There are many Livanov actors in our country. They are known, loved and many consider them all relatives. However, we have not one, but two of the most famous dynasties with this surname - the family of “Sherlock Holmes” Vasily Livanov, led by his great father Boris Livanov, and Aristarkh and Igor Livanov with their no less talented father Evgeniy, to whom this book is dedicated article.
All these actors crossed paths in life several times. Vasily has long been friends with Aristarkh Livanov, whose younger brother Igor even helped to move from Rostov to Moscow, inviting him to his theater.
Moreover, to match his most famous movie character, Vasily unearthed interesting facts about their families. It turns out that their great-grandfathers were from the same village. It is difficult to say whether they were relatives, because in those distant times everyone in this village bore the same surname.
Aristarkh and Vasily Livanov with their wives
Evgeny Livanov - father of Aristarkh and Igor
It is curious that the older representatives of these dynasties also overlapped. In 1941, the Moscow Art Theater was evacuated to Saratov, where the talented actor Evgeniy Livanov was already playing at the local drama theater. When Boris, then already famous throughout the country, was told that there was his namesake in the theater, he replied:
Every decent theater should have its own Livanov
Evgeny and Boris Livanov
Unfortunately, Evgeniy was unable to fully realize his talent on the big stage. Perhaps he would later become no less famous than Boris. But Evgeniy was one of those whose fate was under the rink of repression of the 30s.
Livanov Sr. came from a family of priests for several generations. His father Aristarkh Pavlovich was an archpriest. In 1938, following a denunciation, he was arrested, his family never saw him again... Evgeniy overnight became the son of an “enemy of the people.” Of course, in the theater they began to treat him differently.
Aristarkh Pavlovich Livanov, father of Evgeniy Livanov
When the war began, Livanov went to the front. Then he was no longer allowed to return to the theater; the talented actor had to go into amateur performances. Evgeniy led children's clubs and subsequently began working in a puppet theater.
In the 50s, his father was rehabilitated. But what did it matter anymore? He himself could not be returned, and Evgeniy was already busy with his life’s work - he directed the Kyiv Puppet Theater. They say the children simply adored him.
Evgeny and Nina Livanov
Before the war, Evgeny Livanov was already married and had a son, Oleg. But he met the main woman in his life later, at the front - in 1943 near Kiev. She became a girl named Nina, a lieutenant in the medical service. She literally dug him out from under the snow and carried him to the camp, and then nursed him in the hospital.
Nina gave birth to two sons for Livanov - Aristarkh and Igor, and became a faithful assistant in their family “doll” business.
Nina and Evgeny Livanov with their eldest son Aristarkh. Photo: Moscow 24
Nina and Evgeny Livanov lived together for about 70 (!) years, setting an example for their sons. Their parents are no longer alive, but Aristarchus and Igor worthily continue the acting dynasty.
Evgeny Livanov in the film “The Garden” (1983)
Brothers Aristarkh and Igor Livanov
The age difference between the brothers is 6 years. They both took a lot from their father - kindness, a positive attitude to life, but most importantly, their masculine character. Responsibility for the family is the main feature of the Livanovs. And they played their first roles at the Kiev Puppet Theater under the direction of Father Evgeniy Livanov.
Unfortunately, life beat them, and sometimes very hard. Both experienced disappointments and betrayals and found their happiness only in their third marriages. The younger Igor faced such trials that one wonders how a person can even survive this. But Igor could do it, he has that masculine core that his father and older brother Aristarchus once laid in him.
Now Igor and Aristarchus have their own stories, they rarely see each other, rarely call each other, but the internal connection, of course, remains. If something happens, they are the first to come to each other's aid. And, of course, the brothers always had many fans among the spectators. There is something special, “Lebanese” about them.
Aristarkh and Igor Livanov
Son of Igor Livanov - Timofey
The son of Igor Livanov, Timofey, the second in a row, was born in 2007, married to Olga. It is easy to calculate that he is already 10 years old. Also, he has a brother.
The family tries to spend as much time together as possible. The actor himself notes that his second son was born quite late for his age. Therefore, at first he could not find a place for himself - he was constantly worried about his life and future fate. But he managed to pull himself together and come to terms with the fact that you just need to do your best, because anyway, you can’t jump over your head.
Aristarkh Livanov
Aristarchus was a very serious guy from childhood and took responsibility for his family early. It was he who took his younger brother to kindergarten and school, and did his homework with him. Livanov also got married for the first time very early - at the age of 19. They met their chosen one Olga Kalmykova at LGITMiK, and after both were assigned to the Volgograd Youth Theater.
Livanov and Kalmykova played the main roles together in their first film, “These Innocent Fun” (1969), but very soon their paths diverged forever. By the way, Olga is now a fairly popular episode actress. It so happened that fame came to her already in adulthood.
Still from the film “These Innocent Fun” (1969) / actress Olga Kalmykova now
Aristarchus received his recognition much earlier - on the stage of the Rostov Drama Theater he played Grigory Melekhov in “Quiet Don” and received the State Prize for this role. They say that even the all-Union “Aksinya” Elina Bystritskaya herself highly appreciated his work.
Aristarkh Livanov as Grigory Melekhov
“The Unhealing Wound” by Aristarkh Livanov
However, this point was still several years away. After the divorce, Livanov moved to Ryazan, and from there he went to Rostov with his new wife, actress Tatyana Anishchenko. The couple already had a son, Evgeniy.
Aristarchus remained a provincial actor, played in several theaters at once, and worked as Santa Claus at Christmas trees. His wife found a replacement for him - she started an affair with another actor of the Rostov Theater. Livanov did not forgive the betrayal. But Tatyana did not forgive him for the success that came and the invitation to the capital.
By that time, Livanov had married for the third time to a girl named Larisa; she worked as an assistant director in the same theater and was in love with him in absentia, having seen him in the very first film.
Larisa and Aristarkh Livanov. Photo: Moscow 24
The relationship with Larisa turned out to be ideal, the couple is together to this day. They had a daughter, Nina, and for some time they communicated well with their son Eugene from Aristarchus’s second marriage. And then everything changed.
Moving to Moscow, Livanov’s success in cinema... Perhaps Anishchenko began to be jealous of all this. How else to explain the fact that she suddenly decided to change their son’s surname? Eugene was trained as a director, but communicates very rarely with his famous father; Aristarchus has never even seen his grandson. And all this became an “unhealing wound” for him.
Son of Igor Livanov - Ilya
The son of Igor Livanov, Ilya, like his older brother, Timofey, was born in the actor’s last marriage. By the way, he was born quite recently - in the fall of 2020.
The actor notes that his son was born healthy and with “classical parameters.” As for appearance, little Ilya looks like his mother. Igor, jokingly, adds that Timofey is his copy, both in appearance and in character. Which, by the way, despite his young age, is already manifesting itself. Fans can only wait to see what path the actor’s children will choose – to connect their lives with creativity, or to choose a completely different profession.
Daughter and grandchildren of Aristarkh Livanov
Things are also not easy for Aristarchus with his daughter Nina. She received a good psychological education, but at one point she flew away with her grandchildren to live in Southeast Asia. However, she lives there for her own pleasure and does what she loves, and doesn’t dream of much. Nowadays such people are called downshifters.
However, Livanov, accustomed to working hard since childhood, does not understand this way of life at all. Fortunately, the relationship with his daughter is normal and he and his wife Larisa see their grandchildren regularly, despite the distance.
Daughter Nina Livanova / Aristarkh with his wife Larisa and granddaughter Katya
Children
The Livanov family lives in a country house. The eldest son Timofey goes to school, attends sports clubs, and is interested in foreign languages. The youngest son is being raised by his mother. Children live in the love and attention of their parents and spend a lot of time together.
Since 2004, Igor Livanov became an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. Everything is fine in his life. He is happily married, raising wonderful children, doing what he loves.
The sad love story of Igor Livanov and Tatyana Piskunova
The younger brother Igor, up to a certain point, repeated the fate of Aristarchus. In his youth, he also practiced boxing and was even more successful in the sport than his brother. He was going to the Institute of Physical Education, but then he still chose the acting profession.
Aristarchus prepared his brother for admission to LGITMiK, which he himself graduated from several years earlier. Igor also met there his first wife, actress Tatyana Piskunova, known from the film “Ivan da Marya” (1974). Together the couple left for Ulyanovsk, and then ended up in Rostov. By that time, Aristarchus had already moved from there to Moscow.
Unfortunately this is a very sad love story...
Igor Livanov with Tatyana Piskunova and their daughter Olga
Tatyana gave birth to Igor's daughter Olga. In 1987, he lost both of them in a train accident. In an interview, he said that he tried to drink then to numb the pain, but for some reason his body did not allow him to do this.
A year later, he left Rostov for Moscow at the invitation of Vasily Livanov, who then supported his namesake in a difficult situation and got him into his theater. What can I say, Igor simply ran away from that place where everything reminded him of his wife and daughter.
Igor Livanov's ex-wife - Tatyana Piskunova
The ex-wife of Igor Livanov, Tatyana Piskunova, was born in 1953. The acquaintance with the young man took place within the walls of the university, where they both studied acting.
In 1979, his wife gave the actor a daughter, Olga - she was Igor’s first-born. But almost eight years later, an accident occurred. A train accident claimed the lives of Tatiana and Olga. As the actor later said, it is still very difficult for him to come to terms with it, even though quite a lot of time has passed. Brother Aristarchus helped to heal the wound in his heart - he advised moving to the capital. And so it was done.
Igor Livanov and Irina Bakhtura (Livanova, now Bezrukova)
Then a new woman appeared in Igor’s life - his student Irina Bakhtura from the Rostov School of Arts, where Livanov led an acting workshop in those years. Everything happened quickly and, probably, we should have taken a closer look at each other. But Igor then really needed a family, he wanted children, without whom he saw no meaning in his life.
Irina and Igor Livanov
The couple had a son, Andrei. A few years later, Igor became famous throughout the country and, by the way, also thanks to his brother. It was Aristarchus who proposed his candidacy for the film “Destroy the Thirtieth!” (1992), where they both starred.
All of Livanov’s worries were about his new family, which, at first glance, did not need anything.
Igor and Aristarkh Livanov on the set of “Destroy the Thirtieth!” (1992)
Alas, this marriage was destroyed by betrayal. Irina left Igor for the young actor Sergei Bezrukov, who was then gaining popularity. For Andrey Livanov became a “Sunday dad”. However, they saw each other often. The son then made his first successes in cinema, starring in the films “I Am a Doll” (2001) and “The Rescuers. Eclipse" (2006).
Andrei communicated well with Igor’s new family - his wife Olga, who is a quarter of a century younger than her husband, and his younger brother Timofey. He was about to have another brother, Ilya, when under strange circumstances in 2020 he himself passed away. Andrei Livanov was only 25 years old.
Igor Livanov with his son Andrey
Son of Igor Livanov - Andrey
The son of Igor Livanov, Andrey, was born in the winter of 1989. At that time, the actor was married to Irina. After the divorce in 2000, the mother took her son with her to a new family. Of course, this became a difficult test for the actor, and he tried to devote as much time as possible to his son. They saw each other as soon as possible and spent time. In addition, Igor took him on various trips.
But just recently, a tragedy occurred, the newspapers were full of the following headlines - Igor Livanov about the death of his son. Andrei's funeral took place in 2020. The cause of death was diabetes - he was at home by himself, had an attack, and there was no one to help. Of course, such an event greatly undermined the actor.
New life of Igor Livanov
It is difficult to say whether Igor would have survived this blow if not for the strong family that he finally acquired in the second half of his life. Where and what he and Irina missed in Andrei at one time is unknown. The reasons for the misfortune are various - from diabetes to participation in a sect.
Nevertheless, life goes on. And, according to Igor, it continues in children. Now he has his own big house and two sons who need to be put on their feet. And he simply has no right to give up.
Igor Livanov with his wife Olga and sons Timofey and Ilya. Photo: 7 days
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Later moved to serve at the Rostov Drama Theater of M. Gorky, where they additionally taught acting courses.
A young promising family managed to get housing in a new building. The long-awaited daughter Olga was born. A happy life went on as usual.
In the photo: Igor Livanov with his wife Tatyana Piskunova
In 1987, the young actor suffered great misfortune. Igor Livanov’s beloved wife and daughter die in a terrible accident.
They were on their way to visit their parents when a freight train destroyed the end cars of a passenger train. In one of these, Tatyana and her daughter slept peacefully. Their death was instant.
The actor's first family
The relatives were buried at the Pokrovskoye cemetery, next to the wife’s parents. According to the actor himself, faith helped him at that moment, since he is a deeply religious person. To distract himself and ease his grief, Livanov plunges headlong into work and begins teaching.
