Despite the fact that the Baltic actors, for the most part, had to play bad foreigners from German officers to American rich, their popularity with the Soviet audience was excessive. On this wave, many of them continue to play in Russian films, but, unfortunately, there are no new names.
Donatas Banionis (1924-2008)
At one time, the most popular Baltic actor of Soviet cinema, was born in a working class family in Kaunas. Father Juozas is a tailor, revolutionary, and later a Lithuanian political and trade union leader. Mom - She Blazhaytite-Banenene - actress of the Panevezys Drama Theater. While studying at Kaunas First Craft School, an actor (a ceramist by profession) was engaged in a drama circle. Since 1941, the actor of the Panevezys Drama Theater, in which the first work was the role of Jasus in the play "Porosl". In 1944 he graduated from a studio school at the same theater. From 1980 to 1988, he worked there as a director, then again as an actor, until retiring in 2001. One of the last works in the theater is the role of Varavin in the play by A. V. Sukhovo-Kobylin "Death of Tarelkin." Wife - She Konkulevichyute-Banenene, actress. Donatas has two sons: Egidijus is a historian, and Raimundas is a director, he graduated from VGIK.
He began acting in films since 1959, appearing in the role of Dausa in the film "Adam Wants to Be a Man." On his account, many memorable roles that are considered classics of Soviet cinema, including "Watch out for the car," "Nobody wanted to die," "Dead season," "Solaris." Like all Soviet Baltic male actors, Banionis played a lot of foreigners, but at the same time a lot of positive images of Soviet people. In the latter case, his role was voiced by Russian actors. Even after gaining independence, Banionis continued to act in films in Russian cinema.
Recent works have been in the films "Leningrad" (2007) and "Hot Heart" (2011).
Gunar Tsilinsky (1931-1992)
A popular Baltic actor was born in Riga. He graduated from the forestry technical school, then the theater department of the Latvian Conservatory in 1954. Since 1955 he worked at the State Drama Theater of Latvia. Among the theatrical roles: Arbenin in "Masquerade", Inspector Mich in "Solo for hours with a fight", Laertes in "Hamlet". Since 1975, he worked as a director at the Riga Film Studio. Married in 1957 to actress Velte Lina, who was eight years older than him, son Aigars (1958-2007) was also an actor.
He acted in films since 1958, glorified the actor the role of the Soviet intelligence agent Nikolai Kuznetsov in the film "Strong in Spirit", for which he was recognized as the best actor in the country. Then he was simply “doomed” to heroic characters in adventure and military films, including in the films “Check the Queen of Diamonds”, “Captain Enrico’s Clock”, “In the Claws of Black Cancer”.
Algis Masiulis (1931-2008)
The best performer of various fascist roles, was born in the village of Surdegis in the north-east of Lithuania. After graduating from the studio at the Panevezys Drama Theater, he worked in the same theater from 1948 to 1978, then moved to the theater in Kaunas. He lived with his wife Grazhina for many years, they have two children: a son and daughter Milda, who became a doctor, like her mother. Masiulis played about 100 roles in the cinema and 160 in the theater.
He began acting in 1957 in small roles in films of the Lithuanian Film Studio. All-Union fame came to the Baltic actor after the film "Shield and Sword", where he played Oberfuhrer Willy Schwarzkopff. Then in his acting biography there will be many roles of German officers, including in the films “Diamonds for the dictatorship of the proletariat”, “Mission in Kabul”, “The Duma of Kovpak” and “Fate”.
Regimantas Adomaitis (1937)
The future Baltic actor in Šiauliai was born. From 1954 to 1959 he studied at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Vilnius University. At the same time, since 1958 he entered the acting department of the Vilnius Conservatory, after which he began working in Kaunas, in a drama theater. In 1967 he moved to the Lithuanian State Academic Drama Theater. Later he worked in other theaters, including in the troupes of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vilnius. Spectators celebrated his play in the plays King Lear (Duke of Albania), Richard III (king), and Higgins in Pygmalion was one of the last roles. The actor was married to the singer of the Lithuanian Philharmonic Eugenia Bayorite for 43 years, his wife died in 2011. The couple has three sons - Vytautas (1972), Gediminas (1977), Mindaugas (1980). Now the actor is retired, sometimes participating in performances and filming. He lives with his son, he has several hives on the farm.
Adomaitis, as well as several other famous Baltic male actors, Vytautas alakevičius' film “Nobody wanted to die” gave a wide road to the cinema. Then there were roles in popular Soviet films "King Lear", "The Trust That Burst", "The Green Van", "The Rich and the Poor ...".
The last small roles were in 2014 in the television series Fifth Guard and the film Garden of Eden.
Juozas Budraitis (1940)
Juozas Stanislavas was born in the village of Lipinai, Šiauliai County, into a peasant family. In 1945 he moved to Klaipeda, then in Schwekshn. After expulsion from school for hooliganism, he got a job as a carpenter. He served in the Soviet Army, after which he studied at Vilnius University at the Faculty of Law. In the third year, he began to act in films a lot, so he transferred to the correspondence faculty. In 1978 he graduated from the Higher Courses of Scriptwriters and Directors at the USSR State Committee on Film. Then, until 1988, he worked as an actor in the Kaunas Drama Theater. He worked as cultural attache of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania (from 1996 to 2011). Now retired, but continues to act in films. He met his wife Vita in his student years, their marriage is more than 44 years old. Two children - daughter Justin and son Martin.
The first time appeared in the cinema in 1961 in a small role in the film "When the rivers merge." After filming in the famous film “Nobody Wanted to Die” he became one of the most popular Soviet Baltic actors. Then there were roles in the cult Soviet films "Shield and Sword", "Two Comrades Served", "Blockade" and "Rich Man, Poor ...".
In recent years, starred in Russian films: in 2015 - “The Sweet Farewell of Vera”, in 2017 - in the film “Son”.
Arnis Licitis (1946)
The famous Baltic actor was born in Riga in a theatrical family. He graduated from high school in 1964, in 1970 - the theater department of the Latvian State Conservatory. J. Vitola. He worked in various Latvian theaters. Among the works that resonated with the viewer were the performances "Code" (role - Pavel Andreevich Blokhin), "Road to Dover" (Latimer). Licitis was never officially married. Now lives in a civil marriage with actress Inge Aizbalte since 2004.
Arnis began acting in films since 1965, with more than a hundred films in his filmography. The peak of popularity came in the 80s, when the actor starred in many adventure and military films, including the long road in the dunes, solitary swimming, rich and poor ... and victory.
Ivar Kalnins (1948)
Born in Riga, in the family of a car mechanic and a housewife. Ivar from 14 years old combined work and study, having mastered plumbing, then repairing household appliances. From his youth he was fond of music, played in several ensembles. Together with whom he performed at dances in various Latvian cities. In 1968 he graduated from high school and entered the theater department of the Latvian State Conservatory. Since 1972 he worked at the Art Academic Theater. J. Rainis. Among the popular roles in the theater: “A lot of noise because of nothing” - Benedict, “Zara Leander” - Karl Gerhard. Now he continues to work in Riga theaters and act in films.
With his first wife Ilga Kalnins lived for twenty years, the couple has two daughters - Una and Elena. With his second wife, Aurelia Anuzhite, who is 24 years younger than the actor, he met on the set. Together they lived for 7 years, they have a common son, Mikus. Now Ivar is married to lawyer Laura, she is 30 years younger than him, and daughters Louise and Vivienne were born in their third marriage.
He began acting in films from the first year, making his debut in 1972 in the melodrama "Ilga-Oriole", sports drama "Right to Jump" and the film about the revolution "Peters". He became famous after filming the movie "Theater", an adaptation of Somerset Maugham ’s novel , where he played a young lover of an aging actress (Viya Artmane). After the premiere of the film, photos of Soviet Baltic actors graced the covers of many magazines in the country.
In 2016, Ivar starred in the television series "Touring" and the film "Not Yet."