Yevgeny Morgunov
Encyclopedia
Yevgeny Alexandrovich Morgunov was a Soviet and Russia
n actor
, film director
, and script writer
, Meritorious Artist
of Russian SFSR (1978).
factory, but - "a little naive and obsessed with becoming an actor" - he wrote a letter to Joseph Stalin
about his dream. Morgunov reportedly received a reply from Stalin that said that a place was allocated for him in the acting class at the State Cinematography Institute. Morgunov launched his film career while still a student.
Although his acting career was not limited to comedies, he was best known for his work in a comic trio in a series of films by Leonid Gaidai
, with Yury Nikulin as Fool (Balbes), and Georgy Vitsin
as Coward (Trus). Their best-known films together were Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures
and Prisoner of the Caucasus, or Shurik's New Adventures. Morgunov's character named Experienced (Byvaly) was always the "tight-lipped and aggressive leader of the group". Reportedly, "the three symbolized exactly what Soviet men were not supposed to be - drunk, unemployed and inclined toward mischief." In one of the legendary scenes in Prisoner of the Caucasus Experienced gives lessons on how to dance the twist - by putting out cigarette butts with his feet.
However, after his triumphant role of “Byvaly” Morgunov was not much into filming. His best works included those in films Three Fat Men (Tri tolstyaka) (1966), Ilf and Petrov Went by Tram (Ekhali v tramvaye Ilf i Petrov) (1972). There were also other, less noteworthy roles. Morgunov also tried his wings as a film director. As early as 1962, he directed the comedy When the Cossacks Weep (Kogda Kazaki plachut) under the patronage of the illustrious writer Michail Sholokhov
. However, the film remained his only director’s work.
In 1993, Morgunov was featured in American
-Russian adventure film My Family Treasure (Russian: Сокровище моей семьи) directed by Rolfe Kanefsky
and Edward Staroselsky alongside with Dee Wallace.
Morgunov's popularity was not far behind that of his partner Nikulin, a famous actor and clown of the Moscow Circus.
Morgunov is buried at the Kuntsevskoye Cemetery.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and script writer
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, Meritorious Artist
Meritorious Artist
Meritorious Artist , also translated as Merited Artist, Deserved Artist or Distinguished Artist or Honorary Artist or Honorable Actor) is an honorary title in the Soviet Union, Russian Federation, Union republics, and Autonomous republics, also in some other Eastern bloc states, as well as in a...
of Russian SFSR (1978).
Early life
He started out as a worker in a MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
factory, but - "a little naive and obsessed with becoming an actor" - he wrote a letter to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
about his dream. Morgunov reportedly received a reply from Stalin that said that a place was allocated for him in the acting class at the State Cinematography Institute. Morgunov launched his film career while still a student.
Career
Yevgeny Morgunov was one of Russia's leading comic actors. "Plump and bald," Morgunov often "represented a traditional character of Soviet satire - Byvaly, or Experienced, a slightly dull, strong-built drunk whose attempts to commit petty crimes always failed."Although his acting career was not limited to comedies, he was best known for his work in a comic trio in a series of films by Leonid Gaidai
Leonid Gaidai
Leonid Iovich Gaidai was one of the most popular Soviet comedy directors, enjoying immense popularity and broad public recognition in the former USSR & modern Russia...
, with Yury Nikulin as Fool (Balbes), and Georgy Vitsin
Georgy Vitsin
Georgy Mikhailovich Vitsin was a Soviet and Russian actor.- Biography :Born in St. Petersburg, then Petrograd, in 1918 , Vitsin enjoyed a long acting career and continued performing until close to the end of his life...
as Coward (Trus). Their best-known films together were Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures
Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures
Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures is a 1965 Soviet slapstick comedy film directed by Leonid Gaidai, starring Aleksandr Demyanenko, Natalya Seleznyova, Yuri Nikulin, Georgy Vitsin and Yevgeny Morgunov. The film consists of three independent parts: "Workmate" , "Déjà vu" and "Operation Y"...
and Prisoner of the Caucasus, or Shurik's New Adventures. Morgunov's character named Experienced (Byvaly) was always the "tight-lipped and aggressive leader of the group". Reportedly, "the three symbolized exactly what Soviet men were not supposed to be - drunk, unemployed and inclined toward mischief." In one of the legendary scenes in Prisoner of the Caucasus Experienced gives lessons on how to dance the twist - by putting out cigarette butts with his feet.
However, after his triumphant role of “Byvaly” Morgunov was not much into filming. His best works included those in films Three Fat Men (Tri tolstyaka) (1966), Ilf and Petrov Went by Tram (Ekhali v tramvaye Ilf i Petrov) (1972). There were also other, less noteworthy roles. Morgunov also tried his wings as a film director. As early as 1962, he directed the comedy When the Cossacks Weep (Kogda Kazaki plachut) under the patronage of the illustrious writer Michail Sholokhov
Michail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov
Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov was a Soviet/Russian novelist and winner of the 1965 Nobel Prize in Literature. An asteroid in main-belt is named after him, 2448 Sholokhov.-Life and work:...
. However, the film remained his only director’s work.
In 1993, Morgunov was featured in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-Russian adventure film My Family Treasure (Russian: Сокровище моей семьи) directed by Rolfe Kanefsky
Rolfe Kanefsky
Rolfe Kanefsky is an American film writer/director who specializes in horror films.-Early life:Kanefsky grew up in the suburbs of New York and attended Hampshire College where he studied Film. He began writing stories at a young age after his childhood dream of becoming a clown took the backseat...
and Edward Staroselsky alongside with Dee Wallace.
Morgunov's popularity was not far behind that of his partner Nikulin, a famous actor and clown of the Moscow Circus.
Morgunov is buried at the Kuntsevskoye Cemetery.