The famous âStirlitzâ left this world at the end of 2009, however, the biography of Vyacheslav Tikhonov is still of interest to a fan of a talented actor. A scout, an aristocrat, an employee of the KGB, a teacher - whom this amazing person who has invested in every role a piece of the soul has not played in his long life. What is known about his life path, what films with his participation will forever remain in the history of Russian cinema?
Tikhonov Vyacheslav Vasilievich: childhood
The future "Stirlitz" was born in Pavlovsky Posad, there was a joyful event in February 1928. The biography of Vyacheslav Tikhonov indicates that the first years of his life were surrounded by representatives of the working environment, to which his parents belonged. The boyâs childhood cannot be called simple, given that it was overshadowed by the war.
Already at the age of 14, Slava was forced to start working, in the war years he worked as a turner at the factory, successfully combining this difficult activity with studies at a vocational school. The biography of Vyacheslav Tikhonov shows that he grew up as a hardworking person, he gladly helped his mother with homework. The talented boy did not have problems with his studies, but he preferred to spend time not at lessons, but in a local cinema. The guy was fascinated by the heroic films of those years, his favorite actors were Zharov, Cherkasov, Butterfly.
Choosing a Life Path
The fascination with the world of cinema for the young man did not disappear, however, his decision to go to the actors did not provoke support from his parents. Mother and father of Tikhonov were ordinary people, dad worked all his life as a mechanic, mother watched the kids in kindergarten. They dreamed that the child entered the agricultural academy and acquired a serious profession.
The biography of Vyacheslav Tikhonov shows that he could not have become an actor, if not for the intervention of his beloved grandmother. To the words of this kind and caring woman, fortunately for the grandson, the whole family listened. It was the grandmother who insisted that the parents leave the boy alone and not interfere with him following the call of his heart. Reluctantly, the mother and father gave their consent, still disapproving of the choice of the heir.
Student years
Amazingly, Tikhonovâs attempt to become a student at VGIK failed. It is known that the future "Stirlitz" failed to pass the creative contest, the selection committee found him not gifted. It is possible that Vyacheslav would not wait for the next year to retake the exams, he would lose faith in his mission and go to enter the agricultural academy, as his parents dreamed. However, the case helped to become an actor.
The legend says that Tikhonov Vyacheslav Vasilievich, learning that he could not be a student at VGIK, burst into tears in one of the corridors of the famous university. It was at that moment that Boris Bibikov, one of the local professors , discovered him. Something made the teacher take the guy to his course, which he did not have to regret in the future. Soon, the future Stirlitz became one of his favorite students, delighting the professor with his successes.
Theater work
The star of Soviet cinema is not one of the actors who almost immediately gained fame by performing on the stage. For about 10 years, young Tikhonov could not achieve really interesting roles. It is curious that the main problem of the guy was his bright appearance. The directors entrusted the guy only with the creation of images of short-sighted handsome men.
However, Tikhonov Vyacheslav Vasilievich did not complain about fate and systematically gained experience, honing his playing skills on stage. His finest hour as a theater actor came in 1955. They talked about young talent after the release of the production of Ordinary Miracle, in which director Erast Garin allowed the young man to play the difficult role of the Bear. Since then, he has received many vivid roles, being a member of the troupe of the Theater Studio of the film actor.
First successes
Itâs not a secret to anyone that it was not work in the theater that helped the future âscoutâ become a star. While still in his third year at VGIK, Tikhonov joined the crew of the film "The Young Guard", the role was offered to him by director Sergei Gerasimov. The tape became a grand event for the cinema of those years, its creators paid maximum attention to the reconstruction of the environment, the characters' characters were thought out literally to the smallest detail.
It is interesting that not only aspiring actor Tikhonov Vyacheslav managed to declare his talent for the first time thanks to the Young Guard, which was presented to the audience in 1948. His colleagues on the set were such stars of Soviet cinema as Makarova, Bondarchuk, Mordyukova. The latter became the first wife of Shtirlitsa, the novel flared up precisely in the process of working on the film. Participation in the filming of "Young Guard" provided Vyacheslav not only a change in his personal life, but also the Stalin Prize.
Early films with his participation
Everyone knows that the leaders of Soviet cinema preferred to make pictures imbued with heroic pathos. This trend was reflected in the first roles that the young actor had a chance to play. It is interesting that Tikhonov was reluctantly assigned to portray noble heroes who were ready to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the prosperity of the Motherland. This was due to the fact that Vyacheslav's appearance was regarded as overly âaristocraticâ.
The audience remembered the character played by the actor Oleg Bezborodko in the military drama "Thirst", which saw the light in 1959. The picture told about the life of the inhabitants of Odessa during its occupation by German troops. The actor embodied the image of the brave hero Panin, trying to save several political prisoners from death, in the historical drama âMichman Paninâ, released in 1960. Bright roles went to him in such films as âEmergency incidentâ (1958), âOptimistic tragedyâ.
Breakthrough movie
For the first time, actor Tikhonov Vyacheslav was able to understand what real fame looks like thanks to the filming of the film âIt Was in Penkov,â created in 1958. Despite the aristocratic appearance, which constantly interfered with the âintelligence Stirlitzâ, it was him who the director entrusted with the role of a simple village guy. Rostotsky did not have to regret such an exotic choice, since the actor did an excellent job of creating the image of Matvey Morozov. He managed to make his hero neither bad nor good - an ordinary person to whom the audience sincerely empathized.
It is curious that it was the tractor driver Matvey Tikhonov who invariably named among the most interesting heroes played by him over the years of filming in the cinema. The actor was pleased that he was able to show the audience what the real tragedy of his character consists of. Morozov did not suffer at all from unrequited love, but because he did not find his place in life.
The image of a Russian intellectual
Remembering the best roles of Vyacheslav Tikhonov, it is impossible to ignore Ilya Semenovich, the image of which the actor created in the film "We'll Live Until Monday." It was the drama that narrated the search for the life path of a simple school teacher, which became the first tape that allowed the performer of the main role to get rid of the hero who was tired of him and play the classic Russian intellectual. The drama is good not only for its interesting plot, but also for its stellar cast. Tikhonovâs colleagues on the set were such celebrities as Ostroumova, Zhizneva, Starygin.
After the release of the film âLet's Live Until Mondayâ, which was a great success, Vyacheslav was constantly entrusted with the roles of Russian intellectuals. Examples of such roles: Stirlitz, Bolkonsky.
"War and Peace"
Of course, not all the famous films in which Vyacheslav Tikhonov starred are listed above, films with whose participation invariably were a huge success with Soviet viewers. One cannot fail to mention his role in the film âWar and Peace,â directed by Sergey Bondarchuk. It was originally planned that the image of Prince Bolkonsky in the film adaptation of the most famous work of Tolstoy will be embodied by Innokenty Smoktunovsky. However, the actor refused due to employment in another project. As a result, Andrei Bolkonsky played the former Tikhonov star at that time, which was facilitated by Lyudmila Furtseva, one of his loyal fans.
If you believe the memories of Vyacheslav, shooting was given to him hard. Trying to understand his hero, he constantly put himself in his place. Andrei Bolkonsky constantly commits acts that were absolutely not characteristic of the actor. For example, he could not write letters to his father day after day, being at the front. It is curious that the result of the star of Soviet cinema was absolutely not pleasant, he even indulged for some time in thought about leaving the profession.
Star role
In 1973, the first series of the famous television project âSeventeen Moments of Springâ was released. Vyacheslav Tikhonov got the main role in this project, playing the courageous scout Stirlitz, forced to work behind enemy lines. Perhaps this image for many years has become a kind of calling card of the actor. Other stars claimed the role, including Smoktunovsky, but the director Lioznova chose Vyacheslav.
The result of this work, actor Tikhonov remained completely satisfied. He managed to portray his famous character not as a brave superman, easily overcoming all obstacles, but as a living person with his emotions and fears. Stirlitz turned out to be alive and real, millions of viewers sympathized with him and were afraid for him.
After the release of the first episode, the serial film âSeventeen Moments of Springâ gained immense popularity. Vyacheslav Tikhonov, playing Stirlitz, for many years became the most famous actor of the USSR. Legend has it that during the demonstration of the series even a decline in crime occurred, since almost all the inhabitants of the country froze at the screens.
Other interesting roles
The military drama did not become the last famous film in which Vyacheslav Tikhonov played. Films with his participation, released after her, also easily gained popularity, although they did not repeat the success of the multi-part film âSeventeen Moments of Springâ. For example, fans of the actor must watch the drama "White Bim, the Black Ear", in the filming of which the "Scout Stirlitz" took part.
The most difficult task that Tikhonov faced while preparing for the role of a writer was the need to make friends with a dog. To do this, he constantly walked with a dog, fed him from his own hands. The actor, known for his love of animals, really managed to establish contact with his "partner".
Also noteworthy is the film project âBattle for Moscowâ, in which you canât see Vyacheslav himself, but you can enjoy his amazing voice, as it is he who declares the voiceover.
Wives of Vyacheslav Tikhonov
As already mentioned, Nonna Mordyukova became the first woman whom Vyacheslav Tikhonov married. The personal life of an unknown actor back then was not stormy before meeting her. However, it took Nonna a long time to make the mysterious handsome man who fascinated her from the first meeting fall in love with her. Fateful acquaintance happened during the filming of the film "Young Guard". Unfortunately, after 13 years, the beautiful couple broke up.
The second wife of Tikhonov Vyacheslav is the translator Tamara, whom he met while working on the tape âMan and Womanâ. The wedding took place in the year when the actor starred in the drama "Let's Live Until Monday." He lived with Tamara for 42 years.
Children stars
The only son of Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Vladimir, was born in a marriage with Nonna Mordyukova. Unfortunately, the guyâs fate was tragic. Volodya at a young age got involved with a bad company, became addicted to drugs. The son of Shtirlitsa died in 1990, according to a medical report, an overdose became the cause of his death.
The daughter of Vyacheslav Tikhonov was born in a second marriage, the girl was named Anna. For some time she tried to follow in the footsteps of the famous father, but her acting career did not work out. This made Anna switch to production, she is the owner of the movie actor studio. Interestingly, for some time Tikhonov acted as the head of this studio.
Death
The famous actor passed away in November 2009, having survived to 81 years. The cause of his death was a heart problem. Tikhonov was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery, his grave is still visited by fans.