Alexander Lazarev (actor)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Sergeevich Lazarev (Алекса́ндр Серге́евич Ла́зарев; January 3, 1938 – May 2, 2011) was a Soviet and Russian theater and film actor. In 1977 Alexander Lazarev was assignated People's Artist of Russia
and received the USSR State Prize
, for his work in Moscow Mayakovsky Theater
. Throughout his career spanning fifty years he's had more than 50 roles. Alexander Lazarev appeared in more than 100 films, one of which, G. Natanson's One More Thing About Love (Ещё раз про любовь), Tatiana Doronina
co-starring, made him famous in 1968, followed by another success, Late Flowers (1969). Lazarev, a man of impeccable manners and impressive stature (which brought him roles of statesmen and army generals), in real life was different too: according to the ORT obituary, "there was hardly anyone in the Russian actors' community for whom the words 'real gentleman' would have suited better". Svetlana Nemolyaeva, Lazarev's widow, is a well-known Soviet and Russian actress. Aleksander Lazarev Jr., their son, is enjoying successful career in film too.
, the son of a painter and designer Sergey Nikolayevich Lazarev (1899–1984) and Olympiada Kuzminichna Lazareva (née Tarasova, (1907–1996). The couple, described as the 'first generation Soviet intelligentsia', were spending most of their modest earnings on books, theater and art. Aleksandr's first three years were perfectly happy, then the hell broke loose. In winter 1941 during the blockade the whole of the family's library's got burnt in the furnace to keep rooms warm. Finally the three managed to make it out of the besieged city and settled in Orenburg
. The Lazarevs returned home in 1944 and the next year Alexandr went to school. By the time of his graduation he knew already he was going to become an actor, Robert Taylor
's performance in Waterloo Bridge
was cited later as the major influence. In 1955 Lazarev joined the MKhAT young actors studio. Then, having failed to impress Nikolay Akimov
of Leningrad's Theater of Comedy (his early childhood favourite), he settled at Mayakovsky Theater
, led at the time by Nikolay Okhlopkov
to be instantly loaded with barrage of roles (in just one Hamlet he had five). The role of Boytsov, an electrician in Aleksei Arbuzov
's The Irkutsk Story was Aleksander Lazarev's first major success in theater. On March 27, 1960, he married young Mayakovsky Theater actress Svetlana Nemolyaeva to form a union that later for 51 yers, till his death.
Lazarev's another strong stage performance, in Aleksander Stein's The Ocean (1961), led to his debut on big screen as Yango in a melodrama/thriller called Free Wind (1961, based on Isaak Dunayevsky
's operetta). Among the actor's other notable thetar roles were anarchist sailor Guscha in Between the Rainfalls (Okhlopkov's last work in theater), uber-lieutenant Schering in The Defector (1964) and Varavvin in Pyotr Fomenko-directed Death of Tarelkin (1966). And then in 1968 a leading role of pysicist Yevdokimov in G. Natanson's One More Thing About Love (co-starring Tatyana Doronina) made Lazarev famous overnight.
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
and received the USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
, for his work in Moscow Mayakovsky Theater
Mayakovsky Theater
Mayakovsky Theater is a theater in Moscow, Russia, founded in 1920, first as Terevsat , then Revolution Theater and Drama Theater...
. Throughout his career spanning fifty years he's had more than 50 roles. Alexander Lazarev appeared in more than 100 films, one of which, G. Natanson's One More Thing About Love (Ещё раз про любовь), Tatiana Doronina
Tatiana Doronina
Tatiana Vasilyevna Doronina is a popular Soviet/Russian actress who has performed in movies and the theater. She is generally regarded as one of the most talented actresses of her generation and was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1981....
co-starring, made him famous in 1968, followed by another success, Late Flowers (1969). Lazarev, a man of impeccable manners and impressive stature (which brought him roles of statesmen and army generals), in real life was different too: according to the ORT obituary, "there was hardly anyone in the Russian actors' community for whom the words 'real gentleman' would have suited better". Svetlana Nemolyaeva, Lazarev's widow, is a well-known Soviet and Russian actress. Aleksander Lazarev Jr., their son, is enjoying successful career in film too.
Biography
Aleksander Lazarev was born in LeningradLeningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
, the son of a painter and designer Sergey Nikolayevich Lazarev (1899–1984) and Olympiada Kuzminichna Lazareva (née Tarasova, (1907–1996). The couple, described as the 'first generation Soviet intelligentsia', were spending most of their modest earnings on books, theater and art. Aleksandr's first three years were perfectly happy, then the hell broke loose. In winter 1941 during the blockade the whole of the family's library's got burnt in the furnace to keep rooms warm. Finally the three managed to make it out of the besieged city and settled in Orenburg
Orenburg
Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m...
. The Lazarevs returned home in 1944 and the next year Alexandr went to school. By the time of his graduation he knew already he was going to become an actor, Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor (actor)
Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the son of Ruth Adaline and Spangler Andrew Brugh, who was a farmer turned doctor...
's performance in Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge (1940 film)
Waterloo Bridge is a 1940 remake of the 1931 film of the same title, adapted from the 1930 play of the same title.The film was made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Sidney Franklin and Mervyn LeRoy. The screenplay is by S. N. Behrman, Hans Rameau and George...
was cited later as the major influence. In 1955 Lazarev joined the MKhAT young actors studio. Then, having failed to impress Nikolay Akimov
Nikolay Akimov
Nikolay Pavlovich Akimov was an experimental theatre director and scenic designer noted for his work with the Leningrad Comedy Theatre. His most notorious production was the cynical version of Hamlet , with Ophelia as a drunken prostitute and the king's ghost as a clever mystification arranged by...
of Leningrad's Theater of Comedy (his early childhood favourite), he settled at Mayakovsky Theater
Mayakovsky Theater
Mayakovsky Theater is a theater in Moscow, Russia, founded in 1920, first as Terevsat , then Revolution Theater and Drama Theater...
, led at the time by Nikolay Okhlopkov
Nikolay Okhlopkov
Nikolay Pavlovich Okhlopkov was a Soviet actor and theatre director who patterned his work after Meyerhold.He was born in Irkutsk, Siberia and started his acting career there in 1918...
to be instantly loaded with barrage of roles (in just one Hamlet he had five). The role of Boytsov, an electrician in Aleksei Arbuzov
Aleksei Arbuzov
Aleksei Nikolaevich Arbuzov was a Soviet playwright.Arbuzov was born in Moscow, but his family moved to Petrograd in 1914. Orphaned at the age of eleven, he found salvation in the theater, and at fourteen he began to work in the Mariinsky Theatre...
's The Irkutsk Story was Aleksander Lazarev's first major success in theater. On March 27, 1960, he married young Mayakovsky Theater actress Svetlana Nemolyaeva to form a union that later for 51 yers, till his death.
Lazarev's another strong stage performance, in Aleksander Stein's The Ocean (1961), led to his debut on big screen as Yango in a melodrama/thriller called Free Wind (1961, based on Isaak Dunayevsky
Isaak Dunayevsky
Isaak Osipovich Dunayevsky was the biggest Soviet film composer and conductor of the 1930s and 1940s, who achieved huge success in music for operetta and film comedies, frequently working with the film director Grigori Aleksandrov...
's operetta). Among the actor's other notable thetar roles were anarchist sailor Guscha in Between the Rainfalls (Okhlopkov's last work in theater), uber-lieutenant Schering in The Defector (1964) and Varavvin in Pyotr Fomenko-directed Death of Tarelkin (1966). And then in 1968 a leading role of pysicist Yevdokimov in G. Natanson's One More Thing About Love (co-starring Tatyana Doronina) made Lazarev famous overnight.