The audience remembered this actor as the performer of the role of Mikhail Lomonosov in the 1986 serial film. His strong-willed and some kind of folk thoroughbred face was noticed in a bright and talentedly written out image of the village operative officer of the late Stalin years from the picture “Cold Summer of the 53rd ...”. The filmography of Viktor Stepanov is striking in its length, especially if you know that the actor made his film debut at the age of 36. And he lived only 58.
Far Sakhalin
Great is Russia. At one end, the sun is already rising, and at the other - still deep night. But not only the dimensions are grandiose, talented people are born and live everywhere. May 21, 1947 on Sakhalin, in Severo-Kurilsk, the future actor Viktor Stepanov was born. His biography began in these places remote from the European part of Russia, his childhood passed in Serdobsk. The family was big, five children grew up in it. The beauties of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, apparently, influenced the formation of the character and attitude of the future actor.
Sakhalin Oblast in those years was a very distant province. Too many household goods that are common for residents of Moscow, Leningrad, the capitals of the Union republics and simply large cities of the European part of the Soviet Union seemed to people living there to be a luxury. It remains to be guessed what efforts it cost Stepanov’s large mother to create conditions for the harmonious development of her children. Judging by the result, she deserves the highest praise. Actor's work always required knowledge, strength of character, and simply human wisdom. To enter the Institute of Culture, and even to the directing department, was very difficult, but this is precisely what Victor set himself to do. He had enough knowledge and will.
Cities and theaters
Victor Stepanov chose the profession of a director, to master it he entered the Tambov branch of the Moscow Institute of Culture and graduated from this educational institution in 1972. Then there were many years of work in theaters in different cities. Tambov, where he studied, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in his native land, as well as Novgorod, became the geographical points in which the artist passed a vocational school.
Many years later, during the Leningrad tour, the leadership of Lenkom drew attention to the texture of the artist, and he was invited to the troupe. It happened already in 1991. The actor revealed his talent almost immediately, and during his theatrical career managed to play many vivid roles.
It is not surprising that Viktor Stepanov began working in one of the best Soviet theaters, but that it happened at such a mature age. And yet it is beautiful. As is customary in such cases, it is better late than never.
The peak of cinematic fame
A major debut in cinema was the role in the historical film about academician Ivan Pavlov, shot in 1984. Prior to that, there was a small episode in "The Bustle of Vanities", but Viktor Stepanov himself did not attach much importance to him. The large figure and strong-willed face set the actor a certain role. His character could be a man, but not at all simple, a military leader or a historical figure. In the cinema of the late eighties and early nineties, this image was in demand. The truth-seeker Pyotr Lutsik from Okraina, Bakhyt Kilibaev from Gongofer, the general from Lucifer, Boiled from The Last Affair - these and other roles added popularity to the artist, already known to everyone by Mikhail Lomonosov. The demand was so high that one day had to act in eleven films at the same time. It seemed that it was impossible to manage everything, but the artist Viktor Stepanov did not let a single director down.
Lomonosov
Talent is an ability backed up by labor. Appearance is also part of it, and with it the actor was gifted generously. A true Russian hero, such as the artists portrayed him (Konstantin Vasiliev, for example), is the image to which the unique texture was applicable. The giant and play the giants, as the directors decided, and were not mistaken. Historical films with the participation of Viktor Stepanov narrated about the difficult path of Russia, the eras in which its future was decided. In addition to M.V. Lomonosov, he happened to create images of Ermak Timofeevich and Peter the Great, as well as the collective characteristic roles of people who participated in the fateful events.
Unfortunately, the work on "Ermak" had consequences for the actor, adversely affecting his health.
From Malyuta to Chaliapin
Films with Victor Stepanov reflect other pages of the centuries-old Russian chronicle. By the number of epic roles, there are few actors who are fortunate enough to work this way in the genre of historical cinema. In the film "War" he successfully created the image of a commander, he succeeded Malyuta ("Thunderstorm over Russia", 1992) and the great bass Fedor Chaliapin ("Under the Sign of Scorpio" 1995). Director Vitaly Melnikov (Tsarevich Aleksey, 1996) literally had to restrain an actor who was trying to convey the image of the great autocrat-reformer in the way he understood, which was somewhat at odds with the general concept of the picture, in which Peter I nevertheless corresponded to the canonical historical understanding of him roles.
The negative charm of Malyuta Skuratov was conveyed by the actor so that the viewer no longer perceives this historical character as a banal villain. This image was especially successful for Stepanov, he invested a certain tragedy in him, which made it possible for him to judge this ambiguous figure in his own way.
Cold summer
Actually, "Cold Summer ..." can also be attributed to historical films. The storyline of this film develops against the background of very real events, the background texture, everyday details are very carefully written in the film, and the policeman Mankov is a real Soviet officer, convinced of his innocence (although sometimes mistakenly), very sincere, ready to fulfill his duty in any circumstances . He knows for sure that “they’re not planting anyone in vain”, but human emotions are not alien to him. Even the way he sings about migratory birds gives him a true patriot who loves all of Russia, from the Kuril Islands to Brest, just like Viktor Stepanov himself. Photos of all his characters, both on the screen and failed, demonstrate the ability to get used to each of the proposed historical images, but in some cases it seems that his uniform is a little squeezed, and this is not about the size of his clothes. It's just that the actor himself is too big.
First wife
Victor Stepanov is a very beautiful actor. The viewer can admire his game, and the power, energy and courage that comes from his very appearance. There is no doubt that many women loved him, but there is no information about his scandalous novels. Apparently, the actor had very firm moral principles. For two decades, Stepanov lived with his first wife, Elya. Unfortunately, God did not give this pair of children. After the divorce, she lives in Tambov, it is known about her that she often goes to church.
Last years
Remaining a bachelor, Viktor Stepanov plunged into the work with his head, and once, during filming in Kiev, at the studio named after Dovzhenko, met Natalia, who worked there as a dresser. With her, in a house built near the capital of Ukraine, he lived all the remaining years with almost no separation (with the exception of trips to Kamchatka and Japan).
The couple raised their adopted son Nikita, whose late father was a friend of Viktor Stepanov. The life of this married couple was overshadowed by a serious illness of the actor, which was the result of an injury received on the set of the film "Ermak". A fall from a horse, damage to the spine caused a malignancy, which slowly killed the artist.
It is useless to describe the torment experienced by cancer patients. Physical suffering is compounded by a sense of doom. But this man was not like that to indulge in despondency. He continued to create, although there were cases when he was brought to the set in his arms.
Not thinking life without art, Victor Stepanov overcame pain and continued to act in films. This struggle lasted twelve years. The last role was performed by him a month before his death. The film was called "And Life Goes On" ...
At the end of December 2005, a Russian actor was buried in Kiev’s Elias Church. Many people came to say goodbye to him, both related to art, and ordinary citizens who loved Stepanov and those whose images he managed to create.