Safonov Sergey Borisovich is a Soviet actor who devoted almost all his life to the theater and met his last hour on the stage. Sergei Safonov, whose biography and personal life even today arouse the interest of fans of the Moscow Art Theater, is a legendary film-episode master, a dedicated minister of Melpomene. Sergei Borisovich is an example of a prominent representative of the Soviet theater and cinema.
Childhood
The biography of Sergey Safonov is striking in unexpected turns. If you follow the logic, then the young man should not have become an actor. A boy was born in a family of Soviet teachers on March 18, 1922 in the city of Zaporozhye. The mother of the future artist, Maria Ivanovna, taught Russian language and literature in one of the Zaporizhzhya schools. His father, Boris Sergeyevich, served as a physics teacher and at one time received the title of Honored Teacher of the RSFSR. By the way, Boris Sergeyevich was one of the first enlighteners to receive this honorary title.
It would seem that Sergey’s life path was predetermined. However, Safonov’s youthful enthusiasm for theatrical activity radically changed who fate. After the family moved to Moscow, the guy visited almost all the performances of the capital's theaters. But the heart of Sergei Safonov forever won the Moscow Art Theater.
Homeland Defense
Like every Soviet youth, in the spring of 1941 Sergey Safonov was drafted into the ranks of the Soviet Army. He was to serve on the Estonian island of Saaremaa, where he caught the future actor of World War II. It was there that the first battle took place on June 22. Further battles were expected near the city of Staraya Russa and the defense of Leningrad, which was in a besieged environment. It was there, having received significant frostbite, Private Safonov Sergey, in the company of a fellow soldier, was transferred to a military hospital. Having recovered from his injuries and returned to the duty station, the young man, to his horror, found out that all his associates had died in one of the battles. As a result, Safonov was transferred to another part at the first Ukrainian front.
Since childhood, Sergey Borisovich showed remarkable acting abilities. Noticing them, the commander of the unit in which Safonov fought, sent the young man to try his hand and enter the theater studio. Following the "order" and the dictates of the heart, Sergey passed the first round in GITIS. Leading actor, director and teacher of the university Mikhail Mikhailovich Tarkhanov invited the young man to his course. But the patriotic young man chose to return to the front. He went through the whole war and met victory in Vienna. The young artist was not allowed to go home for a long time. For four years he was to perform in the NKVD Song and Dance Ensemble.
Years of study
In 1949, Sergei Safonov returned to Moscow. Without delay, the young man enters the Moscow Art Theater School on the course of Professor Vasily Osipovich Toporkov. Among the legendary teachers of Safonov can be noted Vasily Petrovich Markov, and classmates - Tamara Nikolskaya, Nikolai Orlov, Rimma Solntseva, Gleb Strizhenova.
After graduating in 1952, Sergei Safonov was the only one of the entire course who was enrolled in the Moscow Art Theater. At first, the young actor got small and episodic roles. However, there were plenty of them. Safonov had the first serious role in the play based on the work of F. Schiller “Maria Stuart” (director - V. Ya. Stanitsyn). Secretary of State William Davison, in his performance, delighted the audience for many decades.
Moscow Art Theater
The second long-term role of Sergei Borisovich was the role of captain Studinsky in the production of director Leonid Viktorovich Varpakhovsky. The actor played one of his favorite roles over 600 times. Throughout the long service to the theater, from 1952 to 1996, Sergei Safonov was involved in almost all the Moscow Art Theater's performances. In the play by A.P. Chekhov, he replaced the then-ill-starred A.P. Ktorov, a retired professor Alexander Vladimirovich Serebryakov. Having settled down with his hero, the actor nonetheless implicitly ceded the role to its first performer. This showed the non-conflict and friendliness of Sergei Borisovich.
Among the many roles played by Safonov on the stage, the roles of Vasily Zhukovsky in the play “The Last Days (Pushkin)” based on the work of M. A. Bulgakov, the bailiff of Loyal in “Tartuffe” by Moliere, Athanasius in “Uncle's Dream” F. M. Dostoevsky, Petrushin’s lawyer in “The Living Corpse” by L. N. Tolstoy, master Neil Fedoseyich Mamaev in “For every sage is quite simple” A. N. Ostrovsky, Til’s grandfather in the “Blue Bird” by M. Meterlink and many others. And whether it be primary or secondary roles, the actor approached the creation of each image with special care and inspiration.
In 1987, as a result of many years of creative disputes between two theater leaders Oleg Nikolaevich Efremov and Tatyana Vasilyeva Doronina, the Moscow Art Theater split into two camps - the Moscow Art Theater on Tversky Boulevard named after Gorky and the Moscow Art Theater. A.P. Chekhov with the main scene in Kamergersky Lane. Sergei Safonov hard suffered the collapse of a seemingly indestructible monolith. After some thought, he enters the troupe under the leadership of T.V. Doronina - Moscow Art Theater. Gorky, where he served until his last days.
Movie roles
Since Sergey Safonov is an actor, his biography is not limited only to theatrical performances. Due to his textured appearance, he was repeatedly invited to the main and episodic roles by filmmakers. Despite the busy work in the theater, Sergei Borisovich willingly agreed to all the proposals.
For the audience, he was remembered for his roles in the films-performances “So we will win!” (author - M. Shatrov, directors - O. Efremov and V. Khramov), “Despite old age” (script - I. Prut and E. Chernyak, production - V. Davidchuk), “Conspiracy” (script - A Rokhlin and A. Shaikevich, director - S. Annapolskaya), “Badgers” (script - L. Leonova, production - V. Ryzhkova and L. Ishimbaeva), “Kremlin chimes” (production - M. Knebel, I. Raevsky) and many others. In each, even the tiniest role, the actor was able to discern a great depth and humanity, which he conveyed not only with words, but also with gestures, pauses and facial expressions.
Sergey Safonov: personal life
The actor was busy in the theater and film studio. We can say that the scene became the love of his life. However, this did not prevent him from living in a happy marriage for many years and having children and grandchildren. Since ancient times, only two male names alternated in the Safonov family - Boris and Sergey. Sergei Borisovich was the first to break this tradition: he named his only son Eugene. Evgeny Sergeevich decided to call his grandson Andrei.
Honorary awards
In addition to the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, Sergey Borisovich Safonov received several honorary awards during the Great Patriotic War, which were especially dear to him. On holidays, he proudly donned the medals “For Courage” and “For the Defense of Leningrad”, the Order of the Patriotic War and numerous anniversary awards dedicated to the anniversary of the Victory. With these honors, the artist was buried.
Last performance, last role
As a true actor, Sergei Borisovich Safonov lived and died on stage. The tragedy happened on November 5, 1996. The actor was to complete the play “Valentine and Valentine” with a passer-by monologue. Having stepped on the stage and brilliantly played his part, Sergey Borisovich waited for the curtain to close and began to descend the stage ramp to the stairs. Having reached the middle of the path, the actor staggered and fell dead from a height. The ambulance crew arriving at the scene failed to help.
Actor Safonov Sergey Borisovich was buried in the 118th section of the Vostryakovsky cemetery in Moscow. The burial ceremony took place on November 11, 1996.