During the Soviet era, because of difficult relations with capitalist countries, Latvians and Lithuanians were often invited to play foreigners in films. Among such artists the most famous were Peteris Gaudins, Gunar Tsilinsky, Ivar Kalnins, Donatas Banionis and Laimonas Noreika. The last of the list is known mainly due to minor roles. Despite this, he was very fond of the domestic audience.
Laimonas Noreika: a biography of the early years
The parents of the future actor were simple people who earned a small fortune by their labor. They were far from theatrical art, but loved him with all their heart. Laimonas' father was an ordinary tailor, but very famous. Thanks to success in the profession, he was able to provide his son, who was born at the end of November 1926, with all the best.
From an early age, Laimonas Noreika went to the theater with his parents. Later, he became so fond of this art form that he decided to become an actor himself. Supporting the beginnings of his son, his father enrolled him in a local drama circle. Soon, the young man’s acting talent became known far beyond the circle of the circle. So, in the gymnasium where he studied, not a single production or celebration was complete without his participation.
After leaving school, Noreika got a job in the drama theater of Vilnius. In parallel with work, he studied for two years in a studio at the Šiauliai Drama Theater.
The beginning of an acting career
Laimonas Noreika always wanted to shine on the stage of the theater. Cinema at that time was still quite a young art, so it was not very interested in the ardent young man. Meanwhile, it was the cinema that played a pivotal role in his life.
When the artist turned 21 years old, he was invited to play a character named Juozas in the film "Marite". Although the role was small, the aspiring actor attracted attention and was soon invited to study at GITIS.
After graduating from this university, Laimonas returned to his homeland and for thirteen years worked in the most famous theaters in Lithuania.
During these years he played leading roles in such productions as The Enemies of Maxim Gorky, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, The King Lear by William Shakespeare, The Price by Arthur Miller.
Held as an actor, Laimonas Noreika decided to try his hand at recitation. Since the mid-sixties of the last century, he begins to tour Lithuania with the reading of famous poetic works. This endeavor has been very successful.
The filmography of the actor
As for the movie, after a successful debut in Laimonas’s career, a break of 18 years came. However, on the verge of the fortieth anniversary, the actor was invited to play the role of the gangster Domovoi in the film "Nobody Wanted to Die." Despite the fact that his hero was negative, thanks to this role Noreika became famous throughout the USSR.
After Brownie Laimonas began to play negative characters often. In most cases, these were German officers (Farhad's Feat, Dead Season).
In 1969, the actor was offered to play a character unusual for his role - the Soviet agent Zolotnikov, posing as a German engineer Nikolai Kraft. So the film "The Tale of the Chekist" appeared, which became one of the most famous paintings in the filmography of the actor.
In subsequent years, this artist played many more roles in Soviet films. After the “Tale of the Chekist,” they began to offer him to play not only negative foreign characters, but also positive heroes. His most interesting works in subsequent years: “The experiment of Dr. Abst”, “Mission in Kabul”, “Treasure Island”, “The whole royal army”, “Last day of winter”, “Fact”, “Return move”, “Visit to the Minotaur ", "War and Peace".
Other achievements
In addition to theater and cinema, Laimonas Noreika has achieved success in other areas. So, since 1984, he begins to teach at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater.
In addition, the actor tried his hand and as a writer. So, from his pen came three books: “Actor's Diaries” (essay collection), “Midnight Notes” and Čiurlionio 16 (Dienoraščiai, atsiminimai).
Also, being one of the best readers in his country, shortly before his death, Laimonas recorded several discs with verses by Lithuanian poets.
Laimonas Noreika: personal life
Unlike others, this actor did not like to spread about his personal life . For this reason, fans knew almost nothing about his family. Meanwhile, Laimonas Noreika was a rather happy person. His family was strong and friendly.
He was married only once - on Sigita Polycitus. Unfortunately, the wife died quite early (at 58).
Three children were born from this marriage: the daughters Ruta and Sigita, as well as the son Jonas.
The artist himself survived his wife and died at the age of eighty. Many well-known cultural figures gathered at his funeral. Instead of music, they included audio recordings in which Laimonas read poems.
The artist was buried at the Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius.
Entertaining facts about the actor
- The growth of the actor is 182 cm.
- By nature, Laimonas has dark hair that he never dyed. For some roles, the actor specifically released his beard.
- After retiring, the actor wanted to leave the profession and focus on writing memoirs. However, Eymuntas Nekroshus invited him to play a small role in his experimental production of “Three Sisters”. Together with the troupe of Necroshus, Noreik traveled all over the CIS and Europe.
- Among Russian actors, Laimonos's best friends were Lev Durov, Anatoly Solonitsyn, Boris Andreev, Lyudmila Chursina and Yuri Yakovlev.
- Starting with the painting “Nobody Wanted to Die,” Noreika often played along with his compatriot Donatas Banionis. Their most famous collaborations are Dead Season and Fact.
- Despite his unusually pleasant voice, Laimonas Noreika spoke Russian with an accent. Films with his participation in the USSR were duplicated. Only in a few of them could the audience hear the real voice of the artist. For example, in the movie "Parking for Three Hours" Noreika did without an understudy, however, to explain his emphasis, he had to make corrections to the script.
Few contemporary audiences under thirty know who Laimonas Noreika is. Despite this sad fact, films with the participation of the actor have become classics, and his contribution to the development of world culture is huge, albeit not appreciated enough.