Yuri Kuzmenkov is a talented actor, whose viewers learned about the existence of such films and TV shows as “Big Break”, “Two Captains”, “Taimyr Calls You”, “A Minute of Silence”. This outstanding man passed away in 2011, but his vivid roles forever entered the history of cinema. What is known about the path that he traveled?
Yuri Kuzmenkov: childhood and youth
The actor is a native Muscovite who was born in February 1941. There was a joyful event in the family of a locksmith and a hairdresser, the parents of the future star were people far from art. The first years of his life, Yuri Kuzmenkov spent in a small village located in the near Moscow region. As a child, he delivered a lot of trouble to his mother and father, as he grew up a bully.
However, at school, little Jura received only fives, oddly enough, he was easily given subjects such as mathematics, physics. Interest in theater and literature in the future star appeared already in adolescence. Yuri Kuzmenkov even engaged in acting with one artist, who played cameo roles in the Moscow City Council theater. Not surprisingly, by the time he received the certificate, the guy had a clear idea of his future.
The father tried to resist the fact that his only son became an actor, but the stubborn Kuzmenkov achieved his goal. Having successfully completed training at the studio that worked at the Mossovet Theater, he became a member of the troupe of the theater, which he remained faithful for more than 40 years - until his death.
First roles
Yuri Kuzmenkov did not belong to the number of actors whose path to fame was a long one. After a couple of episodic roles of a talented young man, the directors noticed. For the first time, a novice actor had a chance to play the central character in 1965 in the drama “Days of Flight”. He did an excellent job with the image of the courageous pilot Andrei, who every day was forced to put his life in mortal danger.
The directors liked to entrust Kuzmenkov with the roles of simple and strong people, who become heroes in extreme situations. He played with pleasure the military, workers, law enforcement officers. In the melodrama "Two Sisters", the actor appeared before the audience in the image of a crane operator Kuzi, in the short film "Trap" he played Lieutenant Klimchenko. However, real fame came to him only after a fateful acquaintance with the director Korenev, whose films made a star out of a young man.
Shooting at Korenev
The meeting with Alexei Korenev was a great success for such a wonderful actor as Yuri Kuzmenkov. Films of the director allowed him to fully demonstrate his talent to viewers and critics. It all started with the picture "Taimyr Calls You", the role in which Kuzmenkov received without any trial, as the master liked it. Geologist Duzhikov became his character, a comedy tape was released in 1971.
In the series "Big Change" Korenev originally intended to highlight the role of Nestor Petrovich to his beloved actor. However, gradually the director began to doubt that Yuri would look like an absent-minded teacher. As a result, Kuzmenkov played Ivan Fedoskin. He perfectly managed to convey such qualities of his character as a kind heart, masculinity, honesty. After the release of "Big Break" the actor has an army of fans.
“Three days in Moscow”, “For family reasons”, “Honest, smart, unmarried ...” - Yuri has appeared in films directed by Korenev more than once. Among his heroes were a plumber, a district officer, and even an astronaut.
Other interesting films
Of course, not all the bright roles played by Yuri Kuzmenkov are listed above. The filmography of the actor will delay the wonderful military drama “A Minute of Silence”, glorifying the exploits accomplished by Soviet soldiers. The character of the star in this picture was Kostya Bokarev, a brave fighter against fascism.
“Two Captains” - a film project whose plot is borrowed from the eponymous work of Kaverin. Kuzmenkov brilliantly coped with the image of Peter Skovorodnikov, the comrade-in-arms of the protagonist. Yuri’s participation in the filming of the Fiery Childhood tape, when he almost fell under the train, could end tragically. The audience was also remembered by his lieutenant Alexander Nazarov from the film “Waiting for a Miracle”.
The actor was actively filming in the last years of his life. For example, he managed to create a unique image of a village shepherd in the film "Witching Love", presented to the audience in 2008.
Life behind the scenes
Yuri Kuzmenkov is an actor who was lucky and in love. His chosen one was Galina Vanyushkina, who studied with him in the studio. The actor, then still a beginner, fell in love at first sight, long looked after a classmate. The wedding took place in 1963. Those who promised Gala and Yuri a quick divorce were mistaken, the couple spent their whole lives together. The only son Stepan chose a career as a diplomat, now lives in the United States with his wife and two children.
The death of a Soviet cinema star occurred as a result of a heart attack, before that he had been worried about pancreatitis and diabetes for several years. The grave of the actor is located in the village of Zhabkino, located in the Moscow region.