Emanuel Vitorgan ... There are few people today who would not hear about this very popular and extremely intelligent actor of the old school. Within the framework of one article, it is rather difficult to describe the whole life path of a person approaching a 75-year milestone (this year Emanuel Gedeonovich will celebrate his anniversary). However, we will try to at least briefly talk about the most important events of his life. So, Emanuel Vitorgan: biography ...
Childhood
The future celebrity of the Soviet and, after that, Russian cinema in the city of Baku was born. It happened at the end of 1939, on the twenty-seventh of December. His father was a major business executive, so that his mother could not work and take care of the house and children (Vitorgan has an older brother - Vladimir). Emanuel’s parents are from Odessa. An equally original name was given to the boy in honor of his mother’s brother who died during the Civil War. Since the family, due to the fact that his father constantly received new appointments, had to move often, Vitorgan received a certificate of secondary education already in Astrakhan.
As for the choice of profession, it was made back in school years, when the family lived in Astrakhan. It was there that Emanuil Gedeonovich "fell ill" with the theater, and this happened after meeting Yuri Kochetkov, whose mother and father were actors. It was the latter that contributed to the fact that both boys began to engage in drama circles at the Palace of Pioneers. By the way, today Yuri Kochetkov is the head of the Youth Theater of the same Astrakhan.
However, Emanuel Vitorgan had other hobbies in those years. In particular, sports. Moreover, I must say, in this field he has achieved solid success. So, Emanuel received the title of champion of the USSR (albeit among schoolchildren) in water polo, in addition, he has the first category in volleyball. However, a sports career did not attract the guy, he was attracted to him by the stage.
Studying and starting a theatrical activity
In 1957, Vitorgan went to Leningrad, where he entered the Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography without any problems. He studies at the Boris Zone course. By the way, Sergey Yursky and Alisa Freindlich studied with him. And Tamara Rumyantsev, who became the first wife of Emanuel Gedeonovich. The marriage was registered as a student.
In 1961, Vitorgan received a diploma of graduation from the institute, where the specialty column says “theater and film actor”. True, according to the artist himself, he did not even think about cinema at that time, the theater was and still remains his only love. After the distribution, the actor served two years in the Pskov Drama Theater, and then returned to Leningrad. At first he worked at the Drama and Comedy Theater (from 1963 to 1967), then at Lenkom. In the latter, Emanuel Vitorgan met the beautiful actress Alla Balter. And he disappeared ... According to the actor himself, only then did he understand what the word "love" really means.
Moscow
Acquaintance with Balter led to the dissolution of marriage with Tamara Rumyantseva. By that time, the daughter of Ksenia was already growing up in the family. Vitorgan Emanuel Gedeonovich is a very intelligent and decent person. And he does not justify himself in any way, talking about that time. Yes, leaving the wife for the sake of another woman is immoral and mean. But he could not deceive her either. As well as resist surging feelings. As a result, after a very difficult divorce and a long clarification of relations, Vitorgan leaves Leningrad. Such a condition was set for him by his ex-wife - to get out of sight out of St. Petersburg. Naturally, Alla leaves with him. It was 1971 ...
In Moscow, they get a job at the Stanislavsky Theater. There Vitorgan served until 1982. Then he gave two years to the Taganka Theater, after which he transferred to the Mayakovsky Theater. For twenty-two years, Emanuel Vitorgan (his photo on the stage of this theater is presented in the article) was the leading actor of Mayakovka.
Natural artistry and plastic, magnificent external data - it seemed he was just born to play the roles of romantic or treacherous heroes-lovers. However, fate was favorable to Vitorgan. Working with such stage masters as Georgy Tovstonogov, Anatoly Vasiliev, Andrey Goncharov, Joseph Raichelgauz, Boris Morozov, Leonid Kheifets, who were able and helped to reveal the fullness of the actor’s talent, allowed Emmanuil Gedeonovich not to become a slave of one role. And the cinema has contributed to this.
Film debut
"Test of the pen" in the cinema came in 1968. Vitorgan got a cameo role in the film “Two Tickets for a Day Session”. Then there were more works, but also mostly small, although quite memorable. Like, let's say, the role of Nikitin in the film “Dirk”, still beloved by children. The first significant role was played by the actor in 1977, in the series “And this is all about him”, created based on the novel by V. Lipatov. The handsome actor became known thanks to the image he created of Gleb Zavarzin - a criminal, gloomy and at the same time extremely attractive from the point of view of the personality of the person.
Emmanuel Vitorgan: filmography
The directors vied with each other to offer the actor roles in their films. At first, Vitorgan played more and more CIA agents, fascist officers, and spies. However, there is nothing particularly surprising. In those days, as a rule, it was such negative characters that were impressive and good-looking, while positive heroes looked more like images of Ivan on a stove from Russian fairy tales. However, time passed, priorities changed, completely different characters appeared.
Today Vitorgan Emanuil Gedeonovich can say without any exaggeration that he managed to "be noted" in almost all genres. He starred in military films, and in crime films, and in musical comedies, and in psychological dramas. Fans of the actor’s talent are happy to watch many films with his participation: “Mission in Kabul”, “Pious Martha”, “Profession - Investigator”, “Casket of Mary Medici” and, of course, “Wizards”.
In total, for more than forty years, Emmanuel Vitorgan starred in almost a hundred tapes. Moreover, he still continues to act in films, although now he is more in the series. So, viewers really like the image he created of Prince Peter Dolgoruky in the film "Poor Nastya."
Something about personal life
Emanuel Vitorgan and Alla Balter lived together until 2000. There was no more beautiful and friendly married couple in the starry sky. The union of these two talented people could not help bearing fruit. The son of Emanuel Vitorgan and Alla Balter - Maxim Vitorgan - is also a very successful and recognizable actor today. Alla’s death parted them. She left in 2000.
I must say that this friendly couple had to go through a lot. In 1987, doctors diagnosed Emmanuel Vitorgan with lung cancer. It was Alla who took upon herself the whole burden of worries and experiences. The actor found out that he had oncology only after a successful operation. The wife hid the truth from him, rightly believing that it would be easier for her husband to fight the disease. And it turned out to be right. The actor did not think about death, on the contrary, he tried to recover more quickly and return to his favorite scene. Could he know that this same vile disease would take away Alla from him - the one thanks to which he is still awake, healthy and full of strength? But what can you do, the grief had to be overcome, although at first it seemed impossible.
Third marriage
In 2003, Emmanuel Vitorgan married again. And you can not call this marriage a betrayal in relation to the memory of Alla. The fact is that it was Irina Mlodik - the third wife of the actor - who brought him back to life when he, yearning for Balter, often thought about his own departure.
In addition, as Emanuel Gedeonovich himself says, Irina very much reminds him of Alla. No, of course, not outwardly. They are completely different. She is a blonde, this one is a brunette. Internally. His character, rich spiritual world and integrity. Moreover, once both women were familiar and maintained a warm relationship. So after the death of Alla, Irina simply extended a hand of friendly help. First. And then what happened happened. The couple are happy together, moreover, according to Vitorgan himself, they have never quarreled for the whole time of their life together.
Emmanuel Vitorgan Cultural Center
During the life of Alla Balter, a special cultural center was created under the name Vitorgan-Club. Emanuel Gedeonovich obtained permission from the Moscow authorities to rent a dilapidated building, made repairs there. This is not a commercial project, but a truly cultural center with a capital letter, a real home for fans of theater and cinema. Here, creative evenings and meetings are held, solo performances are staged, birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated. Here you can meet not only actors, but also people of other professions, everyone who loves and wants to join the art.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, in 2014, Emanuel Gedeonovich Vitorgan is going to celebrate the anniversary. He will be 75 years old. But the actor is not going to leave the stage in the literal and figurative sense. He is full of all kinds of plans and forces. In addition, he does need to support his large family. The actor today has two granddaughters, two grandchildren, a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter.