the master illusion *'' Between high spikes'' ''(Меж высоких хлебов)'' (1970) as Pavlo Struchok *''

Belorussian Station '' Belorussian Station'' (russian: Белорусский вокзал, translit=Belorusski vokzal) is a 1971 Soviet drama film directed by Andrei Smirnov. Plot 25 years after the end of Great Patriotic War four comrades-in-arms attend the fune ...

'' ''(Белорусский вокзал)'' (1971) as Ivan Prikhodko *''

'' ''(Джентльмены удачи)'' (1971) as Yevgeny Ivanovich Troshkin / Dotsent *''

As 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 ...

'' ''(Ехали в трамвае Ильф и Петров)'' (1972) as Vitaly Kapitulov *''

Big School-Break ''Big School-Break'' (or ''Big Break'' translit. ''Bolshaya Peremena'', russian: Большая перемена) is a Soviet 1972 TV miniseries in 4 episodes. It was known in the US as ''The Long Recess'', and it is loosely based on Georgy Sadov ...

'' ''(Большая перемена)'' (1972, TV Mini-Series) as Lednyov *'' Racers'' ''(Гонщики)'' (1973) as Ivan M. Kukushkin *''

Hopelessly Lost ''Hopelessly Lost'' (russian: Совсем пропащий, Sovsem propashchiy) is a 1973 Soviet adventure comedy directed by Georgiy Daneliya based on Mark Twain's 1884 novel ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn''. Cinematography by Vadim Yusov. It ...

'' ''(Совсем пропащий)'' (1973) as rogue nicknamed "The King" *''

Under a stone sky ''Under en steinhimmel'' (Under a Stone Sky; russian: Под каменным небом) is a Norwegian war film directed by Knut Andersen, Igor Maslennikov, and Stanislav Rostotsky. The film is a fictionalized portrayal of historical events. ...

'' ''(Под каменным небом)'' (1974) as Senior lieutenant Kravtsov *''

Bonus Bonus commonly means: * Bonus, a Commonwealth term for a distribution of profits to a with-profits insurance policy * Bonus payment, an extra payment received as a reward for doing one's job well or as an incentive Bonus may also refer to: Plac ...

'' ''(Премия)'' (1974) as Vasily T. Potapov *''

'' ''(Афоня)'' (1975) as Kolya *''

Circus in the Circus ''Circus in the Circus'' ( cs, Cirkus v cirkuse; russian: Соло для слона с оркестром) is a Czechoslovak-Soviet comedy film directed by Oldřich Lipský and released in 1976. The story takes place in the Big State Circus in ...

'' ''(Соло для слона с оркестром)'' (1975) as circus director Ivanov *'' Step towards'' ''(Шаг навстречу)'' (1976) as Serafim Nikitich *'' The Elder Son'' ''(Старший сын)'' (1976, TV Movie) as Andrei Grigorievich Sarafanov *'' Legend about Till Eulenspiegel'' ''(Легенда о Тиле)'' (1977) as Lamme Goedzak *'' Long criminal case'' ''(Длинное, длинное дело)'' (1977) as Mikhail P. Luzhin *''

'' ''(Мимино)'' (1977) as Volokhov *'' Funny people!'' ''(Смешные люди!)'' (1977) as chorister Aleksei Alekseyevich *''

Marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

'' ''(Женитьба)'' (1978) as Baltazar Baltazarovich Zhevakin *'' Chaperon'' ''(Дуэнья)'' (1978, TV Movie) as Don Izokelyo Mendoso *'' An Ordinary Miracle'' ''(Обыкновенное чудо)'' (1978, TV Movie) as King *'' And it's all about him'' ''(И это всё о нём)'' (1978) as Police Captain Aleksandr M. Prokhorov *''

'' ''(Осенний марафон)'' (1979) as Vasily Ignatyevich Kharitonov, sosed Buzykina *'' Faithfully'' ''(Верой и правдой)'' (1979) as Evgeny S. Bannikov *'' Holidays in September'' ''(Отпуск в сентябре)'' (1979, TV Movie) as Vladimir Andreevich Kushak *''

Borrowing Matchsticks ''Borrowing Matchsticks'' (russian: За спичками, Za spichkami, fi, Tulitikkuja lainaamassa) is a Soviet–Finnish comedy film produced by Mosfilm and Suomifilm in 1980. Film based on the novel by Algot Untola. Plot Antti Ihalainen ( ...

'' ''(За спичками)'' (1980) as Antti Ihalainen *''

Say a Word for the Poor Hussar ''Say a Word for the Poor Hussar'' (russian: О бедном гусаре замолвите слово, italic=yes), translit. . Literary “Put a good word for a poor hussar”) is a 1981 Soviet film directed by Eldar Ryazanov, shot in the ...

'' ''(О бедном гусаре замолвите слово)'' (1981, TV Movie) as provincial actor Afanasy P. Bubentsov *''

The House that Swift Built ''The House That Swift Built'' (russian: Дом, который построил Свифт, Dom, kotoriy postroil Svift) is a 1982 Soviet fantasy comedy film directed by Mark Zakharov based on the eponymous play by Grigori Gorin about Irish satir ...

'' ''(Дом, который построил Свифт)'' (1982, TV Movie) as giant Glyum *''

Tears Were Falling Tears Were Falling (russian: Слёзы капали, Slyozy kapali) is a 1982 Soviet fantasy film directed by Georgiy Daneliya. The plot can be viewed as a modern interpretation of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen ''The Snow Queen''. I ...

'' ''(Слёзы капали)'' (1983) as Pavel Ivanovich Vasin *'' Unique'' ''(Уникум)'' (1983) as director *''

Time and the Conways ''Time and the Conways'' is a British play written by J. B. Priestley in 1937 illustrating J. W. Dunne's Theory of Time through the experience of a moneyed Yorkshire family, the Conways, over a period of nineteen years from 1919 to 1937. Wide ...

'' ''(Время и семья Конвей)'' (1984) as Alan Conway, twenty years later *''

'' ''(Кин-дза-дза!)'' (1986) as Wef the Chatlanian, a wandering singer *'' To Kill a Dragon'' ''(Убить Дракона)'' (1988) as burgomaster *''

Passport A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the personal ...

'' ''(Паспорт)'' (1990) as official of Soviet Embassy in Austria *'' Detective bureau "Felix"'' ''(Детективное агентство "Феликс")'' (1993) as uncle Vanya *'' Amerikanskiy dedushka'' ''(Американский дедушка)'' (1993) as Gogolev *'' Nastya'' ''(Настя)'' (1993) as Yakov Alekseyevich ;Voice actor *''

'' *''

Winnie-the-Pooh Pays a Visit ''Winnie-the-Pooh Pays a Visit'' (russian: Винни-Пух идёт в гости, Vinni-Pukh idyot v gosti ) is a 1971 animated film by Soyuzmultfilm directed by Fyodor Khitruk. The film is based on chapter two in the book series by A. A. Milne ...

'' *''

Winnie-the-Pooh and a Busy Day ''Winnie-the-Pooh and a Busy Day'' (russian: Винни-Пух и день забот, Vinni-Pukh i den zabot , or ''Winnie the Pooh and a Day of Troubles'' in the English dub title) is a 1972 animated film by Soyuzmultfilm, directed by Fyodor Khi ...

'' *''

Vasilisa the Beautiful Vasilisa the Beautiful (russian: Василиса Прекрасная) or Vasilisa the Fair is a Russian fairy tale collected by Alexander Afanasyev in ''Narodnye russkie skazki''. Synopsis By his first wife, a merchant had a single daughter, w ...

'' *'' The Adventures of Lolo the Penguin'' *''

Welcome A welcome is a kind of greeting designed to introduce a person to a new place or situation, and to make them feel at ease. The term can similarly be used to describe the feeling of being accepted on the part of the new person. In some context ...

'' *''

Laughter and Grief by the White Sea ''Laughter and Grief by the White Sea'' (russian: Смех и го́ре у Бе́ла мо́ря; tr.:''Smekh i gore u Bela morya'') is a 1987 Soviet traditionally animated feature film directed by Leonid Nosyrev made at the Soyuzmultfilm studio ...

References

External links

*
Website about Leonov
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonov, Yevgeni 1926 births 1994 deaths 20th-century Russian male actors Male actors from Moscow Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Recipients of the Lenin Komsomol Prize Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the USSR State Prize Recipients of the Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR State Prize of the Russian Federation laureates 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 Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery