Vadim Medvedev, without exaggeration, can be called one of the most beautiful Soviet actors of the last century. Aristocratic appearance and remarkable talent brought him wild popularity. Many fans, according to the daughter of the actor, not only gave flowers and confessed love, but also brought themselves to hysteria, so often I had to call an ambulance, and sometimes a fire engine.
After the actor Vadim Medvedev played the main role of a secular rake in the film "Eugene Onegin" and Ivan Ilyich Telegin in the film "Going through the Pain", the number of fans increased sharply.
Despite the Iron Curtain, one millionaire from America even managed to write a letter to the actor, where she clearly indicated her whereabouts. But at that time he was in love with a famous theater actress and left her family for her sake. Vadim Medvedev and Valentina Kovel got married, despite the protests “from above” and the scandal provoked by Ekaterina Furtseva.
Actor Biography
The future brilliant actor Vadim Medvedev was born on April 28, 1929 in Yalta. He graduated from the school in Moscow, located at the Chamber Theater. In 1952 he was invited to the Alexandrinsky Theater in the city of Leningrad, where he worked for fourteen years, playing various characteristic and romantic roles.
Thanks to his remarkable appearance, he especially successfully succeeded in playing the roles of Shakespearean heroes. He played Vedernikov in the play Year of Wanderings by Arbuzov, Derzhavin in the production of Zorin's Friends and Years and in many other plays.
Bolshoi Drama Theater and film work
And yet, despite the success, the actor Vadim Medvedev and his wife left for the Bolshoi Theater in 1966, where Georgy Tovstonogov was the artistic director at that time .
Vadim Alexandrovich liked the atmosphere of this theater, and, indeed, under the guidance of the famous director, Medvedev discovered for himself and the audience still unknown facets of his talent.
Vadim Aleksandrovich Medvedev first appeared on the BDT stage with the role of Sergei Usov in the production of Rozov’s Traditional Gathering, after which there were many remarkable supporting roles, but despite this, Medvedev believed that he had learned acting from Tovstonogov.
In the movie, Vadim Alexandrovich began acting in 1953. The actor was rather skeptical of his appearance and said with humor that "again they took the face for the face." Thus, he starred in the film "Gadfly", where he played the role of Giovanni Bol, then there was the comedy "Twelfth Night" directed by Jan Fried, where he managed to brilliantly play the Duke of Orsino. In the psychological drama "Catherine Voronin," directed by Isidor Annensky, he played Yuri Mostovoy.
The 60-70s of the last century were the happiest and most significant in the career of an actor. Many years later, in 1982, the actor reappeared on the big screen in the film "Vassa", directed by Gleb Panfilov, where he played Vassa's husband - Sergei Petrovich Zheleznov. After there was the role of Vladimir Vikentievich in the film “I Ask for Words” and Guildenstern in the film adaptation of Grigory Kozintsev “Hamlet”.
Hobbies and character of the actor
Vadim Medvedev had one hobby - these are boats. He acquired his first boat in 1958. It was a six-boat, which he and his friends remade into a boat and called it “Advance.” The actor gave the name “Pavel Petrovich” to the second boat. Perhaps in honor of Emperor Paul the First.
And the third boat Vadim Medvedev changed shortly (three months) before his death.
Rudolf Furmanov, a close friend of Medvedev, recalled many interesting and funny stories in his memoirs about the actor that happened to them while riding a boat on the Neva. Another characteristic feature of the actor, as his friends and colleagues spoke about, for example, Oleg Basilashvili, was an aggravated Medvedev principle. Vadim Medvedev was distinguished by a decent, but ardent character and could defend his position to the end, and sometimes assault was also used.
The cause of death of actor Vadim Medvedev
In Soviet times, the actor’s salary could not satisfy even the most basic needs, so many talented ministers of Melpomene had to tour, give concerts to earn some money.
Vadim Medvedev and his wife, Valentina Kovel, were no exception. They literally traveled the whole country. Performances often took place in the circus arena, in cold and unventilated rooms. There is a photograph where Vadim Alexandrovich on the Sakhalin coast stands next to the carcass of a whale that has thrown ashore.
All these wanderings and the last tour to India with BDT undermined the actor’s health. Apparently, this caused the death of actor Vadim Medvedev. He died at the 59th year of his life in March 1988 and was buried at the Bolsheokhtinsky cemetery in St. Petersburg. The wife, Valentina Kovel, survived her husband for nine years and was buried next to him.