Presenter: The investigation was conducted by Leonid Kanevsky (Major Tomin)

Childhood

Leonid Semenovich Kanevsky was born on May 2, 1939 in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, into a Jewish family. His father was a professional fruit grower-technologist, loved his work, and could determine the variety of any apple “by eye.” In her youth, her mother studied at the conservatory, then devoted herself to raising her children: Leonid and her eldest son Alexander. Subsequently, she received an economic education and worked in the Ministry of Housing Construction of Kyiv.

Leonid Kanevsky in his youth

The only family member related to art was his second cousin Anatoly Kanevsky, an actor at the Ivan Franko Theater.

Actor Anatoly Kanevsky, relative of Leonid

Kanevsky's family occupied two rooms in a communal apartment. Next to the house stood the mansion of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR, Mikhailo Grechukha. When little Lenya played football with his friends, the ball sometimes flew over the fence. The guards always returned it, but sometimes it was punctured.

Leonid Kanevsky's brother Alexander - satirist writer

In 1950, a school friend brought Leonid to a drama club at the Ministry of Internal Affairs club, and the boy immediately realized that he wanted to become an artist. His father wanted him to continue the family business and did not approve of his desire, considering his son’s desire a whim - like how all Soviet boys dreamed of being a pilot or astronaut.

The elder brother Alexander, together with his cousin Roman, sometimes beat Leonid. When the boy grew up, he began to engage in wrestling, trying to be like his father - a powerful, stately man. His coach was the front hero Konstantin Nakelsky, who trained the soldiers. In the end, Roman told Alexander: “We’ll beat him one last time, and then we won’t, because it’s already dangerous.” In the future, Leonid tried to keep himself in shape, since, in his opinion, this is one of the responsibilities of an artist.

Childhood and youth of Leonid Kanevsky

The future theater and film artist was born on May 2, 1939 in the capital of Ukraine, the city of Kyiv. The activities of his parents were not related to the theater stage or cinema. Although his mother was drawn to the stage from childhood, but musical, after she married the boy’s father at the age of 17, she had to leave her childhood dream and take care of the house. His father was a fruit technologist and assumed that Lenya, along with his brother Alexander, would follow in his footsteps.

Despite the fact that her mother’s musical career did not work out, she tried to pass on all her love for creativity to her sons. The first son of the family, Alexander, became interested in literature. Leonid was attracted by cinema and theatrical art. He was even ready to save on basic needs in order to purchase a countermark for the next premiere of the film.

After finishing school, Kanevsky decided that he wanted to become an artist. It cannot be said that the parents were happy with this decision, especially the fact that their youngest son would have to move to Moscow. In the end, looking at Leonid’s great desire to leave to conquer the capital, his parents agreed, but only on the condition that his mother would go with him.

The first two attempts to enroll somewhere ended sadly: Leonid Kanevsky was refused at the Moscow Art Theater and the Shchepkinsky School. Perhaps in his heart he did not want his mother to go to Moscow with him, but in the end he definitely did not regret it. It was she who helped him in difficult times and “pulled” him to take exams at the Shchukin School, where he successfully entered. In 1956, Kanevsky began studying under the guidance of the famous Vera Lvova, and with him such personalities as Andrei Mironov, Vasily Livanov and Olga Yakovleva studied on the same course. After completing his studies, he began his career at the Lenkom Theater without any problems.

Youth

In 1956, Leonid Kanevsky went to Moscow to enter a theater university.
His mother went with him to the entrance exams. Unlike her father, she always believed in her son and supported him. The actor admitted that it was his mother’s support that helped him realize his dream. At first, Kanevsky tried to enter the Moscow Art Theater, but at the admissions committee, Pavel Massalsky directly told him that they did not need actors with such texture. The same story repeated itself at the Shchepkinsky School. But he managed to become a student at the Shchukin School. Upon admission, he read Gorodnichy’s monologue from The Inspector General, because he believed that with his face in the theater they would never be allowed to play this role. He was accepted into the course of Vera Konstantinovna Lvova.

Young Leonid Kanevsky without a mustache

At Shchuka, Kanevsky studied with Vladimir Georgievich Shlesinger. Future movie stars studied on a parallel course: Andrei Mironov, Lev Durov, Mikhail Derzhavin, Alexander Shirvindt. Leonid disappeared into school for days, he liked all the subjects: art history, dance, vocals, foreign theater. They even studied fencing. In the Moscow communal apartment on Gogolevsky Boulevard, where the young actor rented a corner, 50 people were accommodated in 11 rooms, it was very crowded.

The beginning of an acting career

Leonid Kanevsky graduated from the Shchukin School in 1960. He was offered to work at the Theater. Vakhtangov, but were warned that there were no serious roles for him yet. Kanevsky began working at the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater at the invitation of its director.

Kanevsky and Mikhail Kozakov in the play “Hamlet”

In 1963, Anatoly Vasilyevich Efros came to Lenkom. Under his leadership, Kanevsky played in Chekhov’s “The Seagull”, in Edward Radzinsky’s plays “104 pages about love” and “A movie is being made...”. In cinema, Kanevsky got episodes, mostly of a negative nature: drunkards, gangsters, smugglers. His screen debut took place in the film Forty Minutes Before Dawn (1963). Kanevsky played the owner of a general store in a Belarusian village. Leonid Semenovich was never offended by directors for giving him small roles, because there were many offers. In 1967, Anatoly Efros went to the Moscow Drama Theater on Malaya Bronnaya and took 11 actors with him, including Kanevsky. He was able to play in “The Inspector General”, in “Romeo and Juliet” he got the role of Signor Capulet’s servant, and Capulet himself was played by the brilliant Leonid Bronevoy. Kanevsky served in this theater until 1991.

In the photo: Leonid Kanevsky, Lev Durov, Anatoly Efros and Andrei Mironov

In 1968, he received one of the few positive roles - intelligence lieutenant Oganesyan in the film "Spring on the Oder". His character, a former art critic, in one scene talked about Leonard da Vinci and the smile of the Mona Lisa.

Theater

After graduating from university, in 1960 Leonid entered the service at the Theater. Lenin Komsomol. The young artist’s mentor was Anatoly Efros, a legendary director and teacher. Kanevsky served in the theater for seven years, and all this time he tried to earn the right to become a leading actor. He was involved in the following performances: “The Ershov Brothers”, “Dangerous Age”, “Living Flowers”, “About Lermontov...”, “Twenty Years Later”, “A Movie is Being Made”, “The Seagull”, etc.

Leonid Kanevsky on the set

However, realizing that he would never become the leading artist of the troupe at Lenkom, in 1967 Leonid decided to move to the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya. It was here that the talented actor finally had the opportunity to unleash his full creative potential. The artist began to play leading roles in performances, the audience began to love him and respect his colleagues. Most of all, Leonid Kanevsky was remembered in the performances “Late Love” and “The Inspector General”.

All-Union popularity

Leonid Semenovich literally woke up famous in 1968, after the release of Leonid Gaidai’s comedy “The Diamond Arm.” He got a small role as one of the smugglers who were waiting at the pharmacy for Gesha Kozodoev to wrap a plaster with diamonds on his hand.

“The Diamond Arm”: Leonid Kanevsky as a smuggler

Kanevsky's temperamental hero was loved by audiences throughout the Soviet Union. The restaurant “Devil Damn” was opened at the location where “The Diamond Arm” was filmed in Baku. Inside, the owner placed statues of Andrei Mironov, Yuri Nikulin and Leonid Kanevsky.

In 1971, the actor received a large and positive role as Major Alexander Tomin in the detective television series “The Investigation is Conducted by Experts,” based on real crimes. The scriptwriters of the project, Alexander and Olga Lavrov, were former investigators. The stories focused not on crimes, but on the motives of the criminals and their psychology.

Still from the series “The Investigation is Conducted by Experts”

For several years, Alexander Tomin personified the heroic profession of a defender of order. The actors, including Kanevsky, together with detectives from Petrovka, 38 went on searches and sat in for interrogations. During filming, Tomin made a serious career, rising from captain to colonel. Major Tomin - Inspector's Song In addition to fame, this series also brought trouble to Kanevsky. When he was at a creative meeting in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a thief was caught in his hotel room. He said that he would become a “star” in the criminal world if he robbed one of the “experts.”

Leonid Kanevsky as Major Tomin

In addition, because of the role, Kanevsky lost a profitable role in the film “Dog in the Manger” (1977). The directors felt that it was inappropriate for the actor playing Major Tomin to play a servant. At the artistic council, director Jan Fried was “not recommended” to film Kanevsky. The role eventually went to Armen Dzhigarkhanyan. But Georgy Yungvald-Khilkevich, in a similar situation, insisted that Leonid Semenovich should play Bonacieux in The Three Musketeers.

Leonid Kanevsky in the film "The Three Musketeers"

In the eighties, “Connoisseurs” no longer had such success. Many other crime films and TV series appeared that depicted a much darker reality. Kanevsky began working for children's audiences. In 1981, he voiced Mr. Fix in the dubbed version of the Australian animated series Around the World in 80 Days, and a little later starred in the films Goodbye Mary Poppins and Pippi Longstocking.

Still from the movie "Pippi Longstocking"

In the 80s, a mustache became an integral attribute of Leonid Kanevsky’s image. Before that, he wore sideburns, but after the play “Merry Men,” where he got the role of a variety show artist, he became attached to the mustache with his soul. Once, for a role, he shaved them off, thereby causing a fit of laughter from his daughter. Leonid was offended and even left home for a couple of hours. Then he cooled down, but didn’t shave his mustache anymore.

In 1987, he played a cameraman in Konstantin Khudyakov’s serial film “The Contender.” The main roles were played by Yuri Yakovlev and Leonid Filatov. Kanevsky admitted that working with such actors was a great pleasure. Unfortunately, the film was not a great success.

Movies

The actor began his film career with unnoticeable episodic roles. So, in 1963, he played the role of the manager of a rural store in the film “Forty Minutes Before Dawn.”

1965 brought Kanevsky the role of the chief of the secret police in the film “City of Masters.” This image suited the actor very well and became quite noticeable in his filmography.

In 1968, the artist played intelligence officer Oganesyan in “Spring on the Oder” and a smuggler in the famous comedy “The Diamond Arm.”

Kanevsky in the famous comedy “The Diamond Arm”.

For a long time, Leonid’s short stature served as an obstacle for directors who did not see suitable roles for the actor.

“The Investigation is Conducted by Experts” directed by Vyacheslav Brovkin were released Leonid Kanevsky got one of the main roles in the film - Major Alexander Tomin. The series became incredibly popular among viewers, and made the actors playing in it real stars of the time. The public expected a continuation of the story, and the director had to return to filming the film until 1989.

Kanevsky at work

In parallel with his work on “Knowledgers,” Kanevsky also starred in other projects. In total, he played more than fifty roles in films. Mostly Leonid got supporting roles, but the actor played each role brightly and made it memorable. Thus, one cannot fail to note Kanevsky’s work in the film “D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers” in 1978 , where he brilliantly played the haberdasher Bonacieux.

Moving to Israel

In 1990, at the invitation of director Yevgeny Arie, Kanevsky emigrated to Israel, where together with him he created the Russian-language theater “Gesher”.
First, together with Mikhail Kazakov and Valentin Nikulin, they toured the whole country, and sold-out crowds awaited them everywhere. However, the first six months were difficult. There were problems with salaries, and it also turned out that not all viewers understand Russian. The actors began to learn Hebrew, and by the end of the year they were performing Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot” in two languages.

Leonid Kanevsky Theater "Gesher"

At different times, Leonid Yarmolnik and Oleg Yankovsky played in Gesher. With this theater, Leonid Semenovich traveled to prestigious festivals in England, Germany, France and the USA. “Gesher” came on tour to Russia and was a great success here. When performances were played at the Moscow Art Theater by Oleg Tabakov, resellers sold tickets for double the price, but the hall was always full. The fate of man. Leonid Kanevsky However, not everyone enjoyed the current situation. For example, Kirill Safonov, who started working at Gesher in 1999, never settled down there. There were few roles given, and in his free time he had to work as a taxi driver and waiter. Already in 2001, Safonov hurried to return to Russia.

New roles

In 2002, Leonid Kanevsky gladly accepted Vladimir Khotinenko’s offer to revive the series “The Investigation is Conducted by Experts.” Another “veteran”, Georgy Martynyuk, played with him, and Lydia Velezheva took the place of Elsa Lezhdey. Only 4 episodes were filmed because the continuation went unnoticed. In 2006, he became the host of a series of documentaries “The investigation was carried out...” on NTV. Kanevsky talked about crimes committed in the USSR from 1917 to 1991. The project also paid a lot of attention to the life and morals of Soviet citizens, their psychology and social status.

Now Leonid Kanevsky hosts the program “The Investigation Conducted...”

“The investigation was carried out...” became the most popular documentary project on domestic television. Leonid Semenovich personally edited all the scripts. Most of all, he liked to talk about talented swindlers and swindlers who became criminals due to personal and social failures. But the producers insist that episodes devoted to serial killers be published more often, since they are the highest rated.

Personal life of Leonid Kanevsky

In 1967, Leonid Kanevsky met his future wife Anna Berezina, daughter of actor Efim Berezin. They were introduced by Leonid’s brother, Alexander, who wrote comic miniatures for Berezin’s duet with Yuri Timoshenko “Tarapunka and Plug”. Alexander said: “Fima Berezin has a wonderful daughter, Anya. I’m already married, but she shouldn’t be left out of the family.”

Leonid Kanevsky and Anna Berezina

Leonid and Anya lived in a cooperative on Chekhov Street, which was called “Youth Theaters”. Many aspiring actors and directors lived in this house; Kanevsky’s neighbors were Valentin Smirnitsky and Nikita Mikhalkov with his wife Anastasia Vertinskaya.

Leonid Kanevsky with his wife

Leonid and Anna got married in 1975. The wedding was celebrated on a grand scale at the Intourist Hotel. In 1977, their daughter Natasha was born. Growing up, she became a costume designer and connected her life with the Israeli Ido Nativ, a teacher. They made Leonid a happy grandfather, giving him a granddaughter Amalia (born 2012).

Leonid Kanevsky with his daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law

Leonid is glad that his family consists of only women. “I’m a woman’s man,” the artist laughs. True, the purely female company was recently diluted by his grandson Mikael, who was born in 2020. “A guy with humor, just like his grandfather,” Kanevsky is proud of his grandson.

Mikael, grandson of Leonid Kanevsky

Some sources claim that actress Renata Piotrovsky is the granddaughter of Leonid Kanevsky. This is not entirely true. Renata is the great-granddaughter of actor Anatoly Kanevsky, second cousin of Leonid Semenovich. So they are relatives, but distant.

Creation

Roles in the theater

• "In the rooms" by Chekhov
• “The Inspector General” – Theater on Malaya Bronnaya
• “Late Love” – Theater on Malaya Bronnaya

Filmography

1. 1963 - Forty minutes before dawn - store manager in a village general store
2. 1965 - City of Masters - Chief of the Secret Police
3. 1966 - When the harpsichord plays - the speculator
   (credited as
   A.
   Kanevsky)
4. 1967 - Life and Ascension of Yuras Bratchik - henchman of the cardinal
5. 1967 - Mitya - Nezlobin
6. 1967 - Two hours earlier
7. 1968 - Spring on the Oder - intelligence officer Oganesyan
8. 1968 - Diamond Arm - smuggler who applied plaster
9. 1968 - Smile at your neighbor - building manager
10. 1968 - The Punisher - Mr. Andreas
11. 1969 - Red Tent - radio operator
12. 1969 - Every evening at eleven - a saxophonist in the orchestra
13. 1969 - Kidnapping - director
14. 1969 - Golden Gate
15. 1970 - The mechanical adventures of Tarapunka and Shtepsel - cameo, spectator in the hall during KVN
16. 1970 - Amazing boy - boxer Uppercut
17. 1971 - Physics at half past nine - resting
18. 1971 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Black Broker” - Alexander Nikolaevich Tomin, inspector of the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department (MUR)
    (main role)
19. 1971 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Your true name” - Alexander Tomin
20. 1971 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Red-handed” - Alexander Tomin
21. 1971 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “I beg your pardon...” - Alexander Tomin
22. 1972 - newsreel wick "armor" - "a man buying a train ticket"
23. 1972 - Train stop - two minutes - entertainer Krasovsky
    (voiced by Valentin Gaft)
24. 1972 - So the summer has passed - Uncle Garik
25. 1972 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. "Dinosaur" - Alexander Tomin
26. 1972 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Blackmail” - Alexander Tomin
27. 1972 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Accident” - Alexander Tomin
28. 1972 - Earth, on call - Maurizio
29. 1973 - In the rooms - Bulyagin
30. 1973 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Escape” - Alexander Tomin
31. 1973 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. "Witness" - Alexander Tomin
32. 1973 - Nylon 100% - Archibaldik
33. 1973 - Your boyfriend - Robert Ivanovich
34. 1974 - Adventures in a city that does not exist - Bonaventure
35. 1974 - Retaliation - Dmitry Smirnov
36. 1975 - Taste of halva - Khudaikul
37. 1975 - Amazing Berendeev - chief of police
38. 1975 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Strike Back” - Alexander Tomin
39. 1977 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “At any cost” - Alexander Tomin
40. 1977 - The Rings of Almanzor - Muhamiel, pirate captain
41. 1977 - Risk is a noble cause - actor
    (cameo)
42. 1977 - Vesnukhina's fantasies - seller of bicycles and pelicans
43. 1978 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. ““Bouquet” at the reception” - Alexander Tomin
44. 1978 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Until the third shot” - Alexander Tomin
45. 1978 - D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers - haberdasher Bonacieux
46. 1979 - Hello, I've arrived! — Arkady Khristoforovich Angel
47. 1979 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “The Shepherd with a Cucumber” - Alexander Tomin
48. 1980 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “He left and did not return” - Alexander Tomin
49. 1981 - The investigation is carried out by the Experts. “From the Life of Fruits” - Alexander Tomin
50. 1981 - Oriental Dentist - Marcos
51. 1982 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. He's here somewhere - Alexander Tomin
52. 1982 - There, on unknown paths... - foreman
53. 1983 - Mary Poppins, goodbye! — Bob Gudetti, excavator operator
54. 1984 - Pippi Longstocking - crook Karl
55. 1985 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “The Midday Thief” - Alexander Tomin
56. 1985 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Fire” - Alexander Tomin
57. 1986 - The victims have no claims - Suren Sarkisovich Egiazarov
58. 1987 - Contender
59. 1987 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. "Boomerang" - Alexander Tomin
60. 1988 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Without a knife or brass knuckles” - Alexander Tomin
61. 1989 - The investigation is carried out by the Experts. "Mafia" - Alexander Tomin
62. 1990 - Death in cinema - artist
63. 2001 - Late marriage - Otari
64. 2002 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “Arbitrator” - Alexander Nikolaevich Tomin, police colonel
    (main role)
65. 2003 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. “A Pound of Gold” - Alexander Nikolaevich Tomin, police colonel
    (main role)
66. 2005 - Poor Relatives - Baruch
67. 2008 - Photographer - Rogan, casino owner
68. 2009 - Semin - Boris Petrovich Semin, police colonel
    (main role)
69. 2010 - Between the Lines - Efim (Fima) Melnik
70. 2011 - Semin. Retribution - Boris Petrovich Semin, police colonel, head of department
    (main role)

Teleplays

1. 1972 - Buddenbrooks
2. 1972 - The Pickwick Papers (television play) - Perker
3. 1973 - Just a few words in honor of Monsieur de Moliere - Pierrot
4. 1975 - Night of Mistakes - George Hastings
5. 1983 - Monsieur Lenoir, who... - Joseph

Voice acting

• 1965 - Khevsur ballad - Imeda
  (dubbing)
• 1972 - Treasure Island (radio play) - Black Dog
• 1976 - I figured it out, congratulations! — Sukhiashvili, police colonel
  (role of G. Chokhonelidze)
• 1976 - Bagdasar divorces his wife - Bagdasar
  (role of F. Mkrtchyan)
• 1981 - 80 days around the world - Mr. Fix
  (dubbed)
• 1981 - Take care of women - Givi Maksimovich Aivazov
  (role of G. Tokhadze)
• 1982 - Incident in the country of Multi-Pulti (WFG "Melody") - Carlson
• 1987-1988 - Koloboks are conducting the investigation (recording of the All-Union Radio) - text from the author
• 2011 - Cars 2 - Finn McMissile

Leonid Kanevsky now

On February 21, 2020, Leonid Semenovich began filming a new episode of the program “The Investigation Conducted...”, about the “Novosibirsk Satan.”
This was the name of the maniac welder Fyodor Kozlov, who operated in Novosibirsk in 1989. Kozlov carried out 10 attacks on girls, killing 5 of them. Two of the victims were little girls. On December 4, 2020, the performance “Late Love,” staged by Evgeny Arie based on Valery Mukharyamov’s play “In the Shadow of the Vineyard,” was sold out at the LK Palace of Culture. Together with Kanevsky, Klara Novikova and Daniil Spivakovsky took part in the production. They played people who had achieved financial success but still felt lonely, their memories burdened by memories of a difficult past. Leonid Semenovich played in a suit made by his daughter Natalya Kanevskaya.

"Late love". Production of the Gesher Theater

On June 6, 2020, Kanevsky visited Bryansk while filming a program about an armed gang that committed 15 robberies and 1 murder in a month. The actor visited Partizan Square and the embankment area. The next episode of “The Investigation Conducted...” was released on June 23, 2020.

On October 1, 2020, the actor attended the farewell ceremony for Mark Zakharov at the Lenkom Theater. Many cultural figures, such as Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, Konstantin Bogomolov and Ivan Urgant, came to say goodbye to the legendary director.