Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich - director, outstanding Soviet actor and people's artist of the Soviet Union. He played many roles, managing to leave an eternal memory of himself in the hearts of fans of his work. He worked at the Moscow Academic Theater, headed the Stanislavsky Drama Theater. He was awarded the State Prize of the Soviet Union.
Actor's birth
Mikhail Mikhailovich Yanshin was born on November 2, 1902 in the city of Yukhnov, located near Kaluga. As his grandmother told him, he was born to a song that was popular at that time. The alarm clock began to play her at that moment when Mikhail "got out" of the mother’s womb.
Around the woman in labor there was clutter. The alarm clock, instead of just turning off, was put under the pillow. But he persistently continued to play there. As a result, even the first cry of Yanshin was accompanied by musical accompaniment. Oddly enough, it was precisely this popular song that Mikhail sang himself, even after sixty-odd years, when he played in his last performances.
A family
Father Yanshin was called Mikhail Filippovich. He worked as an accountant. Mother, Alexandra Pavlovna, is a housewife. Mikhail Mikhailovich had a sister Evdokia. His parents loved art, although they worked in a completely different field. They often preferred to listen to music, periodically visited the theater, opera. Knew many singers and actors. Accordingly, they tried to introduce their children to the world of art. Moreover, the Yanshins had regular subscriptions to the Art and Opera theaters, in which Fedor Chaliapin himself shone at that time.
Childhood
Mikhail spent his childhood in Moscow. Thanks to his parents, he loved the theater from an early age. The most powerful impression on the young Yanshin was made by Ivan Moskvin, who played Tsar Fedor in one of the performances. Mikhail was simply fascinated by his game, the inner purity, transparency and brightness were so felt in her.
Since then, the theater has almost become his life. At school, Mikhail enrolled in a string orchestra and in a drama circle. Since Yanshin was snub-nosed and chubby, all the time he got only female roles. The best of them were Agafya Tikhonovna in “Marriage” and Antonovna in “The Inspector General”. But for some reason, his acting talent was not noticed. After graduation, Mikhail entered the Olkhovsk City School, located in Blagoveshchensky Lane.
Youth
After graduating from Olkhov College, Yanshin entered the Moscow Commissar Technical University. Then - to the Higher Technical (now it is called MSTU named after Bauman). Maybe Yanshin would not have become an actor, continuing to simply love the theater. He thought he would be an engineer, a specialist in engines.
But revolution and war changed his fate. In 1919, before even finishing the first year, Mikhail went to the front, signing up as a volunteer. About two years he served in the internal guard as a private. He took part in the suppression of the uprising in Tambov. Was injured. In the army, Mikhail Mikhailovich Yanshin participated in the amateur circle.
True, as an actor, he did not perform, but was engaged in scenery, posters and curtains. Yanshin himself often recalled the case when he forgot to lower the curtain, carried away by the performance. And then again “off topic” he opened the curtains on the stage when the prompter got out of his booth. It was fun only for the audience. There was loud laughter in the hall. And Yanshin felt disgraced.
Choosing a Life Path
In 1921, Yanshin was demobilized from the army. It was then that he decided on the choice of path, deciding to connect his life with creativity and theater. True, he previously shared his dream and plans with a friend. To which the comrade simply burst out laughing, saying that the actor from Mikhail would not work. But Yanshin decided to take a chance and try to enter a theater institution.
As a result, in 1922, Mikhail went to the 2nd studio of the Moscow Art Theater. He saw himself only as an actor of tragedies, so he read specially selected verses at the exam. I read them before the commission with pathos, selflessly. During the performance, stifled chuckles were heard from the listeners.
When he finished, it turned out that his performance caused laughter to tears. Luzhsky, the chairman of the commission, wiping his wet eyes with a sparkling laugh in them, advised Yanshin to read fables better. Michael thought he had failed, but the next day he found out with great amazement that he had been accepted.
The path to fame
For two years, Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich (films with his participation began to be released much later) studied at the studio. At first he was in the crowd of performances. Then, in the twenty-fourth year, Mikhail was accepted into the Moscow Art Theater troupe, where he worked until the end of his life. From the first roles, Yanshin found in himself an unquenching sense of humor that did not leave him and his whole subsequent life. Sometimes he flavored dramatic roles with comedic notes, and vice versa. At first, Yanshin was given only episodic roles. In 1926, everything changed dramatically.
Takeoff, recognition and fame
Mikhail was given the role of Lariosik in the famous performance of those years “Turbine Days”. This was for Yanshin a career breakthrough. Lariosik in a student jacket, with a black tie bow was the "take-off" role of Michael. On October 5, 1926, even before the performance, Moskvin predicted to Yanshin that after the premiere the artist would become a celebrity.
And so it happened. He was noticed, he became famous. Even Stanislavsky wept and praised the game Yanshin. Not only did the role bring Mikhail a lot of money, she also attracted a lot of fans to him. He was recognized on the streets, greeted. And in stores for him was everything, even if this product was not on the shelves.
For all subsequent years, he worked very hard, playing many roles. In "Three Fat Men", actor Mikhail Yanshin, whose photo can be seen in this article, got used to the image of Dr. Gaspard Arneri. Moreover, he was the only performer, having played her ninety-one times in two years.
Yanshin's creative growth
For many, hobbies or work become the meaning of life. So was Mikhail Yanshin. His personal life, of course, was, but always stood in the background. For Yanshin, the theater has become the most important in life.
In 1931, while working at the Moscow Art Theater, Mikhail began to practice directorial activity. The debut was the play "The Sixth World" staged by him. In 1932, Yanshin staged a second performance, Mstislav Udaloy. And in 1937 - "Small trump cards." Many subsequent performances directed by Yanshin were also staged at the Moscow Art Theater.
Even before the war, Mikhail worked for some time as an art director in several Moscow theaters. Despite this activity and direction, Yanshin worked on the job at the Moscow Art Theater.
One of the stages of creativity is cinema
Before the war, Yanshin, Mikhail Mikhailovich (many still remember his films and love), was shot a little. Basically, he had small roles of workers, soldiers, etc. Two became the most noticeable: in Lieutenant Kizha and in The Last Camp.
After the war, Yanshin continued to direct. The best performances were created for him based on classical works. In some productions, he immediately involved several famous actors (Ranevskaya, Abdulova, Fedorova, Garin, Martinson).
War years
The first year of the war, Yanshin was in the Caucasus. There he organized amateur art groups among soldiers and small concert programs. In the summer of 1942 he left for Sverdlovsk and, together with the previously evacuated Moscow Art Theater troupe, returned to Moscow. Again Yanshin played several roles in the theater and for his activities received the medal "For Valiant Labor in the Second World War."
Theatrical activity
In the Moscow Art Theater for the entire period of work, Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich, whose biography is closely associated with theatrical activities, played fifty different roles. The actor had such a multifaceted talent that he successfully embodied any images - both comic and tragic. Some entered the golden annals of the Moscow Art Theater. For example, the dramatic role of Margaritov from Late Love by Ostrovsky was played by Yanshin 440 times.
As a member of the Moscow Art Theater troupe, Mikhail visited Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Finland, France, and England. In all these countries he won the same ardent love of the audience as at home in the Soviet Union.
Career in animation
The voice of Mikhail Yanshin has always been so colorful that it was impossible to forget him, even after hearing only once. For cartoon activities, this was just a godsend. Therefore, Yanshin was often invited to the voice acting of various characters. Directors often suggested that Mikhail sound the hippos. The actor was physically dense, and perhaps this is why there was an association with large animals. Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich voiced hippos in a large number of cartoons.
The actor approached this work very seriously, he built the image completely. For example, the case of a cucumber characterizes his work and his approach is very vivid. When he was offered to voice this vegetable, Yanshin asked the creators of the cartoon about the nature and fate of the cucumber.
The actor was asked why he needed it, because there was a simple voice acting of the text. To which Mikhail replied that when the vegetable grows in the garden, he will have some conversations, feelings and mood, and when they are going to pickle - others. For clarity, he demonstrated the voice acting of both options, so skillfully changing his voice and intonation that the amazed artists after that still had to slightly change the image of the cucumber.
Since then, as soon as it became known that the voice acting in the animated film will be carried out by Yanshin, the artists tried to give his character the character traits of the artist himself.
Personal life
Mikhail Mikhailovich Yanshin, whose photo is presented in this article, got married three times. Despite his usual external data and completeness, the success of women with the actor was huge. As a result, all three times his wives were beautiful. They worked in different theaters.
The first marriage took place in November 1926. His wife was V.V. Polonskaya. She was at that time a student of the Moscow Art Theater. We met there. She was only eighteen years old, and Yanshin was twenty-four years old. They both not only loved, but also idolized the theater. They lived together for a long time - almost seven years. Yanshin's wife cheated on him with Mayakovsky. At first, Mikhail mistook this for friendship, and then he still found out the truth. Therefore, in 1933, Yanshin and Polonskaya divorced.
Mikhail did not stay long alone, having met his second love - Lyalya Chernaya. She was a famous actress of the Roman Theater. Lyali's real name is Nadezhda Kiseleva. Her mother was a gypsy dancer who married a Muscovite from a wealthy family. As a schoolgirl, Nadezhda began performing in a gypsy choir. And as soon as the Romen Theater opened, she immediately became the main actress in it. Yanshin married Hope, and their marriage lasted until 1942. Then they broke up, Kiseleva married Khmelev.
Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich, whose wife supported him until his last breath, nevertheless got married for the third time. This alliance was successful. It was the last wife who remained with him until the end of her life. She became Nona Meyer, who played in the Drama Theater of Stanislavsky. They got married in 1955 and never parted.
Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich (his children never appeared, in any case, they are not mentioned in official sources) could become happy. Finally, he met a woman whose love for him had not died out until the end of his days. At the same time, he devoted himself almost entirely to art and theater, dissolving in creativity and not leaving himself much free time.
Character
Actor Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich possessed an appealing appearance with a charming and simple-minded smile. His conversation was often attended by sincere intonations. And the movements, despite their completeness, were smooth and even, as his contemporaries noted, somewhat graceful. He impressed everyone as an understanding and good-natured person. He loved to play the same characters in the theater and cinema.
Relatives and relatives describe Yanshin as very kind, sympathetic and talented. For example, Yevgeny Vesnik spoke of him as a person created for humor and smiles, attracting to his person like a magnet. He also noted that Yanshin is somewhat unprotected spiritually, sentimental, very temperamental, charming and a little lazy in everyday life.
Evgeny Vesnik good-naturedly remarked that Mikhail liked to have a tasty meal and a little sip of wine, sing romances and make a bet or two at the races. Yanshin was a fan of the Spartak football team, was not able to scribble slogans and weave intrigues, and was undoubtedly a favorite of the public not only in the Soviet Union, but in many foreign countries, where he managed to go on tour.
Forever left the memory of Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich. His personal life was not quite in the traditional vein. But this is understandable. For him, always in the first place was the theater, work. Even his wives were theater actresses. Yanshin Mikhail was known as a real Chekhov actor. He had a soft manner of performance, a rich voice palette. He could instantly change the mood and depict any shades of feelings.
In life, Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich was a very tireless and agile person. And on the stage, it became the opposite - leisurely, with smooth movements. Yanshin loved discovering new talents. He had a special flair for such people. I always shared my experience with beginners with pleasure and helped if necessary.
Among his hobbies are football, chess. He loved equestrian sports and often won prizes in competitions. He loved to sing with a guitar. And his voice was bewitching, as was the manner of performance. There were many guitars in his property. And subsequently they passed on to his fans as a rarity. Many families still keep them as a relic.
The last segment of an actor’s life
Yanshin Mikhail, whose biography is closely related to creative activity, worked until the last days of his life. In 1974, his final performance was released. He last played on stage. As Oleg Efremov subsequently put it, Yanshin played confessionally. The next year, Mikhail Mikhailovich received the State Prize of the Soviet Union for this role. In 1975, the premiere of his book, which after some time was voiced on the radio.
In recent years, when Yanshin worked on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater, there have been major changes. Oleg Efremov appeared in the theater, who led the team. Yanshin became one of the few older actors who believed that change was for the better. He supported Efremov in his endeavors. Oleg Nikolaevich started a major reconstruction in the theater. Yanshin, who was very stout, with severe shortness of breath and poor eyesight, enthusiastically and rapturously examined all the new theatrical stage constructions.
On February 19, 1976, the great actor last appeared on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater. After that, he became seriously ill and could no longer get out of bed. Mikhail Yanshin, theater and film actor, director, favorite of the public, talented art director, “burned out” quickly. He passed away on July 16, 1976 in Moscow. He was buried in the Novodevichy cemetery, on the seventh site.
Recognition of talent
Throughout his life, Yanshin has more than once been awarded a wide variety of awards and prizes. In 1975, he received the State Prize of the Soviet Union for the roles of Abel and Mamaev. In 1970, he was solemnly awarded the State Prize of the RSFSR for the role of Kuzovkin. In 1971 and 1973 awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and the "Badge of Honor." In 1946 he received a medal for valiant work during the Great Patriotic War.
Filmography
Yanshin Mikhail Mikhailovich, whose filmography includes more than a dozen roles, was a bright and talented actor. For example, the film "Big Change" and many other films will never be forgotten. Often he played secondary roles.
In the movie, Yanshin, Mikhail Mikhailovich began acting in 1928. The film "Katorga" became the film debut. In it, he played the telegraph operator. Then came the screens of "Comet", "Simple Hearts", "Feast of St. Jorgen" and many others.