After the release of Leonid Gaidai’s comedy film “The Caucasian Captive”, Vladimir Etush, the performer of the role of the main villain of Saakhov, became known throughout the USSR. Films with his participation began to appear very often after that. It was hard to believe that such a talented actor had not been noticed for almost twenty years.
Etush Vladimir Abramovich
The biography of this theater and film artist is full of bright events. During his long career, he proved himself not only as a wonderful multi-faceted actor, but also as a caring, attentive, and sometimes strict teacher at the Shchukin School.
The holder of numerous awards and titles (including the People's Artist of the USSR and the RSFSR) and the author of two books (“And I Was There,” 2002, “Everything That Is Gained ...”, 2012) for most viewers will always be robbed dentist Shpak from the film "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes the Profession".
The childhood of the future actor
Vladimir Etush was born in May 1922 in the family of the owner of haberdashery production Abram Etush. Thanks to his father, even in that difficult time, after the revolution, the family lived pretty well. However, the envious neighbors wrote a false denunciation to Abram Etush, and he was sent to prison. Now all the cares for the family fell on the shoulders of the mother of young Vladimir - Raisa.
In his school years, Vladimir Etush was very fond of reading poetry and participating in amateur performances. His biography did not develop very smoothly at that difficult time, since he was a Jew, in addition, his father was in prison. However, the future artist did not particularly attach importance to this and dreamed of becoming a director. Therefore, after receiving a certificate of maturity, Vladimir Etush submitted his documents to GITIS.
Studying at the Shchukin School
However, the ardent and slightly confused young man was not accepted into the institute. Vladimir Etush was very upset, but here he was assisted by an uncle of his friend, who served as a director in one of the theaters in Moscow. At his request, Vladimir Etush was admitted to the first year at the Shchukin school as a free listener. The biography of the future artist soon changed, and instead of theatrical costumes he had to wear a military uniform and with completely no fake weapons in his hands to go to the front, as the Great Patriotic War began.
Participation in the Great Patriotic War
An interesting fact is that Vladimir Etush was not obliged to go to war, because he had a “reservation” from the school, but the young man was eager to defend his country and therefore asked to volunteer for the front.
At first, the guy was sent to military translator courses, and after that he was assigned to the rifle regiment. Having fought until 1944, the future actor was seriously injured and was demobilized with the second disability group. Upon returning home, Vladimir Etush continued his studies at the Shchukin school. The biography of the guy after the war for a long time did not contain any striking events. So, having graduated in 1945, a young graduate got a job at the Vakhtangov Theater in Moscow.
Theater work
The theater directors, who began their career as an artist, did not painfully trust serious roles. But soon Vladimir Etush was able to prove that he is an excellent master of his craft. And they began to give him great roles in performances.
The directors especially appreciated his ability to improvise, as well as how he manages to amuse the audience with the usual phrase. For this reason, the theater has established itself as an excellent comedian Vladimir Etush. The actor’s biography during this period contains isolated references to film roles (“Admiral Ushakov”, “Gadfly”, “Chairman”), but in the theater he was incredibly popular. In addition, Etush began acting in television shows.
Movie career
Prior to the legendary film "Prisoner of the Caucasus" Vladimir Etush starred in episodic roles in several films, but went unnoticed. But Gaidai was truly the discoverer of Etush’s amazing talent. It is noteworthy that during the filming of the film, many of his phrases, after becoming winged, the actor invented himself. Moreover, the emphasis and manner of speaking are all the finds of the artist himself.
It seemed that after the film by Leonid Gaidai, the directors woke up and noticed the talent that actor Vladimir Etush possessed. His biography after the "Prisoner of the Caucasus" has changed incredibly. He did not just become famous - he was a hero to his audience. So, fruit traders from the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, at a meeting on the market, treated dear “Comrade Saakhov” with various delicacies and practically carried them on their hands.
The fame of the great comedian entrusted to Etush contributed to the fact that he was often shot in comedies. Whom he did not play: Caucasians, Turks, wizards, kings, even a ghost.
Gaidai himself more than once invited to act as an actor named Vladimir Etush. The artist’s biography includes three collaborations with the great director. And in all of them, Gaidai tried not to limit Etush, leaving him to decide how to play this or that episode - and he was right. After all, most of the phrases of the characters of Etush have become winged and still popular after so many years.
While adults knew Vladimir Etush thanks to Gaidai’s films, for children he forever remained the bearded director of the puppet theater Karabas-Barabas from the movie “The Adventures of Pinocchio”.
However, Vladimir Etush played not only comedic characters. In 1978, the musical film "June 31" was released, where the actor played the main antagonist - the wizard Malgrim.
His hero dreamed of destroying Merlin, for this he tried to take away a magic brooch from Princess Melicenta. The role of the dangerous and vile magician Etush was a success and proved that he is a universal actor, able to play absolutely any role.
Vladimir Etush - teacher
Almost immediately after graduation, Vladimir Etush got a job as a teacher in his native school. For many years he managed to combine work in the cinema, theater and teaching.
In 1957, the authorities of the Shchukin school instructed Vladimir Etush to lead the first course. And almost two decades later he received the title of professor.
In 1987, the artist became the rector of the Shchukin school and held this post for a full sixteen years. Then, due to age, he left the rector’s chair and became the artistic director of the school.
Vladimir Etush: biography (personal life)
If in the profession the actor got roles in comedy films, then his personal life is more like a romantic melodrama.
In his youth, he was quite amorous, but tied the knot only after the war. The beloved of Vladimir Abramovich was called Eve, in any case, he thought so, until he came to the registry office, where it turned out that her name was Ninel Myshkova. Despite the general love for the theater, the marriage was short-lived, and soon the couple broke up.
An unpleasant residue remained after parting with an actor named Vladimir Etush. Biography (then the family was not considered everyone’s personal affair, and divorce could seriously ruin his reputation, especially for the teacher and artist), he ceased to be impeccable. Perhaps that is why the artist was in no hurry to formalize his next relationship.
The second wife of the actor was Elena Izmailova, who was also an actress. Despite the fact that they did not officially formalize their relationship, the lovers lived together for five years.
After there was a period when the artist lived alone. And although he was credited with hobbies by certain young actresses, there is no official confirmation.
The actress's third wife was not an actress - Nina Krainova was an English teacher by training. For the sake of her beloved, Nina left her hometown and began to live in Moscow. And although at first it seemed that nothing serious could come of this venture, the marriage lasted almost half a century. However, the beloved wife died of cancer, and did not live a few years before the golden wedding. From this union, the daughter of Rais was born to an actor named Vladimir Etush.
The biography (the wife of Vladimir Abramovich had died long ago, and her daughter and her grandson moved to live in the USA), the artist unexpectedly filled with another important line - he met a girl named Elena. Despite the considerable age difference, the lovers got married. It is noteworthy that the new darling of the actor also teaches English.
Vladimir Etush today
Despite his advanced age, the artist tries to lead a fairly active lifestyle, although he now acts in films very rarely. However, former students and spectators remember Vladimir Etush and try to support him as necessary and their capabilities.
In the profession of an artist, age plays a huge role, as a rule, a career can only be made while young, hot and handsome. However, Vladimir Etush was an exception. Biography and life path of this talented person are full of paradoxes. He planned to become a director - but became famous as an actor, could not enter GITIS, but became the rector of the Schukinsky school. Deserved fame came to him quite late, but at the same time he managed to take his chance and made a brilliant career in cinema.
Today, the actor is already many years old, but he still works. I would like to hope that the audience will be able to see more than one film or performance with his participation.