Nikolai Smirnov is a well-known film and theater actor, as well as a national artist of the Soviet Union and a talented theater director. On the stage, he played in sixteen performances, and in the cinema starred in 34 films. The famous and talented actor tried his hand at directing. For several years he staged performances in the theater. In total, his directorial piggy bank has three theatrical productions.
Childhood
Nikolay Simonov was born in early December 1901 in the city of Samara. But the parents of the future famous actor had nothing to do with cinema. It is known that the father of the future actor, Konstantin Simonov, was the manager of a flour mill. And my mother did not work, she was a housewife, doing home and children.
Education
For a long time Nikolay Simonov dreamed of becoming a natural scientist. He loved to be on the Volga, loved not only the river itself, but also all nature. In his childhood, he collected stones that he found on the banks of his beloved river. In addition, he collected herbariums, carried away by butterflies and bugs. When the boy began to grow up, he began to dream of becoming a traveler.
Parents took care of the education of their children, so the children not only studied music, but the family also had a large library. In addition, the family often hosted family theater performances, where not only the Simonov family but also their guests participated in such creative evenings.
Passion for the theater
It seemed to the world of magic and fabulousness for the future actor to visit the theater in Samara, where he went every Sunday with his mother, brothers Seryozha and Kolya and sister Olya. It was then, for the first time, that the boy had a desire to become an actor. But still, this desire was strengthened during the years of study at the gymnasium, since Nikolai Simonov attended the school drama circle and even played on stage. For example, he talentedly played in the play "Poverty is not a vice."
Passion for painting
It is known that in the gymnasium years, the future actor also had a desire to draw. Already the first works of Nicholas were bold and talented. So, Nikolai Simonov, whose biography is eventful, became so interested in painting that already in 1918 he entered the art-industrial school. And then in 1921 he entered the Art Academy of the city of Petrograd. At that time, such famous artists as Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin and Arkady Rylov became his teachers.
But nevertheless, the craving for acting manifested itself again, and at the age of 19 the future actor Nikolai Simonov, whose biography is always interesting to the audience, despite his success in painting, also goes to the Institute of Performing Arts. He was immediately enrolled in the second year, and hastily combined his studies at once in two educational institutions, since he never left painting.
Theatrical career
Actor Nikolai Simonov in 1924, immediately after graduating from a theater institute, begins his activities in the troupe of the Alexandria Theater. But soon he was drafted into the army for one year, and after his return, he played on the stage of this theater for seven years. He played many diverse roles, but Paul’s role in the play “Virineya” and his talented role as Vershinin in the theatrical production of “Armored Train 14-69” are especially notable.
In 1931, Nikolai Konstantinovich left Leningrad for Samara, where his parents lived and where his childhood passed. He immediately becomes the head of the Regional Drama Theater. But after three years, he returned to the Alexandrinsky Theater, where he worked until the end of his life.
It is known that Nikolai Konstantinovich was a leading actor of this theater for many years, and also was a director for several years. In total, the famous and talented actor Simonov played in 16 performances.
Director's Activities
In 1936, actor Smirnov decided to try his hand at the theater director. He staged the play "Dowry", and then in 1938, and the theatrical production of "Confrontation." In 1940, he successfully presented his directorial work with the play “Zykovs”.
Cinematic career
The actor, who successfully played on theatrical stages, had a colorful appearance, was soon noticed by the directors. In 1924 he made his debut in cinema. At first he played in films that were dumb. These are such films as “Red Partisan”, “Katerina Izmaylova” and others. But three years later, director Vladimir Gardin invited the talented actor Simonov to play a major male role in the film “Kastus Kalinovsky”. This film tells about how peasant unrest took place in the Russian Empire.
But still, the most significant role of the famous actor Simonov was the role of Peter the Great himself in the film Peter the Great, directed by Vladimir Petrov. The film tells about how the great ruler grows up and how his reforms take place in the future. A talented actor successfully conveyed all the character traits of a great ruler. This movie was released in 1938.
At the beginning of his cinematic career, actor Simonov also played famous people. For example, in the film "The Son of a Fisherman" directed by Alexandra Ivanovskaya, he played Mikhail Lomonosov. This role brought the talented actor Simonov fame and popularity. In total, the cinematic piggy bank of the famous actor has thirty-four films.
Equally successfully, the actor Nikolai Konstantinovich Simonov also played the role of the spiritual father Lorenzo Montanelli in the film “Gadfly”, directed by Alexander Fainzimmer. And also the audience liked and fell in love with another role of Nikolai Konstantinovich in the military film "Battle of Stalingrad." Talentedly he played the role of General Vasily Chuikov. Also unforgettable is the role of Dr. Salvator in the film "Amphibian Man" directed by Vladimir Chebotarev and Gennady Kazan.
In 1963, the famous and popular actor Simonov starred in the film “The Enchanted Wanderer”, directed by Ivan Ermakov. The main character, Ivan Flyagin, who is played by Nikolai Konstantinovich, tells his random fellow travelers the story of his life, in which he had to endure a lot. He did not go, as horse hair was sewn into his legs, and also endowed with an unprecedented strength, he attracted landowners who wanted to see such a serf slave and did everything for this.
In the life of the protagonist there was not only torment and suffering, but also tragic love, which he cannot forget. This life story is so played by actor Simonov that, it seems, the hero confesses to the audience, trying though to free himself a little from his memories, and to get above all that he had to go through. In 1965, actor Simonov starred in the movie "On One Planet" directed by Ilya Olshvanger. The plot of the film takes the viewer for one day to the life of the great leader of the revolution.
Lenin was shown on the eve of the New Year, but only at that time he was not only busy with preparations for the celebration, but had time to survive a series of bright and unusual events in his life. For example, survive the assassination attempt, chat with a friend and wife, work and combine other equally important things. In this film, actor Nikolai Konstantinovich Simonov plays Colonel Robins.
The last film of the actor Simonov was the detective "The Last Affair of Commissioner Berlach" directed by Vasily Levin. The film tells about a Swiss policeman who is trying to track down Nazi criminals. But soon the main character, Commissar Berlach, who is played by actor Simonov, develops cancer and at the end of the film just dies. This film was released in 1971.
Personal life
Nikolay Simonov, whose family has always been a reliable and quiet marina, was a great couch potato. With his loved ones, he was gentle and loving. His wife, Anna Grigoryevna Belousova, was also an actress of the Alexandria Theater. She made sure that the house was cozy and comfortable with the famous actor.
In this marriage, Nikolai Konstantinovich had three children: two daughters and a son, who became a famous oncologist. Nikolai Simonov, whose personal life was always interested in the audience, loved his children very much and tried to spend all his free time with his family. And until the end of his life, he constantly painted.
Actor's death
In 1971, on the set of the film "Commissioner's Berlach’s Last Affair," the famous actor constantly coughed. But since it was hot and stuffy, then I did not pay attention to this cough. But when it was already hard for Nikolai Konstantinovich to swallow at home, his wife immediately took him to the hospital. X-rays showed that the famous actor has a tumor of the esophagus. But she was discovered too late.
Actor Nikolai Simonov, whose biography and personal life is always interesting to the audience, began to be treated, but the operation was already too late to do. The treatment was difficult, but until his death, the famous and talented actor did not know about his illness. In April 1973, he died.