On July 22, 2004, actor Konstantin Stepankov passed away , whose colorful appearance does not allow him to forget his heroes, many of whom were historical characters. Having played more than a hundred film roles and having all-Union fame, the artist remained faithful to the Ukrainian land, where he spent his whole life.
Actor Konstantin Stepankov: biography
The family significantly influenced the future life of the future folk artist. Father was a priest repressed in the 30s. His real name is Voloshchuk, but his mother, Evgenia Vasilievna, frightened for the children, fictitiously divorced her spouse and took them on herself. The actor’s homeland is the village of Pescheski (Khmelnitsky region), which survived the German occupation. Date of birth - 3.06.1928. Mother after the return of Soviet troops decided to move to Central Asia, but Konstantin remained at home. He had to go through an orphanage, to serve on a fishing vessel for a year. In memory of the sea, tattoos remained on his arms and shoulder, which was not welcomed in the acting environment.
In the post-war famine, the young man entered the agricultural institute (Uman, Cherkasy region), where he studied for three years. His fate changed arrival on tour of the theater. I. Franco, led by Ambrose Buchma. During a meeting of actors with students, Konstantin Stepankov, whose biography has changed dramatically since then, read poetry from the scene. A. Buchma offered the young man patronage upon admission to a theater institute in Kiev. In fact, he will become his spiritual father, to whom Konstantin Stepankov will be grateful until the end of his days.
The biography, the personal life of the actor
After graduating from GITI in 1953, the young man, waiting for a place at the I. Franko theater, will remain to teach at the theater institute. Here, his fateful meeting with 18-year-old student Ada Rogovtseva will take place, with which they will not survive until the golden wedding for only a few years. It was love at first sight, which cost the teacher a party career: he will remain non-partisan, despite the vivid roles of revolutionaries. For a year he will even be suspended from teaching, imputing moral decay.
The couple got married when Ada Rogovtseva completed her studies at the institute. Impressive Stepankov, over the years becoming only more attractive, was credited with many novels on the side. But in all interviews, he always claimed that his wife was and remains his only love. Two children were born in the marriage: son Konstantin, born in 1962. and daughter Catherine, b. 1972 Both of them chose the profession of director for themselves .
Eldest son
Konstantin Stepankov (younger), whose photo along with his mother can be seen in the article, only slightly outlived his father. Outwardly similar to him, he grew up in an atmosphere of behind the scenes, not representing any other fate than acting. He started acting at the age of 12, and at 17 already made his debut with his father in the film “Forget the word death”, where a small role was written specially for him, who owns the sword and confidently sits on the horse. But at the end of GITI them. I.K. Karpenko-Kary young man became interested in directing. In the 90s, especially for his mother, he staged the play “I give thanks” on the stage of the theater named after Lesia Ukrainka.
Being a creative person, he wrote poetry. Parents were proud of their son, who was one of the liquidators of the consequences at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This led to a rethinking of life and a passion for ecology, to which he devoted most of his time. In 2012, he died of cancer, leaving his wife (choreographer Olga Semeshkina) and twelve-year-old daughter.
Theatrical career
In the theater named after I. Franko, where Konstantin Stepankov was so eager, he worked for 14 years. And he went to the theater studio of a film actor, focusing on a film career. Having an irrepressible temperament, magnificent facial expressions and amazing internal energy, the actor did not fit into the melodramatic school of that time. He dreamed of Iago, but of all Shakespearean roles, only Edgar managed to play in King Lear. Several brilliant images were created by him in the studio theater. Among them is the philosopher Xanthus in the play "The Fox and the Grapes," amusing himself with disputes with the simple-minded slave Aesop.
Since 1956, he began acting in films, making his debut in the role of Akim in "Pavel Korchagin", but until 1968 he had no serious proposals for which it was worth leaving the stage. Such a work was the film “Stone Cross” by Leonid Osyka, where he played not the main, but the most difficult role. A peasant invited to execute a thief caught during the theft.
Filmography
In the last years of his life, Konstantin Stepankov, who played in 139 films, including episodes, said that all roles can be divided according to the principle: those for which it is not a shame, and everyone else. Among the first are: “The Stone Cross”, “Zakhar Berkut”, “Commissars”, “The Duma of Kovpak” and “Babylon XX”. The best works are related to historical subjects, where he plays uncompromising and obsessed with the idea of revolutionaries. These are passionate people, highly bearing their party honor. This was Lukachev in The Commissars, but that was also Zhukhrai in How Steel Was Tempered, the work of director N. Mashchenko, which the actor did not mention among the best. But it was thanks to her that the audience of the entire Soviet Union recognized him.
Several years were given the role of the national hero Sidor Kovpak. It is curious that he was not even invited to the test. He appeared himself, having made up and presented himself to the director T. Levchuk, striking with a portrait resemblance. Today it is one of his most significant works.
At the film studio to them. Dovzhenko often posted employment schedules for actors. In 60–70 years. Stepankov's indicators exceeded 100%. In recent years, he starred much less often, worrying that Ada Rogovtseva became the main earner in the family.
Last years
Indifferent to fame, Konstantin Stepankov moved to the village of Zhovtnevoy, enjoying communication with nature. He cooked dinners, took care of his grandchildren, and did not think at all of the upcoming 75th anniversary. At the celebration, the wife and children insisted. When he entered the House of Cinematographers with a wand, the audience, full to capacity, gave him a long standing ovation. The actor could not hold back the tears.
He passed away in 76 after a long illness, leaving behind remarkable film works that were included in the gold fund of Soviet and Ukrainian cinema.