Leonid Kharitonov, whose biography is described in this article, is a Soviet theater and film actor, Honored Artist of the RSFSR. He was born on 05/19/1930 in a city located on the great Neva River, under the name Leningrad. Kharitonov’s mother worked as a doctor all the time, and her father worked as an engineer. Lenya had a younger brother, whose name was Victor. Father and mother made a lot of efforts to instill in children a love of art and encouraged the brothers for their enthusiasm for theatrical and musical art. Little Kharitonov tried not to miss the opportunity to read a poem or sing a song at family celebrations, which were attended by many friends of his parents.
School years
A little grown-up Lenya, her parents registered in a rather prestigious gymnasium No. 239. At that school, a theater group successfully worked under the guidance of the then-famous actress Maria Prizvan-Sokolova. The colorful narratives about the theatrical stages greatly impressed the boy, and he resolutely set himself the goal of becoming a great artist. Little Leonid Kharitonov, whose personal life was different from the rest of the studio's students, was characterized by good acting skills - he was given quite vocal singing, he knew how to boldly stay on stage, and absorbed pedagogical advice the first time.
In school years, the nickname "artist" stuck to him due to the fact that he was an obligatory participant in almost all the performances that were staged at that time in school. After the 9th grade, the boy passed the exams at the theater studio, but he was not enrolled there due to his lack of matriculation by that time.
Student period
After graduating from school, Leonid Kharitonov successfully entered the university, where he selflessly comprehended jurisprudence for a year, and filled his time free from studies with his favorite pastime in the student drama circle. The role of the auditor Bobchinsky made me seriously think about the career of an actor in theater and cinema. In the university years, Kharitonov received a proposal from the intelligence service, and they set the condition that he can expect a long stay abroad, and, accordingly, many must donate. The actor did not accept such an offer because of his great love for theatrical art. During a tour of the Moscow Art Theater in the city on the Neva, a set was announced in their school-studio to them. Nemirovich-Danchenko. The young man decided to take exams. Passed all the stages perfectly and was credited.
The future film actor graduated from the studio in 1954 and was immediately enrolled in the list of actors of the theater troupe. In the same year, Kharitonov had the opportunity to star in the movie "School of Courage" for the first time, in addition, he began to play there while still a student.
Leonid Kharitonov: films about the soldier Ivan Brovkin
A year after the filming of "School of Courage" appeared on the screens the movie "Soldier Ivan Brovkin." In order to get used to the actor's costume of the hero, he was allowed to wear a soldier's uniform daily. And for a better understanding and study of the character of the hero of Ivan, Leonid Kharitonov (photo of a soldier is presented below) was engaged in military drill training for several hours a day, studied driving a motorcycle and a tractor, and even refused a backup singer.
He insisted on his own performance of all the songs involved in the picture. Leonid studied the comedy script for several months, carefully delving into every line, trying to fully imagine the cheerful soldier Brovkin, who was famous for his untimely and inappropriate actions. During the filming of "Ivan Brovkin," the artist exacerbated peptic ulcer, which was acquired during the Leningrad blockade.
In the summer of 1955, on the streets of Sukhumi, a military patrol stopped a young soldier, because he did not greet the officer walking by and was not dressed in accordance with the charter. The detained soldier not only did not stretch his attention "at attention", but tried to enter into a wrangle. He was taken to the commandant’s office. After some time, the "detainee" left her with a smile in the company of the commandant himself. When the latter let him go, he warned that when wearing a military uniform, the existing military charter should be observed, and introduced an officer whom Leonid did not greet as an actor who played in the film School of Courage.
After the appearance of “Soldier Ivan Brovkin” on the screens, Leonid Kharitonov woke up as a real idol of an entire generation. He received letters from soldiers, girls, mothers and grandmothers. He was inundated with invitations to meetings in clubs, educational institutions and industrial enterprises. Kharitonov with
his game created the image of a new national hero - a bad-headed, but good-natured, modest and attractive guy. His characters both educated and delighted spectators of different ages. The actor himself, too, was somewhat similar to a hero: he never made requests on personal matters, spent his life modestly, communicated with everyone on an equal footing, and refused to refuse help.
Leonid Kharitonov, whose filmography includes thirty-nine feature films, became a real national idol because of the role of Ivan Brovkin. But at the same time a victim of one role.
The love of the actor
Leonid Kharitonov, whose biography testifies to the success of the female representatives, was an extremely amorous young man. According to the recollections of his classmate Lev Durov, Lenya Kharitonov was not very tall and did not have an athletic figure at all, but was very popular among his peers both at the university and at the school-studio. And the ended romance with them grew into a friendship until the end of days.
Actor Kharitonov Leonid and his wife
The place of the first wife of Kharitonov was taken by his classmate Svetlana Sorokina. They signed in their third year, their cohabitation lasted only two years. After a divorce from Leonid Svetlana, who left her husband’s surname, worked at the Theater of Film Actor, then at the Theater of Satire.
She claimed that Leonid captivated everyone with his good disposition and gentle nature. "Soldier Ivan Brovkin" brought the actor stardom. It so happened, the film, which led the actor to popularity, broke the life of his first wife. Fans overpowered him everywhere. He did not even think of hiding that he liked women's attention very much. On the set of the painting “The Street is Full of Surprises”, he developed an affair with D. Osmolovskaya. Svetlana was very offended by this and was very worried.
Osmolovskaya, who became the second wife, gave birth to a son, Leonid Vladimirovich. However, this family was destined to fall apart. The third and last wife of Kharitonov was at that time a student of the school of the Moscow Art Academic Theater Evgeny Gibova.
Actor's addiction
Kharitonov made friends with famous old-timers - B. Livanov, A. Gribov and V. Belokurov. The latter is known for the film "Valery Chkalov." Ostroslov Boris Livanov joked about the strip on the jumper worn by Belokurov that it was the “loading line”. The keys to his own car were greatly protected by Leonid Kharitonov, while he put his hand in his pocket, claiming that he was driving, even when the car was not at all with him.
But Kharitonov's
ex-wife, Gemma, claimed that addiction to alcohol did adversely affect acting, because everyone tried to invite Lenya to spend time together and, accordingly, to drink some kind of alcoholic drink. And the actor often lacked the spirit to refuse. At the beginning of life with Leonid, Osmolovskaya tried not to notice, but soon realized that it was impossible to endure all this. This addiction was the reason for the divorce. In this situation, the director of the theater in which she worked offered help in rescuing Leonid. The help of friends helped arrange the actor in a specialized clinic, in which he spent several months. The treatment helped for a while, and then it all started again. The divorce from Gemma was quiet, without reproaches from Kharitonov because of his soft nature.
Fidelity to the Moscow Art Theater
In 1962, Kharitonov went to the Theater. Lenin Komsomol, and then - at the Drama Theater. Pushkin. However, he stayed in the last temple of theatrical art for a short while - in 1963 he returned to the stage of the Moscow Art Theater again.
But soon a stagnant phenomenon arose in the Moscow Academic Theater - they staged too little. The head Oleg Efremov again promised to give the role to Kharitonov, but, unfortunately, Leonid Vladimirovich was not on the list. They put Ward No. 6, where he had one of the main roles. Tatyana Doronina in the play became his partner. At first glance, it seemed that in the life of actor Leonid Kharitonov came actor enlightenment. However, at one point this performance, dear to his heart, was for some reason removed from the repertoire. And later they decided to restore it, but again the unexpected happened - all the scenery were destroyed by a strong fire.
The reason for the serious condition
In the last years of his life, Kharitonov was extremely seriously ill. In the summer of 1980, when the Moscow Olympics took place, the artist suffered a stroke. Then, on the set of the film “From the Life of the Head of the Criminal Investigation”, 04.07.84, a relapse stroke occurred.
Forgotten Ivan Brovkin
In the eighties of the twentieth century, Kharitonov disappeared from the movie poster, he was hardly remembered. Only his painting “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears” had a reminder of its past glory; in it, at the entrance to the Theater of the Actor, one heroine screams with enthusiasm when the actor Leonid Kharitonov stands before her.
With age, Leonid Kharitonov starred less and less, in the main part he was engaged in teaching, preparing himself for the real role. Sometimes it could be seen in episodes.
The artist Kharitonov Leonid did not want to repeat himself, and, unfortunately, no one gave new roles. He had many trips with performances around the USSR, but he was not allowed to go abroad the most famous film actor of the 50s.
In the Moscow Art Theater June 20, 87 there was a split. Some of the actors remained with O. Efremov, and some went on to T. Doronina. Kharitonov did not want to go anywhere.
Death of a folk star
06/20/87, due to another stroke, Leonid Kharitonov died suddenly. The films of this actor were filled with real vitality and kindness. Because of his fidelity to the two split wings of the Moscow Art Theater, both heads of this theater made funeral speeches. A wreath “From Mom” (Tatyana Ivanovna Peltzer, who played her mother in “Ivan Brovkin”) was laid on a tombstone, since his mother was no longer alive.
Tombstone - the personification of the Moscow Art Theater split
The stela at the Vagankovsky cemetery looks like a stone gull split into two parts, which symbolizes the collapse of the A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Academic Theater. The words: "Leonid Kharitonov" are carved on it. The hero of the later documentary "Drama of Ivan Brovkin" was the actor Leonid Kharitonov himself, his personal life was also highlighted.