Childhood
Little Tolya was born on the eve of the new year, 1931 - December 31 (in some sources - the 30th) 1930 in an intelligent Moscow family. His dad, although trained as an accountant, was a famous opera performer. Mom, as Kuznetsov later said, had an innate acting talent, which she was never able to realize professionally. Mom worked as a nurse. Boris Kuznetsov (father) worked in front-line ensembles during wartime. And Tolik and his mother were in Kuibyshev - in evacuation. It was there that the future actor learned to knit mittens for Soviet soldiers.
After the end of the war, the elder Kuznetsov became part of the Bolshoi Theater opera troupe and decided to seriously engage in his son’s musical education. The boy inherited good hearing and voice from his father, so his parents sent him to a music school for the vocal department.
Childhood and youth
Vera Kuznetsova's maiden name is Sdobnikova. The future actress was born in the city of Saratov on October 6, 1907. There were five children in the Sdobnikov family. Vera Andreevna's father worked as an icon painter and later as a master decorator in local theaters. The mother took care of the house and raising the children. In 1918, the mother of the future actress died, and the children were left in the care of their father.
Vera Kuznetsova in her youth
Vera Kuznetsova’s passion for theater came during her school years, and already in 1923 the girl began studying acting at the Saratov theater studio. In 1925, Vera's father died. That same year, after graduating from school, the girl went to St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) to visit her sister. In a new place, Vera Andreevna entered the theater studio of the Leningrad Proletkult, and three years later she first appeared on the theater stage as a full-fledged actress.
Mikhail Artemyevich Kuznetsov was born in the winter of 1918 in Noginsk (then Bogorodsk) near Moscow. The childhood of the future people's artist was darkened by the death of his father. Mikhail’s mother moved with her little son closer to her family, to the village of Tikhoretskaya on the Don. In the village, Misha went to school, where he became interested in amateur activities. In the 1930s, the Kuznetsovs returned to the capital.
Actor Mikhail Kuznetsov
The teenager was in high school, helped his mother, and played football with the neighbor kids in the yard. Mikhail differed from his peers except in his love for the stage. Once in the auditorium of the Maly Theater, he disconnected from the bustle and the whole world: Kuznetsov saw and heard only what was happening on the theater stage. Getting on stage was the young man’s dream, but he, the only man in the family, understood that it was necessary to help his mother.
Mikhail Kuznetsov in his youth
Therefore, Mikhail Kuznetsov learned to be a turner and went to the factory. But, standing near the machine, the guy dreamed of the theater, the scenery, and “heard” applause. In the mid-1930s, factory worker Mikhail Kuznetsov learned that the legend of the theatrical world, Konstantin Stanislavsky, had opened a studio in which young actors would study according to his system. Mikhail did not miss the chance and passed the first rounds of selection.
All that remained was to overcome the last obstacle on the path to the dream - to pass the audition, but the exam was scheduled in the middle of the working day. Kuznetsov found a way out: he spilled acid on his hand and ended up in the first-aid post. As soon as the nurse bandaged his hand, Mikhail rushed to the audition. Stanislavsky listened to Truffaldino's monologue with pleasure and gave the Muscovite a chance to become an actor. In 1941, Mikhail Kuznetsov received a diploma from the drama department of the State Studio named after K. S. Stanislavsky.
Students
This is how Anatoly Kuznetsov would continue his studies. His biography changed dramatically thanks to his stage acting teacher, who saw remarkable acting abilities in the young man and advised him not to lose them.
It was by taking her advice that in 1951 the future actor submitted documents to “Pike” and the Moscow Art Theater, having successfully completed all rounds of both educational institutions. Having listened to the words of his relative - cousin Mikhail Kuznetsov - he chooses the Moscow Art Theater. His classmates were Irina Skobtseva, Leonid Bronevoy, Galina Volchek and others. By the way, Anatoly never had to use his vocal abilities. In films, he sang in only two films - “Brother” and “An Incident at the Mine.” Kuznetsov later said that his own self-criticism prevented him from asking for more vocal parts.
Long life in cinema
Despite the refusals of some roles, Anatoly Kuznetsov, whose filmography increased annually by a dozen or two films, was always in demand. The seventies were marked by 22 works. Among them:
- worker from “On the Way to Lenin”;
- the general from The Stolen Train;
- Roshchin from The Return of the Boat;
- Vesnin from “Hot Snow”;
- Lyapkin-Tyapkin from “Incognito from St. Petersburg”;
- Ryabinin from “The Dove”;
- and another dozen and a half no less memorable roles.
Since the 80s, Anatoly Borisovich Kuznetsov has starred in fifty feature films. I was pleased with some of my works, not so much with others. He passed away on March 7, 2014, a beloved and revered film actor.
First roles
But external data and stage charm led to the fact that, as a third-year student, Anatoly Kuznetsov starred in the film “Dangerous Paths”. The role was small, there were not enough words, but this is what marked the beginning of Kuznetsov’s cinematic career. And this was against the backdrop of the fact that everyone knew about the recommendation for Moscow Art Theater students not to act in films. But everything went more than successfully and the young actor was invited to the next filming - the films “Guest from Kuban”, “Behind the Window of a Department Store”, “The Tale of the Newlyweds”, “Give me a Book of Complaints”... He filmed so much that he had to cancel the assignment in the regional Theatre of Drama. Actor Anatoly Kuznetsov at that time simultaneously participated in the filming of three films.
Directors at the beginning of Kuznetsov’s career were attracted to his Slavic appearance, blue eyes, and open smile. The young man was an ideal candidate for the role of “good guys.” And the director’s time was immediately saved, because there was no need to prove why they sigh for such a boy, yearn for him, why they follow him. Much of what Kuznetsov created a decade later, in the sixties, was a direct continuation of what he had done earlier, in the fifties.
Abroad
The film “White Sun of the Desert” seemed to lift the iron curtain, such was the genuine interest of foreign viewers in it. And along with the film, our hero often traveled around the country. As the artist himself admitted, it was interesting for him to watch himself speaking in French, Japanese, or Spanish.
Anatoly Kuznetsov visited ten African countries, not counting Europe, and even visited Mexico and Japan. And for some reason, the image of Fyodor Sukhov was perceived by all peoples very close to their hearts. Apparently, his masculine charisma has become international.
And in one of the eastern countries a funny situation happened. Before showing the film to a wide audience, people from government agencies got acquainted with the film. One of them was dissatisfied with the picture. How can this be: he has only two wives in his harem, and some Soviet soldier has as many as nine of them.
And Sukhov added one more aspect to Kuznetsov’s acting life. The artist was invited to act in films by foreign directors. The result of this collaboration was three films: in 1976, the Soviet-Bulgarian “Brother” and the Soviet-Czechoslovakian “One Piece of Silver”, in 1979 - “Gordubal”.
The same Sukhov
Anatoly Kuznetsov himself was sure that the role of Lenka the Uninvited in the film “Wait for Letters” was a turning point for him. After this role, one could notice that even the actor’s appearance underwent some changes - his face no longer had the neutral charm of a movie hero, and his shoulders seemed to have become wider. Now his own unique features have appeared in him.
Anatoly Kuznetsov, whose films have been watched by several generations of television viewers, has firmly established himself in the role of a positive hero. Over the years, the images of young boys were replaced by the roles of military men. At first, the actor was pleased, but over time he decided to go beyond his usual role. He even refused the offer to star in Ryazanov’s own film. The director offered the actor one of the roles in the film “Beware of the Car.” The reason for the refusal was a disagreement: Anatoly Borisovich wanted to play Detochkin, and Eldar Ryazanov saw him in the image of Podberezovik. But fate decreed otherwise - the role of the military man became stellar for Kuznetsov.
Many actors then auditioned for the role of Sukhov. Two reached the finals: Georgy Yumatov and Anatoly Kuznetsov. The first one was approved, but he got into a fight the day before and “was left without a face.” It was impossible to reschedule the work due to the high cost of the process. Motyl called Kuznetsov. He dropped everything and came to filming.
Without Kuznetsov, the film “White Sun of the Desert” would have become something of a swashbuckling western. Perhaps even the season's box office would have been disrupted. But this picture would never have become so beloved by viewers of different ages and would not have generated the desire to watch it endlessly. The actor convincingly showed that he can play with style.
Return
And suddenly, having lived in America for 18 years, Alexander began an epic journey of... returning to his homeland. The role of Jack Vosmerkin became prophetic for him.
He already lived mainly in Moscow. But I still flew to Hollywood for work. Although in Russia they began to actively invite him to filming. Performances appeared at the Film Actor Theater. Kuznetsov founded an international film school, launched a reality show, conducted trainings, and taught at the Moscow Art Theater School. I was also involved in business... It feels like I was in a hurry. I wanted to make the most of it. Even though the return home was forced: business near Nizhny Novgorod, divorce in the USA, mother’s illness in Moscow...
In the film "Capercaillie-2". 2009 Still from the film
Maybe he took on an unbearable burden? How else can we perceive the blatant injustice that a bright, kind man, a strong, healthy man who went in for sports, yoga and tango, ended his earthly journey at 59 years old?
After all, there was a beloved woman ( Kristina Tatarenkova from the advertising business). And, it seems, he was happy. Seven and a half years...
At some point, having returned to Moscow, Kuznetsov thought about returning to Rutberg ( she had difficulties Anatoly Lobotsky “I thought that I would hardly meet a better woman... I tested the waters very carefully, but it was not possible to enter the same river a second time.”
In 2012, he admitted that he was preparing for his wedding with Christina. That same year, Grisha's son gave birth to his first grandson... Everything went on as usual. Maybe even better than many.
Alexander Kuznetsov with Kristina Tatarenkova, 2020. Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Belousov
About personal...
Kuznetsov met his only wife while still a student. Then they went to visit a fellow student, Galina Volchek. This marriage was very happy. In 1974, Anatoly Kuznetsov and Alexandra Lyapidevskaya had a daughter, Irina, who later gave her parents a grandson.
The couple lived a long life, until March 7, 2014, when Kuznetsov passed away. His widow is sure that unscrupulous doctors drove her husband to actual suicide. The clinic was nomenklatura, the equipment was quite good, but the doctors...
Kuznetsov had an ordinary polyp that could have been removed with a gentle operation, but doctors assured the elderly actor that he had cancer. He underwent a fairly serious operation and underwent a course of radiation therapy, after which his health was severely compromised. And only after a full examination at the Botkin hospital it turned out that it was not oncology. But there was no more time and health...
That day, March 7, he sent his wife to pay utility bills. And I took several Micardis tablets. His blood pressure dropped very significantly. My heart weakened. Alexandra spent several hours with her husband and then went home. In the evening, Anatoly Kuznetsov passed away...
Death
Vera Andreevna died on December 1, 1994. The actress was buried in St. Petersburg at the Bolsheokhtinskoye cemetery.
Grave of Vera Kuznetsova and her husband
The death of Vera Kuznetsova was a blow to fans, but the legacy from the actress was films filled with talented acting, as well as the real warmth and wisdom of this woman.
In April 1985, the artist’s wife, Victoria Kuznetsova (Germanova), died. Mikhail Kuznetsov survived his wife by a year - he died of a heart attack in August 1986.
The grave of Mikhail Kuznetsov
The actor was buried next to his wife at the Vvedensky cemetery.
First namesake
Speaking about Anatoly Borisovich Kuznetsov, whom millions of TV viewers of different ages know, one cannot help but recall his almost complete namesake. Kuznetsov Anatoly Ivanovich was also an actor. Unfortunately, he is known much less. He was an artist of only one theater - “New”, which in 1953 was renamed the Leningrad Theater. Lensovet. Here he managed to reveal himself both as an actor and as a director, staging many magnificent performances. His wife, Vera Kuznetsova, played in almost all of them. This amazingly talented actress with incredibly kind eyes is known for her roles in “Two Captains” (1976) - Nina Kapitonovna, “Dagger” - Maria Gavrilovna Terentyeva, “Big Family” - Agafya Karpovna Zhurbina.
The couple lived together for 27 years, until the death of Anatoly Ivanovich. The family had two sons - Vsevolod and Yuri.
His last film work was a small role as a shoe store director in the popular comedy “We Met Somewhere...”, in which the famous Arkady Raikin shone. Anatoly Ivanovich died very early, at only 49 years old, leaving his descendants many diverse roles in theater and cinema.
Theater
The Proletkult organization, like other creative associations of that time, was disbanded in 1932. A year later, director Isaac Kroll created the New Theater, in which he invited Vera Kuznetsova to serve. The first performance of the renewed theater and group was “Mad Money,” based on Ostrovsky’s play of the same name.
Vera Kuznetsova in the play “Field Marshal Kutuzov”
In 1937, Boris Sushkevich became the main director of the “New Theater”, with whose arrival a new milestone in creative development came for the theater. Being both a director and a talented teacher, Boris Mikhailovich made efforts to train real acting professionals from beginning actors. Sushkevich instilled the Moscow Art Theater traditions in the actors of “New”, bringing the level of their work to a higher level.
Vera Kuznetsova played at the New Theater
In 1938, Vera Andreevna played in the play “Bourgeois”, in 1939 there was “Happy Day” based on Ostrovsky. The year 1940 was marked for members of the troupe with long tours of the Far East. The news of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War found the team in the city of Khabarovsk. It was decided to leave the actors in the Far East. Members of the troupe performed for naval crews, labor brigades and border guards. Three years later, the team was transferred to the Urals.
Vera Kuznetsova in the fairy tale “Shoes with golden buckles”
Despite the difficult war conditions, the actors found the strength not only to play memorized roles, but also to constantly work on new productions, expanding their repertoire. The collection of Vera Kuznetsova's roles gradually expanded. In the play “Russian People” based on Simonov, Vera Andreevna played Valya, then appeared on stage in the image of Princess Tugoukhovskaya in “Woe from Wit”. In 1944, Vera Kuznetsova was included in the front-line brigade - the actress performed right on the front line, raising the morale of the military.
Vera Kuznetsova in recent years
In 1945, after the war, the New Theater troupe returned to Leningrad. Boris Sushkevich died, leaving the theater in the care of director Galina Korotkevich. In 1951, the theater will again change its director, this time Nikolai Akimov will become the main director. Over the years, Vera Kuznetsova will play in the plays “At the Lower Depths” and “The Last” based on Gorky, “Youth of the Fathers” based on the play by Gorbatov and many others. However, despite the respect of her colleagues and the love of theatergoers, Vera Kuznetsova’s real fame came from filming.
Second namesake
There was another almost complete namesake - the writer Anatoly Kuznetsov. "Babi Yar" - his novel-document - in the sixties became, perhaps, one of the most significant events in Soviet literature. The novel is based on notes that the future writer kept since childhood, memorizing and trying to take notes on everything that happened to him in occupied Kyiv.
But if in the sixties the novel was published in a rather abbreviated form - censorship cut out a lot, then in 1991, when the half-century anniversary of those terrible events was celebrated, Babi Yar was published in its entirety for the first time in the USSR.
So, three Anatoly Kuznetsovs, three completely different people, three destinies. They have one thing in common: they are all talented and unique.
