Biography
Avangard Leontyev is named after his older brother, who died at the age of 19 in 1943 on the Kursk Bulge. His parents, both from Orel, met in amateur performances - his father played in a drama club, his mother performed in a dance group. In the early 1920s, my father came to Moscow and entered the Higher Directing Courses with Vsevolod Meyerhold. After the wedding, at the insistence of his wife, he received the specialty of a civil engineer; during the war he served in the engineering troops, built defensive structures, and restored crossings. Mom also left dancing classes, first worked as a secretary-typist, and later became a housewife.
“My mother gave birth to me at 43 years old, and I was the third child, I also have a brother - Valery. But since the first Vanguard died, the parents - mainly, I think, the father - decided to spite the enemies to give birth to another son. I was some kind of reparation for the damage done to the family. I never wanted to change my name, although sometimes I struggled with it and still struggle. It's a pity for people - it's hard for them to reprimand. Then I suggest: just call me Garik,” explains the artist.
Garik spent his childhood in Moscow. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming an actor; in his free time from school, he studied in the school drama club. Later, he learned the basics of acting in the literary studio at the Moscow City House of Pioneers with Anna Bovshek, a student of Konstantin Stanislavsky and Evgeny Vakhtangov. In high school, he himself organized a theater studio, in which he played with classmates.
As a student at the Moscow Art Theater School (course of Pavel Massalsky), at first he did not show much hope and studied very mediocrely, but then he quickly became involved in the work process and achieved considerable results.
Avangard Leontyev to Evgeniy Mironov: Pushkin is as lovely as you
01.12.2016, 18:19
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Estimate
Photo by Anastasia Lukhminskaya
Today in Saratov before the performance-concert “Eugene Onegin. Lyrical digressions” a press conference of Moscow artists took place.
Today, December 1, before the performance-concert “Eugene Onegin. Lyrical Digressions" with the participation of Evgeny Mironov, a press conference was held at the Opera and Ballet Theater. Since Mironov was late, his colleague Avangard Leontiev suggested that journalists start asking questions to him, the artist Olga Ostroumova and the screenwriter of the performance.
The artists managed to talk about the concept of the performance - these are lyrical digressions of “Eugene Onegin”, in which his philosophical reflections are concentrated. As it turns out, digressions can be of great interest when separated from the plot.
When Evgeny Mironov finally arrived at the press conference, he said a few words about the charitable component of the evening.
“This visit is special for me. It was such a gift from my colleagues that they are with me in my hometown. This is the second time we are organizing a charity program in Saratov. All funds raised will go to the “Artist” stage veterans fund,” said the artistic director of the “Theater of Nations” and again gave the floor to Avangard Leontyev.
The artist, when asked how significant today’s opening of memorial plaques for Ermakova and Galko was for Saratov, replied that there are many such events in Saratov and invited everyone to visit the theater museum on the fourth floor of the opera house. Leontyev expressed admiration for the collection, which contains models of performances of the 1930s staged in Volsk. He continued his speech without additional leading questions.
“I would like to say something about Zhenya Mironov. You don’t have to leave everything until the day of the funeral. You have many people to be proud of, but Evgeny Mironov is absolutely your person. He grew up here, he was formed, he is so brilliant, he developed, he develops himself, he develops others. Zhenya is on the other side of the acting sins - arrogance, pulling the blanket over himself...” Leontiev scattered in compliments.
“Let’s talk about Pushkin,” Mironov asked embarrassedly.
“What about Pushkin? “Pushkin is as charming as you,” Leontyev answered and continued, addressing the journalists. — What you live in Saratov is what all of Russia feeds on. I wrote a text message to Zhenya on her birthday. “Zhenya, how lucky our People are (I wrote it with a capital letter!) to have such a worthy son,” said Mironov’s colleague.
Theater
In 1968, Avangard Leontiev graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School and was accepted into the troupe of the Moscow Sovremennik Theater, then directed by Oleg Efremov. Here he worked for more than three decades, playing in such plays as: “At the Lower Depths” (Alyoshka), “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (Thursday), “The Princess and the Lumberjack” (Tsar Father), “From Evening to Noon” (Albert), “Bolsheviks” (Telegraphist), “Balalaikin and Co.” (Balalaikin, Prudentov), “Eternally Living” (Misha), “Twelfth Night” by Shakespeare (Feste, Olivia’s jester), “And I’ll go! And I’ll go!” (Funny Man), “The Karamazovs and Hell” (Devil), “Don’t Shoot the White Swans” (Chairman of the Council), “Weather for Tomorrow” (Romanov, Car Worker (Bazilsky), “Columbine’s Apartment” (Pierrot and Tolya), “And in the morning they woke up” (Sukhonky), “The Cherry Orchard” (Gaev, Epikhodov).
In parallel with his main work, Leontyev collaborated with other theaters over the years. Participated in productions of the Moscow Art Theater. A.P. Chekhov: “N 13” (Richard Willey), “A Lesson for Wives” (Arnolf); in the performances of the Theater directed by Oleg Tabakov: “Crazy Jourdain” (Jourdain), “Marriage” (Zhevakin), “Simplicity is enough for every wise man” (Krutitsky).
The actor’s talent was used by directors of theatrical enterprises: in 1994 he played the role of Chichikov in Valery Fokin’s production of “A Room in the Hotel of the City NN” (Meyerhold Center), in 2000 - the role of Vasily Shuisky in Declan Donnellan’s play “Boris Godunov” (MKTS) and the role of Louis Sheet music by Roman Kozak “Nudes Dress” (Theater named after A.S. Pushkin), in 2006 - the role of Bartolo in Kirill Serebrennikov’s production of “Figaro. Events of one day" (Evgeny Mironov Theater Company).
In 2004, Avangard Leontiev was accepted into the Moscow Art Theater troupe. Chekhov. He played Cleanthe in "Tartuffe", Dergachev in "The Last Victim", Arkady Schastlivtsev in "The Forest", the Boss in "The Egg", Akaki Akakievich Bashmachkin in "The Overcoat".
Theater career
Avangard Leontyev immediately after graduating from theater school went to work at the famous Sovremennik Theater. On these theatrical stages he performed sixteen performances. So, this is the role of Alyosha in the play “At the Lower Depths”, Albert in the theatrical production “From Evening to Noon”, as well as the role of Gaev in the play “The Cherry Orchard” and others.
But Avangard Leontyev, whose roles in the theater were forever remembered by the audience, also played on other stages. For example, at the Chekhov Theater he played in six performances. This is the role of Arnolf in the play “A Lesson for Wives”, Bashmachkin in the theatrical production “The Overcoat” and others.
It is known that in the Tabakerka Theater the famous actor Leontyev played the role of Jourdain in the play “Crazy Jourdain” in 1985. The main character is trying to become a nobleman, and to achieve his goal he learns good manners and even dancing. The talented actor Leontyev also played in theatrical productions of other theaters. For example, in 2000, in the play “Boris Godunov” he plays the majestic Vasily Shuisky.
Teacher
Avangard Nikolaevich began his teaching career in 1974 in the drama studio for high school students at the Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren of the Baumansky District of Moscow. Then for many years he taught at GITIS and the Moscow Art Theater School in courses led by Tabakov. Later they formed the basis of the troupe of the Moscow Theater-Studio under the direction of Oleg Tabakov.
Students of Avangard Leontiev: Elena Mayorova, Igor Nefedov, Irina Apeksimova, Sergey Gazarov, Marina Zudina, Evgeny Mironov, Olesya Sudzilovskaya, Denis Sukhanov, Vladimir Mashkov, Alexey Serebryakov, Philip Yankovsky, Andrey Smolyakov, Daria Feklenko, Anastasia Zavorotnyuk, Dmitry Shcherbina, Alexey Zuev, Sergey Klimov, Alexander Anisimov, Andrey Kondakov and many other wonderful artists.
“I really like teaching because it is easy. In essence, you share your knowledge, and students seek your help. It's a wonderful feeling when you help...
I feel absolutely at home here! There must be an internal disposition towards pedagogy. If it’s not there, it won’t be interesting, and if you’re not interested, the students won’t let you into their souls. Young people, almost still children - this is a subtle world. They feel everything and see you, literally, right through,” notes Leontyev.
Evgeny Mironov about the teacher:
“Avangard Nikolaevich played a decisive role in my destiny several times. Firstly, it was he who brought me into the artist - he agreed to listen when I arrived in Moscow from Saratov. Then, after graduating from the Moscow Art Theater School, I became seriously ill, literally walking on the wall. Leontiev pulled me out of the hospital, brought me to Oleg Pavlovich Tabakov, and they offered me the main role in the play “Pushchil.” It is clear that my health has improved dramatically. And then he led me through life the same way he leads all his students. He doesn't educate actors, but people. He drags them to exhibitions, to concerts, they fall asleep in the conservatory, poor, but by the fifth time they are already beginning to distinguish Shostakovich from Tchaikovsky... Leontyev is a man of crystal honesty, a direct exhibit for the Bakhrushin Museum. Money doesn’t mean anything to him - that’s what he infected us with. Fortunately, not completely..."
Pedagogical activity
Actor Leontyev became known not only for his merits in cinema and theatrical activities, but he is also known as an excellent teacher. He began to engage in this activity after the invitation of the talented actor Oleg Tabakov. It is known that since 1974, Avangard Nikolaevich taught for two years in a drama studio for senior schoolchildren at the capital's Palace of Pioneers of the Baumansky District.
Actor Leontyev continued his teaching career in 1976 at GITIS, and then at the Moscow Art Theater School, which was headed by Tabakov at that time. Over the course of twelve years, he became the director of three acting releases. Many of these actors later began working at the Moscow Art Theater. It is known that his students were such famous actors as Vladimir Mashkov, Marina Zudina, Evgeny Mironov and others. And then he was also able to receive the title of professor.
Director
Over time, Avangard Leontyev felt the need to realize his directorial abilities on stage. In 1987, he (together with Oleg Tabakov) staged the play “Crazy Jourdain” at the Tabakov Theater. Then there were productions at the Moscow Art Theater named after A.P. Chekhov: “Proposals” based on the plays of A.P. Chekhov and V. Sollogub (1989-1990), as well as at the Teatro Argentino in Rome - Chekhov's The Mechanical Piano (1987, as an assistant to director Nikita Mikhalkov) and in Paris, at the Theater of Europe - Chekhov's The Seagull ( 1988, as an assistant to director Andrei Konchalovsky).
In 1999, Leontiev independently staged at the Theater under the direction of Oleg Tabakov the play “It’s not all Maslenitsa for the cat” based on the play by A.N. Ostrovsky.
In general, Avangard Nikolaevich believes that an actor and a director are completely different planets: “And I am an actor. I have staged one and a half to two performances in my life, and only because I wanted to keep my students busy. So that they play the steak, not the side dish. After all, actors usually act as extras in the theater for ten years before waiting for normal roles. And I staged plays so my boys could grow. But I don’t put it that way – there’s no need. And the director has it. He can't sleep - that's what he wants to do. This is a special kind of brain - directing. And, probably, there must be some kind of predisposition. But I don't have it. And there wasn’t much time for that. I spent so much of my life on students - I was so carried away by them and was happy with my fate that I was not drawn anywhere else. And now it’s generally time to think about the eternal.”
Creation
Roles in the theater
Capital Theater "Sovremennik"
- “On the Day” by Maxim Gorkovy - Alyoshka
- “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” based on the play by Lev Ustinov and Oleg Tabakov – Thursday
- “The Princess and the Woodcutter”, based on the play by Galina Volchek and Margarita Mikaelyan - Tsar Father (1969)
- “From Evening to Noon” by Viktor Rozov - Albert
- “Bolsheviks” by Misha Shatrov – Telegraphist
- “Balalaikin and Co.” based on the play by Sergei Mikhalkov (based on M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin) - Balalaikin; Prudentov, clerk
- “Forever Alive” by Viktor Rozov - Misha
- Shakespeare's Twelfth Night - Feste, Olivia's Fool
- “And I’ll go! And I’ll go!” Yuri Karyakin (according to F. M. Dostoevsky) - Funny man
- “The Karamazovs and Hell” by Valery Fokin after Klimontovich on the themes of the late Dostoevsky - Damn
- “Don’t shoot snow-white swans” by Boris Vasiliev - Chairman of the Council
- “Weather for Tomorrow” by Misha Shatrov - Romanov, working car of Alexander Vampilov - Bazilsky
- “Colombina’s Apartment” by Lyudmila Petrushevskaya - Pierrot and other characters (1984)
- “And in the morning they woke up” by Vasily Shukshin - Sukhonky
- “The Cherry Orchard” by A.P. Chekhov - Gaev; Epikhodov
Chekhov Moscow Art Theater
- 1987 - “No. 13” by Ray Cooney. Director: Vladimir Mashkov - Richard Willey, Assistant to the Prime Minister
- 1992 - “A Lesson for Wives” based on the play by Moliere. Director: Misha Efremov - Arnolf
- 2004 - “Forest” by A. N. Ostrovsky. Director: Kirill Serebrennikov - Arkady Schastlivtsev
- “The Last Victim” by A. N. Ostrovsky - Dergachev, Dulchin’s companion
- "Tartuffe" by Moliere - Cleanthe, Orgon's brother-in-law
"Snuffbox"
- 1987 - “Crazy Jourdain” by M. A. Bulgakov. Directors: Oleg Tabakov, Avangard Leontiev - Jourdain
Theaters and personal enterprises
- 1994 - “Room in a hotel in the town of NN” based on the poem “Dead Souls” by N.V. Gogol. Director: Valery Fokin - Chichikov / Center named after Vs. Meyerhold (Municipal Prize of the Russian Federation, 1994; Prize of the International Theater Festival "Contact-1995", Torun, Poland)
- 2000 - “Boris Godunov” by A. S. Pushkin. Director: Declan Donnellan - Vasily Shuisky / MKTS
- 2000 - “Nudes Dress” by Luigi Pirandello. Director: Roman Kozak - Ludovico Notka / Theater named after. A. S. Pushkina
- 2006 — “Figaro. Actions of the 1st day" by Beaumarchais. Director: Kirill Serebrennikov - Bartolo / "Evgeny Mironov Theater Company"
Theater director
- 1987 - “Crazy Jourdain (Molierian)”, based on the plays of M. A. Bulgakov (together with O. Tabakov - “Snuff Box”
- 1989-1990 - “Proposals”, based on the plays by A. P. Chekhov and V. Sollogub - Chekhov Moscow Art Theater
- 1987 - “The Mechanical Piano” by A.P. Chekhov (assistant to director Nikita Mikhalkov) - Teatro Argentino, Rome
- 1988-1989 - “The Seagull” by A. P. Chekhov (assistant director A. S. Konchalovsky) - Odeon Theater - Theater of Europe, Paris
- 1999 - “Not everything is Maslenitsa for the cat” by A. N. Ostrovsky - “Snuffbox”
Filmography
- 1974 - Maigret and the Ancient Lady
- 1974 - Funny people!
- 1979 - A certain number of days in the life of I. I. Oblomov - Alekseev
- 1979 - Minor Disasters - Solomon
- 1980 - The Secret of Edwin Drood - Edwin Drood
- 1981 - Everything is the opposite
- 1981 - Transition - Aurel
- 1983 - Monsieur Lenoir, who... - Guillaume
- 1984 - Alone and without a weapon
- 1984 - The Limit of the Possible
- 1984 - The Parable of Tsar Saltan (cartoon) - text from the creator
- 1987 - The Journey of Monsieur Perrichon
- 1987 - teleplay from the series “This Mind-blowing World.” Issue 12 - defendant Persen
- 1987 - Black Eyes - bureaucrat in St. Petersburg
- 1989 - ST. Sleeping car
- 1990 - Parrot speaking Yiddish
- 1994 - Burnt by the Sun - lorry driver
- 1996 - Inspector - Bobchinsky, Dobchinsky
- 1999 - The Siberian Barber - Uncle Nikolai
- 2001 - Citizen Chief (episodes 14-15) - Ilya Ilyich Ogorodnikov, lawyer
- 2005 - Diva - Milady's Father
- 2005 - Yesenin - Lunacharsky
- 2005 - Adjutants of Love - Paul I
- 2006 — Park of the Russian period
- 2006 - Hero of our time - doctor
- 2007 - Russian Game - Psoy Stakhich Zamukhryshkin, fake bureaucrat
- 2007 - The Banker's Friend - Milady's Father
- 2011 - Diamond Hunters - Valentin Golovanov / Emmanuil Stern
- * 2014 - Sunstroke - Fakir
Cinema
Avangard Leontyev first appeared on screen in 1969, playing a small role in the film-play based on Griboedov’s comedy “Student”. For more than 10 years, he almost did not act in feature films, but often appeared in film-plays (both based on productions of the Sovremennik Theater and in independent television adaptations), including: “At the Lower Depths”, “Balalaikin and Co.” ", "Dombey and Son", "These are the stories", "Maigret and the old lady", "Forever Alive", "Ivan Fedorovich Shponka and his aunt", "Cousin Pons", "Twelfth Night".
The actor became famous after the main role in the four-part film-play based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”
In 1979, thanks to Oleg Tabakov, he met Nikita Mikhalkov and was cast in one of the main roles - Ivan Alekseevich Alekseev - in the film “A Few Days in the Life of Oblomov.” Subsequently he starred in Mikhalkov’s films: “Dark Eyes”, “Burnt by the Sun”, “The Barber of Siberia”.
Nikita Mikhalkov: “Garik Leontiev starred in my films - “Oblomov”, “Burnt by the Sun” and “The Barber of Siberia”. He helped me stage “The Mechanical Piano” at the Teatro Argentino in Rome with Marcello Mastroianni, ... was my guardian angel on the set of “Twelve Angry Men.” I asked him to monitor how the character of my hero develops, because, while controlling the entire site, it was myself that I could have missed. Garik is an ideal partner, an amazing comrade. He knows how to create an atmosphere and immerse the actor in it. He is unique - both from the point of view of his decency, and from the fearlessness of appearing funny, ridiculous, and from the point of view of his stunning explosive temperament, and in terms of the degree of depth. Garik is one of those people who are defined by Bunin’s phrase: “I am like air to you. You can’t live without it, but you don’t notice it.” He shows up when he’s absolutely needed.”
In one of Nikita Mikhalkov’s last works, “Sunstroke,” based on the story of the same name and Ivan Bunin’s diaries “Cursed Days,” the actor played the role of a magician. The film received the Golden Eagle 2015 award in the Best Film category.
Avangard Leontyev: “Nikita Mikhalkov is generally an ideal director for all actors. He is demanding, but at the same time very easy to work with. Because he can tell you. He, unlike most film directors who are used to doing everything on the fly, even organizes table rehearsals - like in the theater. And this process lasts for months - long before filming begins. The last time I starred with him was “Sunstroke” and again I simply admired him. In my opinion, it is possible to sell tickets for Mikhalkov on the set so that people can watch and enjoy how talented the person is at his work. With what passion he does everything, how he knows how to light up others. And no matter what they say about him, no matter how they treat him, no matter how they treat what he himself sometimes says, what he does on the set is absolutely amazing. And it’s a pleasure to work with him.”
Of course, the actor’s roles in the films deserve the audience’s attention: “Funny People” and “Little Tragedies” by Mikhail Schweitzer, “The Inspector General” and “The Fifth Corner” by Sergei Gazarov, “Citizen Chief” by Nikolai Dostal, “Russian Game” by Pavel Chukhrai, “Adjutants of Love” "by Mikhail Mokeev, "Park of the Soviet Period" by Yuli Gusman, "Yesenin" by Igor Zaitsev, "Primadonna" by Efim Reznikov, "Dostoevsky" by Vladimir Khotinenko, "Pechorin. Hero of Our Time" and "Diamond Hunters" directed by Alexander Kott and many others.
Among the films and performances with his participation are “Difficult People”, “Twenty Minutes with an Angel”, “The Karamazovs and Hell”, “Room in a Hotel in the City of NN”, “Three Comrades”, “N 13”, “Forest”.
"Adjutants of Love"
Avangard Leontyev himself considers one of the most interesting works to be his role in the historical and melodramatic series “Adjutants of Love,” where he had the opportunity to reincarnate as Emperor Paul I. This was his first experience in a “long-running” series. As Avangard Nikolaevich admits: “It’s unusual to work at such a speed, but they don’t refuse such roles...
I was very interested in working with this role. Before me (at least from what I saw), Pavel was always played as a half-crazed fanatic - somehow very antipathetic, tough and inaccessible. But it seemed to me that he was more of a sufferer, unjustly offended by his mother since childhood. That all his suspiciousness towards others is due to internal vulnerability. It’s not for nothing that he was nicknamed the Russian Hamlet abroad. Therefore, I played not so much an emperor, but a person with a very difficult fate and difficult character. And there is a scene with Alexander, whom my student Sasha Efimov played, when Pavel, on the night before the murder, comes to his son and asks him not to give in to the conspirators. So in this scene I had real tears flowing - I got so involved in it... In general, when Mikhail Mokeev offered me the role, I agreed immediately. He is a theater director, so for me it was a reliable support. Although, of course, the series is a very fast production. And you need to be able to pull yourself together instantly. But I was interested... Although I really love theater. And most of the time and effort, of course, was devoted to the theater. I love cinema too – it loves me less.”
The Edge of Talent
Avangard Leontiev is a master of sound literature. Even in his youth, the artist prepared solo programs directed by the outstanding reader, People's Artist of the USSR D. Zhuravlev: “Childhood” by M. Gorky, “Fazil Iskander. Stories”, “Sashka” by V. Kondratiev. In recent years, the actor has been performing with new programs: “A Collection of Sharp Words” (M. Lermontov, D. Samoilov, A. Tolstoy) (2012), “Masterpieces of Russian Prose” (L. Tolstoy, N. Leskov) (2013), “ Mighty Fun" (stories by I. Babel) (2014), "Privileges of the Female Sex" (stories by A. Chekhov) (2015). The premieres of these readings took place at the Moscow Art Theater as part of the series of Moscow Art Theater evenings “Characters.”
In 2009, the book “The Great Cultural Confrontation: A Book about Anna Gavrilovna Bovshek” was published, compiled by Avangard Leontiev.
On September 25, 2020, the actor took part in theatrical online readings of A. P. Chekhov’s works “Chekhov Lives.”
Leontiev believes: “This task - reading from the stage - is not easy. The performer needs partners. This is a living matter and depends not only on how you prepared, but also on who is sitting in the room.”
Interview
Avangard Leontiev about himself:
“I am happy with my life, although I am very often sad. But all people are sad, Paustovsky wrote that sadness is a very human quality, and not everyone gets to rejoice as I did.”
The actor most of all does not tolerate insincerity in people: “In my opinion, it is easier to be open. I have this peculiarity: I read faces and can understand quite a lot about a person just by looking at him.”
About faith:
“Although I am an atheist, I sincerely respect people who believe, but only truly - quietly, without scandal. Because they believe that they will win not in battle, but solely by personal example. But I didn’t have such an example. An ordinary Soviet family, all atheists. Even my grandmother, born in 1869, never went to church. But I respect any faith. If it’s easier for people to live this way, thank God. Moreover, there are such wonderful commandments that I also honor. But I completely agree with Professor Sergei Kapitsa, who once said: “I have one disagreement with the church ministers: they believe that God created man, and I believe that man is God.”
Based on materials from Wikipedia, websites: kino-teatr.ru, 7days.ru, peoples.ru, kinootziv.com, rusactors.ru, mxat.ru, smolgazeta.ru, as well as the TV channel “Culture”.
Personal life of Avangard Leontiev
Almost nothing is known about the personal life of Avangard Leontyev, and this despite the fact that the actor is very popular and regularly gives a large number of interviews to representatives of the media.
In the photo: actor, director Avangard Leontyev
Some sources often contain rumors that the artist is gay. At the same time, this information has never been confirmed, but there is a possibility that it is precisely because of this that he never seeks to talk with journalists about his personal life.
