Leonid Filatov - biography, personal life, photos, filmography, rumors and latest news

Leonid Filatov - a wonderful Soviet-Russian actor, poet, playwright, TV presenter and simply a brave, uncompromising person - lived a bright, difficult life. He achieved success in everything he did and was happily married to his second wife, but a serious illness cut short first his acting career, and then his earthly journey at the age of 56.

Photo 24smi.org

Leonid Filatov was born on December 24, 1946 in Kazan. His early childhood was spent traveling with his parents (Alexei Eremeevich and Klavdia Nikolaevna) around the country - his father worked as a radio operator on a geological expedition. When the child was 5 years old, they divorced. Mother and son went to stay with relatives in Ashgabat (according to other sources, the boy lived with his father in Ashgabat). At school, Lenya wrote poetry and acted in school plays, but this did not stop him from participating in all sorts of teenage “showdowns.” Once, in a fight, his nose was broken, which has remained “wavy” ever since.

Klavdiya Nikolaevna Filatova with her son Leonid. Photo star-magazine.ru

Cinema was the young man's passion, and he especially liked French films. He already saw himself in the image of a brilliant director, but reality tamed his ambitions: the young man’s attempt to enter VGIK failed miserably. But in the same year, 1965, he managed to get into the Moscow Shchukin Theater School for the course of Vera Lvova and Leonid Shikhmatov . He will be friends for life with two of his classmates - Boris Galkin and Vladimir Kachan

Filatov was not a diligent student, but his enormous talent allowed him to solve problems in an original way. For example, students were responsible for preparing independent passages, for which it was very difficult to find material. Therefore, Leonidas wrote for himself and friends under the names of mythical authors. The texts he composed were so good that the teachers did not have even a shadow of doubt about the existence, for example, of the Italian playwright “Nino Polumbo”. Then he began to attribute authorship to real writers, and one day his deception was revealed. Borya Galkin showed an excerpt supposedly from a play by Arthur Miller. And when rector Boris Zakhava said that “Arthur Miller cannot be played badly,” simple-minded Borya decided to share his success with his friend. “Lenya wrote this,” he said (you can imagine how the rector felt).

Leonid Filatov. Photo: driver-job.ru

The beginning of a theatrical career

After graduating in 1969, Leonid was accepted into the troupe of the Taganka Theater, which was at that time the most progressive social institution. Vladimir Vysotsky , Valery Zolotukhin , Nikolai Gubenko , Zhanna Bolotova , Nina Shatskaya , Lydia Savchenko played on its stage (the fates of some of them would later be connected not only by work, but also by complicated personal relationships). The artistic director and founder of the theater, Yuri Lyubimov , was looking for his own path in art. His productions were distinguished by bold aesthetic experiments and free-thinking.

Leonid Filatov, Vladimir Vysotsky, Valery Zolotukhin. Photo liveinternet.ru

“On Taganka” Filatov served for a total of 22 years and over time, became one of the leading artists of the troupe. When Lyubimov was forced by the authorities to leave the theater in 1983 (first sent to England on a work contract, and then deprived of citizenship), Leonid, like most of the creative team, ardently supported the disgraced director and did not accept Anatoly Efros , appointed to the place of artistic director . He did not take part in the persecution of the new leader - he simply moved to Sovremennik as a sign of protest (but some of his colleagues used the dirtiest methods to turn Efros’s life into real hell: they wrote anonymous letters, punctured tires, cut a sheepskin coat, even poured mothballs into the soup) . Filatov returned in the late 80s, when Nikolai Gubenko .

Notes

↑ 12
SNAC (English) - 2010.
Memory of the people :: Document on the award :: Filatov Alexey Eremeevich, Order of Glory III degree (unspecified)
. pamyat-naroda.ru. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
Memory of the People :: Report on irretrievable losses :: Filatov Alexey Eremeevich, , , (unspecified)
. pamyat-naroda.ru. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
Literary parodies. Leonid Filatov
Leonid Filatov literary parodies of poets // youtube.com
Vladimir Vinokur. “An artist is forever!” Publishing house "Tsentrpoligraf", Moscow, 1998. Pp. 105-107.
Filatov-Fest
“Show dossier. Leonid Filatov." MTK "Moscow", 1992 (Russian). XX century
. TV channel "Russia - Culture" (Russia - K) (04/28/2019). — Announcement. Retrieved May 28, 2020. Archived April 28, 2019.

Why did Filatov break off relations with Yuri Lyubimov

After the political situation in the Soviet Union changed, Lyubimov returned to his homeland. He regained his civil rights and in 1989 again headed his “brainchild”. But the actors, who joyfully met the “fighter for justice,” were soon very disappointed. During the years of emigration, Lyubimov turned into a tough capitalist, for whom the human factor no longer mattered. The conflict with the troupe gradually gained momentum. The last straw was the director's intention to transfer the artists to a contract basis. In 1992, Taganka split. Gubenko and Filatov organized their own theater - “Commonwealth of Taganka Actors” , where half of their colleagues followed them. Here Leonid will remain until the last days of his life.

Why didn’t they want to cast a talented actor in a movie?

Despite his successful theatrical career, the actor was not known to the general public. His film debut in the film “City of First Love” (1970) went unnoticed by anyone. Only 8 years later, thanks to the patronage of his friend and film director Konstantin Khudyakov, Leonid will receive the main role in his drama “Ivantsov, Petrov, Sidorov” . According to Khudyakov, it “cost him a lot of blood” to push through the candidacy of Filatov, whose extraordinary appearance frightened film officials. he could not compete with such recognized beauties as, for example, Evgeny Zharikov or Vladimir Ivashov But after viewing the film, the director of the film studio was convinced that “this actor can play anything.” Leonid will no longer have a shortage of directorial proposals.

Leonid Filatov. “Ivantsov, Petrov, Sidorov” 1978

All-Union fame was brought to Filatov by one of the main roles of flight engineer Skvortsov in the first Soviet disaster film directed by Alexander Mitt, “Crew” (1979). Oleg Dal was approved for this role but he did not like the script and the actor refused to act (according to another version, Dal left the filming due to a serious illness). Alexey Petrenko also turned down the role of the ship’s commander ; it was brilliantly performed by Georgy Zhzhenov.

Leonid Filatov. “Crew” 1979

Movie roles

As in “The Crew,” where Dahl was going to be invited to play the role of the hero-lover Mitta, according to the original plan, Leonid Filatov was not supposed to star in “The Chosen.” These films cannot be called the best works of the actor, but it was thanks to them that he became known to the mass audience. The first truly creative success in cinema was the role of a theater director in “Success”. The topic turned out to be close to both the leading actor and the entire film crew, which consisted of actors from the Russian theater school. This was followed by interesting work in other wonderful films. The characters were not always positive, but few could give their anti-heroes as much charm as Leonid Filatov. The artist’s filmography is such that from its lines one can study the chronicle of the era of late socialism. “Rooks”, “City Zero”, “Forgotten Melody for the Flute” and many other films were shown with extraordinary success in cinemas across the vast country, and even today, having started watching any of these masterpieces, it is difficult to take your eyes off the TV screen.

How Filatov acted in erotic scenes

The film became a cult film, the leading actors became famous, and Filatov gained the status of a sex symbol. In fact, the actor was a very modest and shy person. In a bold (for those times) erotic scene with actress Alexandra Yakovleva , he agreed to act only on the condition that he would remain in trousers. That's how he played the sex scene - in jeans, covered with a sheet. “Well, what kind of playboy am I?” — the actor was surprised. “I don’t even risk taking my clothes off on every beach.” But Soviet women had a different opinion.

Alexandra Yakovleva and Leonid Filatov. “Crew” 1979

Not all of Leonid’s works were equally successful, but this depended solely on the quality of the films in which he starred. The best films where the actor played the leading roles were “Who Will Pay for Good Luck” , “From Evening to Noon” , “Rooks” , “The Chosen” , “Success” , “Forgotten Melody for the Flute” , “City of Zero” .

Tatiana Dogileva and Leonid Filatov. “Forgotten Melody for Flute” 1987

In 1990, Filatov made his debut as a film director in the social drama “Children of Bitches . The plot is based on real and fictional events that took place at the Taganka Theater after the deprivation of citizenship of its artistic director. It seems to me that the film did not reach the level of a masterpiece, but the brilliant performance of the star actors - Evgeny Evstigneev, Vladimir Ilyin , Larisa Udovichenko , Liya Akhedzhakova , Alexander Abdulov and Filatov himself, smoothes out all the shortcomings. It's a shame that his first directorial job will be his only one. Leonid will not have time to finish his second film, “The Love Adventures of Tolik Paramonov”...

Leonid Filatov. “Sons of bitches” 1990

Kazan-Ashgabat

The boy, born in Kazan in 1946, had the happiness that was rare in the post-war years - his father was a front-line soldier. His mother’s maiden name was the same as his father’s; they were both Filatovs. This coincidence can be explained simply: during the war, the girls corresponded with unfamiliar soldiers of the Red Army, and when “sponsored people” were distributed among the work collective, she chose her namesake. After the Victory, the young people met in person and liked each other, as a result of which their son, Leonid Filatov, was born. The biography of the future actor is connected with two cities: Kazan, where he was born, and Ashgabat, where he spent almost all of his early childhood. Seven years later, the family, unfortunately, broke up; Lenya’s mother took her to Penza, but later the young man returned to Ashgabat. At the age of fifteen, he showed his literary talent by writing a fable published in Komsomolets Turkmenistan. The fee was small, but it was enough for modest gifts for relatives, several tickets to the theater and cinema, and there was even some money left over, which the young man proudly gave to his grandmother for small expenses.

How Natalya Varley broke Leonid Filatov's heart

During his student years, Leonid fell passionately in love with Natalya Varley , a circus performer who played the role of Nina in “Prisoner of the Caucasus ,” when he saw her on a cinema screen. And soon a miracle happened: the unattainable beauty decided to continue her acting career and did the same in “Pike”. Filatov began to fight for the heart of the young star in all the ways known to him, but Natalya preferred him to the actor Nikolai Burlyaev , whom she married.

Natalya Varley. “Prisoner of the Caucasus” 1966

After their marriage broke up (this happened a year later due to Burlyaev’s affair with his stage partner, actress Irina Pechernikova ), Leonid again had hope of winning the girl’s love. But this time he was unlucky: Varley responded to the advances of her classmate Vladimir Tikhonov (son of the famous actors Vyacheslav Tikhonov and Nonna Mordyukova ). “How could you exchange me - so smart, talented - for this beautiful club?” - the unhappy lover asked Natasha bitterly. In general, youthful love ended in the standard way - with a broken heart.

Personal life

Leonid Filatov was married twice. He met his first wife Lydia Savchenko in the early 70s, and they soon got married. Everything was fine in the family until Filatov fell in love with actress Nina Shatskaya. He was married, she was married to Valery Zolotukhin. For three years they quietly watched each other, and then a secret romance began. Nina and Leonid hid their relationship for 12 long years. They separated several times, but not for long - they were irresistibly drawn to each other.

Leonid Filatov and his wife Nina Shatskaya

Both of their divorces were painful. Leonid Filatov left his wife, leaving her an apartment. Only with Nina Shatskaya did he find true happiness. The couple did not have children together, but the actor treated his wife’s son from his first marriage as his own. Friends said that their family relationships remained touching and exemplary until Filatov’s death.

Onset of the disease

The couple were happy until Filatov was overtaken by a serious illness. Years of exhausting work, complete disregard for one’s own health (just remember 3 packs of cigarettes a day) and the events at Taganka, which the actor passed through his heart, took their toll. At 47, while filming Sons of Bitches, he suffered a stroke on his legs. Leonid had to say goodbye to cinema.

He took up literary activity. Filatov's plays, parodies and poems were as talented as his acting work. He first became famous as a writer in 1987, publishing in the magazine “Yunost” a fairy tale in verse for the theater about “Fedot the Archer, a daring fellow,” which became truly popular. In addition, Leonid created his own program called “To Remember ,” with which he appeared on television for almost 10 years. The stories of deceased and undeservedly forgotten actors were very popular with television viewers, and Filatov was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation, TEFI and Triumph awards for this project.

Memory

A number of documentaries were dedicated to Leonid Filatov:

Show dossier.
Leonid Filatov . TV program from the “Show Dossier” series. Presenter: Lion Izmailov. MTC "Moscow". 05/01/1992. 88 minutes. [8]
Oh, don't fly like that, life... (2000)
To be remembered. Issue 114 (2003)
Stars of the Air (2005)
How the idols left. Leonid Filatov (2005)
I Can’t Live Anymore (2006) (re-released in 2010 under the title “Live to Be Remembered”)
The price of success by Leonid Filatov (2006)
The Tale of Leonid Filatov (2006)
The Last 24 Hours (2007)
To be remembered (concert in memory of the actor) (2010)
Leonid Filatov. To be remembered (2011)
Islands. Leonid Filatov (2011)
Talents and Fans (2011)
I hope I didn't bore you... (2016)
Aerobatics (2016)
Uncovering the secrets of the stars (2017)
Last Day (2017)

Last years, cause of death

In 1995, Filatov’s health deteriorated sharply. Doctors said that this was due to a condition of the kidneys, but they made an incorrect, harmless diagnosis and advised him to undergo treatment in a sanatorium. There the actor was visited by his colleague Leonid Yarmolnik . The appearance of the patient shocked him. Without hesitation, Yarmolnik took Filatov to the Transplantation Research Institute, where the true cause of his illness was revealed - renal failure, which triggered the stroke.

The kidneys could not be saved. For about 2 years before the donor transplant, Leonid lived without kidneys, going on dialysis every other day. Fortunately, the operation was successful. Nina selflessly nursed her husband. Filatov was convinced that he survived only thanks to her love and patience. Gradually, life returned to Leonid’s usual course - work on television, concert performances... Despite poor health, he did not know how to live outside of creativity.

Nina Shatskaya and Leonid Filatov. Photo kulturologia.ru

In October 2003, Filatov developed a fever. In his condition, any infection could be fatal. Shatskaya unsuccessfully tried to get her husband into the Transplantation Research Institute, and then took him to the Central Clinical Hospital. Doctors were unable to save him: pneumonia caused the rejection of donor organs. 10 days after hospitalization - on October 26 , Leonid died at the 57th year of his life without regaining consciousness.

The funeral service for Leonid Filatov took place in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Uspensky Vrazhek, and the civil funeral service took place in the Central House of Cinema. The People's Artist was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery in Moscow.

Photo matveevb.ru

I would like to end with Filatov’s poem “Note to the Grave,” which he wrote as if about himself:

He fell silent. Now he is yours, descendants.
As they say, “then there is silence.”
... The membranes of the century will burst tomorrow -
She is so deafening.

Rate this article:

Share on social networks:

Bibliography

Soviet literary parody // Leonid Filatov - M., “Book”, 1988, vol. 1.
L. A. Filatov.
About Fedot the Sagittarius, a daring young man. — IGL International, 1990.
L. A. Filatov.
Sons of bitches. - RIO PF "Red Proletarian", 1992.
L. A. Filatov.
About Fedot the Sagittarius, a daring young man. — Ed. , 1996.
L. A. Filatov.
Poetry. Songs. Parodies. Fairy tales. Plays. Film stories. - U-Factory, 1999.
L. A. Filatov.
Love for three oranges. — Trien, 1999.
Leonid Filatov Theater. - U-Factory, 1999.
L. A. Filatov.
Every cloud has a silver lining. - EKSMO-press, 1999.
L. A. Filatov.
Stagecoach. New plays. - EKSMO-press, 2003.
L. A. Filatov.
Cinderella before and after. Plays. - EKSMO-press, 2004.
L. A. Filatov.
Book 3. Hamlet. — Complete works in five books. - M.: AST: Zebra E, 2006. - 316 p.
L. A. Filatov.
Once again about the naked king. - AST: Zebra E: Times 2, 2008. - 688 p. — (Golden Fund of World Classics). — 3000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-17-056342-5.
L. A. Filatov.
Direct speech. - AST: Zebra E, 2007. - 416 p. — (Acting book). — 7000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-17-045464-8.