One Byron: what is Phil from “Interns” doing today?

Where do they meet and how do they maintain a relationship? One Byron and his boyfriend? This is the question that lovers of juicy details would like to get an answer to after they learned about the young actor’s unconventional orientation.

A talented and promising American, who came to Russia for three months to exchange experience, successfully completes his studies and continues his studies at the Moscow Art Theater School. He plays a lot in the theater, but the most memorable and audience-favorite role is the naive student Phil Richards in the series “Interns.”

The childhood and youth of Odin Byron

Odin was born in the warm autumn, on October 5, 1984. He is the second child in the family, he has an older brother who built his career in journalism. Odin's biography is notable for the fact that his parents did not have a direct connection to theatrical art, his father ran his own sawmill, and his mother worked as an administrator at a local clinic.

From childhood, the mother tried to instill in her youngest son a love of beauty; almost every weekend they went to museums, the local theater or cinema. Noticing the boy's genuine interest in music, the mother subsequently sent her son to a music school.

The boy grew up very inquisitive, he wanted to know everything. He showed his interest in the mysterious country of Russia at the age of 7, and all thanks to the fact that his grandfather was very fond of Russian writers. Sitting in the evenings with his beloved grandson, he often quoted Pasternak’s works. A little boy dreamed of visiting this distant country and did not imagine that his dream would come true.

The family changes their place of residence when Odin turns 15 and they move to Michigan. Here Byron enters the University of Michigan to study musical theater.

In the third year, many university students were offered the opportunity to have a three-month exchange internship in any country they liked. Here the guy remembers his childhood dream to visit Russia. In search of suitable information about Russian educational institutions, Byron went to the World Wide Web, where he immediately drew attention to the Moscow Art Theater School.

The Moscow Moscow Art Theater welcomes American students with a friendly atmosphere. During the entire internship, Odin had no conflicts with either teachers or colleagues. The only negative is his poor command of the Russian language, so initially the guy uses the services of a translator. A big advantage is his observation and desire to work on himself. To learn the dialogues as best as possible, he memorizes the correct pronunciation of Russian words from his classmates. The young actor’s internship was successful, his talent was noticed by teachers, so the guy was invited to continue his full studies at the Moscow Art Theater. One left home for a short time in 2004 to get a diploma from the University of Michigan.

September 2005, the American returns to Moscow to continue his studies, he is enrolled in the 2nd year. The young actor understands how important proper command of the Russian language is, so he immediately signs up for individual training with a teacher. The most effective school for quickly mastering correct Russian speech for an actor turned out to be living in a student dormitory, where Odin communicated with colleagues every day and heard the living Russian word.

Odin's creative growth in Russia began on the theater stage. As the actor later admitted, his first participation in theater productions was very difficult for him; he had to memorize the words without fully understanding their full meaning. The American coped well with the assigned tasks, improving his Russian pronunciation and acting skills with each role. In his final year, Odin became a laureate of the “Golden Leaf – 2009” award and in the same year graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School (course of K. Raikin).

The young talent receives an invitation from teacher Konstantin Raikin to continue his acting career at the Satyricon Theater. She has been successfully working in the theater from 2009-2013, working part-time as an assistant translator at the Moscow Art Theater. In 2013, Byron alone received a residence permit in the Russian Federation. In 2014, he moved to the Gogol Center theater with director Kirill Serebryannikov.

The next year, 2020, was not the easiest for the American artist, who publicly admits his homosexual orientation. One even had to return to his homeland. The enterprising American wastes no time getting a culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu. He lived in Minneapolis for some time and opened his own restaurant. However, in his homeland he has no place to show his creative potential and in 2020 he returns to Russia, where he is welcomed back to the Gogol Center with open arms.

Theater

The creative path of Odin Byron began on the theatrical stage. He played his first roles while still a student at the Moscow Art Theater, and in 2009 he won the Golden Leaf 2009 award for his portrayal of Hamlet in the production of the same name.

For the first time on stage, Byron was very nervous, did not fully understand the meaning of the words he said and did not have the opportunity to improvise in case he forgot the text. Nevertheless, the actor coped with his role, and his American accent only added charm and originality to the production.

After graduating from theater school, Odin Byron became a member of the troupe of the Satyricon theater, where his teacher Konstantin Raikin also worked.

The American played in two productions: “Money” based on A. Ostrovsky’s play “There wasn’t a penny, but suddenly it was altyn” and “Pushkin’s Little Tragedies”. Both performances were in great demand among the audience.

Now Byron performs on the stage of the Gogol Center and works as a guest teacher at Gogol School. For Kirill Serebrennikov, Odin played the role of Chichikov, for which he was nominated for the Golden Mask in 2018.

Actor orientation

The personal life of an unknown American student was initially not of interest to Russian journalists, but as always happens, with increasing popularity, fans are expected to show deeper interest in the artist’s private life. At the very beginning, Odin hid his sexuality, telling reporters that he had a girlfriend in his homeland. Soon, in order to avoid further questioning, he said that he did not maintain contact with his ex-girlfriend, since she could not stand the test of separation.

At one time, journalists assumed that Odin was developing a romantic relationship with actress Kristina Asmus, who plays the role of Varya Chernous in the series “Interns.” The press begins to publish joint photos of the actors with an unambiguous hint of the development of hidden sympathy.

Colleagues on the set categorically denied any assumptions about the love relationship between the actors. Christina and Odin had exclusively friendly and professional relations.

2015 was marked by a public coming out. In an interview with New York Magazine, the actor admitted that he is gay. Byron told the public that he was in a fairly strong sexual relationship with a famous director from Kazakhstan; at one time they even lived together in Moscow. Odin did not consider it necessary to reveal the real name of his partner. He noted that this relationship did not continue, but is the most vivid and tender memories of his life. They occasionally call each other back with their ex-partner, congratulate each other on holidays, and are always ready to support each other if necessary.

The attitude of the Russian acting community towards the coming out of the handsome American is quite friendly. Creative people are more tolerant of such frank statements; they mainly pay attention to acting skills and talent, while personal life is a purely individual matter. Thus, Odin’s teacher Konstantin Raikin expressed his point of view on the current situation, saying that he always valued high dedication to art, decency and talent in the actor. The artistic director of Satyricon decided to stage a contemporary production of All Shades of Blue. The production shows the public the whole paradox from the inside, how the parents’ incorrect attitude towards their son’s “deviations” and the desire to correct his orientation often leads to a tragic ending.

The director of the popular series “Interns” and a close friend of the handsome American Radda Novikova gave a separate interview to the publication “SUPER”. Over the two years of filming, she and Odin developed an excellent, trusting relationship; none of the colleagues on the set allowed themselves to ask inappropriate questions to the actor about his orientation.

Although everyone saw how he was categorical about homophobic scenes or ambiguous things in the script. Radda found a simple solution that suited everyone, without touching on personal things; along the way, she and the screenwriter rewrote the script a little to suit Odin.

One later admitted that the only colleague on the set, next to whom he felt some discomfort and tension, was Ivan Okhlobystin, known for his homophobic statements. Although even he tried to restrain his irreconcilable attitude towards Odin, as he recognized his highly professional acting qualities. The final filming of the final 20 episodes, after Odin's confession, took place in a friendly atmosphere.

The reaction of colleagues on the series to Byron's revelations

Byron recalls that after openly admitting to being gay, he was advised to appear less in crowded places and not to use the Moscow metro. In such circumstances, the actor was forced to leave Russia. Some time later he returned because he did not want to lose contact with his Kazakh boyfriend.

It is noteworthy that the majority of colleagues did not change their attitude towards the homosexual artist. There was still a friendly, welcoming atmosphere on the set. Odin’s fears about the further impossibility of filming in the Russian series turned out to be in vain. The American actor continued to work in films and, with the same success, brought to life the image of the handsome Phil Richards.

As a separate episode, the reaction to Odin’s revelations on the part of his colleague, film actor Ivan Okhlobystin, deserves attention. Curiously, she turned out to be exactly the opposite of what everyone else thought. According to Byron, next to Okhlobystin he constantly felt uncomfortable, there was a feeling of hidden threat and danger.

The basis was Ivan’s statement that gays deserve to be burned in ovens. The actor considered himself offended by the presence of a “sodomite” next to him and broke off his once friendly relationship with his colleague.

Okhlobystin added that he will no longer be able to communicate with Byron as before, but he must complete the filming of the next season. Despite his principled position, he also found kind words for his former American friend. In his opinion, Odin is still a talented and pleasant person, and besides, he learned Russian quite quickly and speaks it at a sufficient level.

Today Odin Land Byron lives in his native state, where he went into business for himself and became the owner of a restaurant. “The fondest memories have been preserved about Russia,” says Odin Land Byron. The actor’s personal life is gaining new momentum. It is known that he is actively trying to build relationships with the opposite sex, which leaves his fans a chance to win the heart of the movie star.

Did Byron alone fall out of the window?

One Byron and Kazimir Liske
April 2020, at about 5 am, actor Kazimir Liske fell out of the window - this news simply shocked the friends, colleagues and fans of the young actor. He could not be saved, although the doctors fought for his life for two hours; the guy received severe injuries incompatible with life. It still remains a mystery why Liske fell out of the window; whether it was a suicide attempt or an accident.

Actor Kazimir Liske was a classmate, colleague and friend of Odin Byron. The guys came to Russia together to exchange experience, but remained to work in this country, mysterious to them. They had a joint theater project, the actors were friends for seven years. Young talents moved together to Satyricon and participated in theatrical productions of Lafcadio and Riverside Drive.

Liske was married to actress Polina Grishina, they have a child together. Only Byron was friends with their family, often visited them, and recently he temporarily lived with them because of renovations in his apartment. The night before everything was fine, Polina and Odin met Kazimir at the entrance when the actor was returning from a theater party, he was in a great mood, no signs of depression.

That evening Kazimir himself put his one-year-old son to bed. In the morning, when Polina woke up, she discovered that Kazimir was not in the apartment, then it became known that he had fallen out of the window. The death of a friend was a complete surprise, a big blow and an irreparable loss for Odin. He still cannot remember this loss without bitterness, just as he cannot understand how this could happen to his friend.

Excerpt characterizing Byron, One

After talking a little more time with the esaul about tomorrow's attack, which now, looking at the proximity of the French, Denisov seemed to have finally decided, he turned his horse and rode back. “Well, darling, now let’s go dry off,” he said to Petya. Approaching the forest guardhouse, Denisov stopped, peering into the forest. Through the forest, between the trees, a man in a jacket, bast shoes and a Kazan hat, with a gun over his shoulder and an ax in his belt, walked with long, light steps on long legs, with long, dangling arms. Seeing Denisov, this man hastily threw something into the bush and, taking off his wet hat with its drooping brim, approached the boss. It was Tikhon. His face, pitted with smallpox and wrinkles, with small, narrow eyes, shone with self-satisfied gaiety. He raised his head high and, as if holding back laughter, stared at Denisov. - Well, where did you fall? - Denisov said. - Where had you been? “I followed the French,” Tikhon answered boldly and hastily in a hoarse but melodious bass. - Why did you climb during the day? Cattle! Well, didn’t you take it?.. “I took it,” said Tikhon. - Where is he? “Yes, I took him first at dawn,” Tikhon continued, moving his flat legs turned out wider in his bast shoes, “and took him into the forest.” I see it's not okay. I think, let me go and get another more careful one. “Look, you scoundrel, that’s how it is,” Denisov said to the esaul. - Why didn’t you do this? “Why should we lead him,” Tikhon interrupted hastily and angrily, “he’s not fit.” Don't I know which ones you need? “What a beast!.. Well?..” “I went after someone else,” Tikhon continued, “I crawled into the forest in this manner, and then lay down.” – Tikhon suddenly and flexibly lay down on his belly, imagining in their faces how he did it. “One and catch up,” he continued. “I’ll rob him in this manner.” – Tikhon quickly and easily jumped up. “Let’s go, I say, to the colonel.” How loud he will be. And there are four of them here. They rushed at me with skewers. “I hit them with an ax in this manner: why are you, Christ is with you,” Tikhon cried, waving his arms and frowning menacingly, sticking out his chest. “We saw from the mountain how you asked a line through the puddles,” said the esaul, narrowing his shining eyes. Petya really wanted to laugh, but he saw that everyone was holding back from laughing. He quickly moved his eyes from Tikhon’s face to the faces of the esaul and Denisov, not understanding what it all meant. “You can’t imagine it,” Denisov said, coughing angrily. – Why didn’t peg’vogo pg’ivel? Tikhon began to scratch his back with one hand, his head with the other, and suddenly his whole face stretched into a shining, stupid smile, revealing a missing tooth (for which he was nicknamed Shcherbaty). Denisov smiled, and Petya burst into cheerful laughter, which Tikhon himself joined in. “Yes, it’s completely wrong,” said Tikhon. “The clothes he’s wearing are bad, so where should we take him?” Yes, and a rude man, your honor. Why, he says, I myself am the son of Anaral, I won’t go, he says. - What a brute! - Denisov said. “I need to ask…” “Yes, I asked him,” said Tikhon. - He says: I don’t know him well. There are many of ours, he says, but all of them are bad; only, he says, one name. “If you’re fine,” he says, “you’ll take everyone,” Tikhon concluded, looking cheerfully and decisively into Denisov’s eyes. “Here, I’ll pour in a hundred of them, and you’ll do the same,” Denisov said sternly. “Why be angry,” said Tikhon, “well, I haven’t seen your French?” Just let it get dark, I’ll bring whatever you want, at least three. “Well, let’s go,” Denisov said, and he rode all the way to the guardhouse, frowning angrily and silently. Tikhon came from behind, and Petya heard the Cossacks laughing with him and at him about some boots that he had thrown into a bush. When the laughter that had taken over him at Tikhon’s words and smile passed, and Petya realized for a moment that this Tikhon had killed a man, he felt embarrassed. He looked back at the captive drummer, and something pierced his heart. But this awkwardness lasted only for a moment. He felt the need to raise his head higher, cheer up and ask the esaul with a significant look about tomorrow's enterprise, so as not to be unworthy of the society in which he was. The sent officer met Denisov on the road with the news that Dolokhov himself would arrive now and that everything was fine on his part. Denisov suddenly became cheerful and called Petya over to him. “Well, tell me about yourself,” he said. When Petya left Moscow, leaving his relatives, he joined his regiment and soon after that he was taken as an orderly to the general who commanded a large detachment. From the time of his promotion to officer, and especially from his entry into the active army, where he participated in the Battle of Vyazemsky, Petya was in a constantly happily excited state of joy at the fact that he was great, and in a constantly enthusiastic haste not to miss any case of real heroism . He was very happy with what he saw and experienced in the army, but at the same time it seemed to him that where he was not, that was where the most real, heroic things were now happening. And he was in a hurry to get to where he was not. When on October 21 his general expressed a desire to send someone to Denisov’s detachment, Petya so pitifully asked to send him that the general could not refuse. But, sending him, the general, remembering Petya’s crazy act in the battle of Vyazemsky, where Petya, instead of going along the road to where he was sent, galloped in a chain under the fire of the French and shot there twice from his pistol, - sending him, the general namely, he forbade Petya to participate in any of Denisov’s actions. This made Petya blush and became confused when Denisov asked if he could stay. Before leaving for the edge of the forest, Petya believed that he needed to strictly fulfill his duty and return immediately. But when he saw the French, saw Tikhon, learned that they would certainly attack that night, he, with the speed of transitions of young people from one glance to another, decided with himself that his general, whom he had hitherto greatly respected, was rubbish, the German that Denisov is a hero, and Esaul is a hero, and that Tikhon is a hero, and that he would be ashamed to leave them in difficult times. It was already getting dark when Denisov, Petya and the esaul drove up to the guardhouse. In the semi-darkness one could see horses in saddles, Cossacks, hussars setting up huts in the clearing and (so that the French would not see the smoke) building a reddening fire in a forest ravine. In the entryway of a small hut, a Cossack, rolling up his sleeves, was chopping lamb. In the hut itself there were three officers from Denisov’s party, who had set up a table out of the door. Petya took off his wet dress, letting it dry, and immediately began helping the officers set up the dinner table. Ten minutes later the table was ready, covered with a napkin. On the table there was vodka, rum in a flask, white bread and fried lamb with salt. Sitting with the officers at the table and tearing the fatty, fragrant lamb with his hands, through which lard flowed, Petya was in an enthusiastic childish state of tender love for all people and, as a result, confidence in the same love of other people for himself.