Alexander Lazarev - senior

Childhood and youth

Evgeniy Nikolaevich Lazarev was born on March 31, 1937 in Minsk. The boy's father worked as a civil engineer, his mother, a textile college graduate, worked at a cartographic factory. Zhenya was left without a dad early - in the fall of 1939, 31-year-old Nikolai Lazarev died due to illness.

Actor Evgeny Lazarev (still from the series “The Investigation is Conducted by Experts”)

On June 28, 1941, Minsk was completely occupied by fascist troops. The future artist’s mother, an athlete and holder of the Voroshilov Shooter badge, was left to defend the city, and they tried to evacuate Zhenya himself, along with his aunt and grandmother. It was not possible to leave: the Germans turned the refugees back.

Throughout the occupation, the boy lived in Minsk and survived only thanks to the care of Aunt Musya, Maria Lisovskaya. She got a job, took care of her nephew, protected him and even tried to educate the child: twice during the war years, the Wife went to theater performances with her aunt

In 1944, the future actor went to school, and soon after that his mother, from whom Zhenya had been separated since the summer of 1941, found him. The woman took her son with her to the village of Blagoveshchenka in the Altai Territory - during this time she managed to get married, and her second husband lived in Siberia. The boy, who was very interested in theater and cinema, already dreamed of the stage and collected postcards with photographs of famous actors. He soon became the leading artist of school amateur performances and was in great demand in this role.

Evgeny Lazarev in his youth (still from the film “Long Day”)

However, after graduating from school with a gold medal, Evgeniy went to Moscow and entered the Moscow Aviation Institute. None of the adults supported the young man’s “theatrical” choice, and due to bureaucratic delays he had to act on a general basis. However, the future artist did not lose heart - he dreamed of studying in Moscow, and where exactly was no longer so important, especially since MAI was considered a very prestigious university.

However, the gifted student spent a year at a technical university and realized that it was impossible to betray his calling. After leaving MAI, Evgeny Lazarev entered the Moscow Art Theater School, taking the course of Viktor Stanitsyn, which he graduated from in 1959.

Death in spite of

During one of the bombings, little Zhenya almost died. He lived throughout the war under the care of his grandmother, not knowing whether his mother was alive. Mom returned to Minsk only after the end of the war and took her son to Siberia.

Having survived the war and the hard times of war, Eugene saw himself only in art - he wanted to bring joy to people, elevate them above the problems of everyday life, make them forget about personal tragedies and grievances at least for a while. After graduating from school, the young man went to Moscow.

In 1954, Evgeny Lazarev became a student at the Moscow Art Theater School. He studied on the course of Viktor Stanitsyn and was the head of the course. His classmates were Tatyana Lavrova, Anatoly Romashin, Vyacheslav Nevinny, Alla Pokrovskaya. Even when, after graduation, fate scattered them to different cities, they tried to maintain friendly relations and did not refuse each other communication.

After receiving an acting diploma, Evgeny Lazarev was assigned to the Riga Russian Drama Theater, then worked at the Mossovet and Mayakovsky theaters. He will be remembered by theater fans for his roles in productions:

• "Ocean";
• "Irkutsk history";
• "One year";
• "Medea";
• "Destruction";
• "Run";
• "Colleagues";
• “The Life of Klim Samgin”;
• "Madame Bovary."

In 1984 he moved to the theater on Malaya Bronnaya to the position of chief director. The theater at that time was going through difficult times - Anatoly Efros left it, and with him a dozen stars of the first magnitude. Some actors greeted the new chief with hostility, others with sycophancy.

Lazarev failed to establish a working relationship with the troupe. Having staged the performances “Soldiers Are Not Born”, “Whose Old Man Are You?”, “Crossroads” at Malaya Bronnaya, he returned to the Mossovet Theater. On its stage he staged the plays “In a Lively Place” and “Brothers and Lisa”. Since 1974, Evgeny Lazarev taught at GITIS, and in 1984 he became a professor at this educational institution.

Theater

Immediately after this, the young actor was enrolled in the troupe of the Riga Russian Drama Theater, but Evgeniy served there for only 2 years. In 1961 he moved to the Moscow Academic Theater. Mayakovsky, to whom he gave more than 20 years of his life. On his stage, Evgeniy Nikolaevich played many roles, both minor and major.

The actor played Jason from Euripides' Medea, Stanley Kowalski from the legendary A Streetcar Named Desire, and the white general Charnota from Bulgakov's Run. The theater has always been the main part of Evgeny Lazarev’s acting biography, and he played the most iconic roles not in front of the camera, but on stage.

Evgeny Lazarev in the role (still from the film-play “Dowry”)

In 1984, the artist moved to the position of chief director at the theater on Malaya Bronnaya, where he worked until 1987, staging the plays “Whose Are You, Old Man,” “Soldiers Are Not Born” and “Crossroads.” However, in 1988 he moved to a new place, to the Mossovet Theater, where he served until 2000, being both an actor and director.

Evgeniy Nikolaevich did not leave the theater, even when he left for the USA: on foreign stages he staged both Western plays and Chekhov's classics.

Born 03/31/1937, Minsk

Honored Artist of the RSFSR

Theater 50s - 80s

Evgeny Lazarev graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School in 1954. From 1959 to 1961, the actor served at the Riga Russian Drama Theater, and was involved in the plays “Irkutsk History” (Victor), “Ocean” (Chasovniko), “One Year” (Zhmakin).

Since 1961, Evgeny Lazarev moved to Moscow, to the Theater. Mayakovsky. He served on this stage for more than 20 years, playing many roles, including: Rasplyuev in the play “The Death of Tarelkin”, Metelitsa in the play “Destruction” by A. A. Fadeev, Podkhalyuzin in the play “Bankrupt, or Our People - We Will Be Numbered!” » based on the play by A. N. Ostrovsky, Charnot in the play “Running” based on the novel of the same name by M. A. Bulgakov, Stanley Kowalsky in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by T. Williams, Samokhvalov in the play “Colleagues” based on E. Braginsky and E. Ryazanov , Snub-nosed in “Energetic People” by V. M. Shukshin, Lyutov in the play “The Life of Klim Samgin” based on M. Gorky, Jason in “Medea” by Euripides.

Here, within the walls of the Mayakovsky Theater, Evgeny Lazavrev began his career as a director. He staged the plays “The Lizard” based on the play by A.M. Volodin, “The Third Rocket” based on V.V. Bykov, “...and the silver cord will break...” based on A.N. Kazantsev, “The Law of Wintering” based on B.L. Gorbatov.

In 1984, Evgeniy Nikolaevich moved to the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya, where he became the chief director. Under his leadership, performances were staged: “Whose are you, old man?” according to B. L. Vasiliev, “Soldiers are not born” according to K. M. Simonov, “Crossroads” according to F. A. Abramov. And in the late 80s, Evgeny Lazarev became an actor and director of the Mossovet Theater. Here he was busy in the plays: “Braking in the Sky” (Bareev), “Women’s Table in the Hunting Hall” (Bardin), “Mistakes of One Night” (Hardcastle), “Madame Bovary” (Charles Bovary), “Scandal? Scandal... Scandal! (Sir Peter), and also staged the plays “Dear Elena Sergeevna” (based on Razumovsky) and “On a Busy Place” (based on Ostrovsky)

Cinema 50s - 90s

Evgeny Lazarev began acting in films in the late 50s. His debut was the main role in the historical and biographical film “Vasily Surikov”. The actor managed to brilliantly embody on the screen the image of the great Russian artist, with his searches, doubts and triumph. Even decades later, this role is considered one of the best works of Evgeny Lazarev.

In the 60s - 80s, Evgeny Lazarev often played supporting roles. So in the famous TV series “Seventeen Moments of Spring” viewers saw him in the image of intelligence officer Emelyanov, in the television series “Day by Day” the actor played the artist Boris Permyakov, in the film adaptation of Tolstoy’s famous novel “Walking in Torment” - Prince Lobanov-Rostovsky. However, there were also main roles. So in 1976, he starred at the Moldova-film film studio in the historical and biographical film “On the Trail of the Wolf.” In this picture, which tells about the defeat of the Antonov rebellion during the Civil War, he created the image of the legendary brigade commander Grigory Ivanovich Kotovsky. The image turned out to be so vivid and convincing that four years later, at the same film studio, Evgeny Lazarev again appeared on the screen in the role of Kotovsky. This time he starred in the action-packed film “Big and Small War,” dedicated to the activities of another famous military leader, Mikhail Frunze.

Filmed a lot in the early 90s. In the crime-sports drama “Football Player,” Evgeny Lazarev played one of the main roles - the organizer of the underground betting ring Georgy Stanislavovich. He is also remembered from the films “Unexpected Visits.” )chairman of the executive committee Igor Evgenievich Sedykh), “Little things in life.” (Alexander Petrovich), “Meet me in Tahiti” (Bezukhy).

Emigration

In the 90s, Evgeny Lazarev went to work in the USA, in Los Angeles, and since 2000, together with his wife, actress of the Central Children's Theater Anna Obrucheva, he remained there permanently. The actor is survived by a daughter, son and granddaughter in Moscow. Since 2009, Evgeny Lazarev has been teaching a directing course at the University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts at USC.

Movie. New Age

Despite emigration, Evgeny Lazarev continues to periodically act in Russian films and TV series. In 2005, he took part in the filming of the famous Yulockbuster “The Turkish Gambit”, playing the role of the emperor. In 2014, Lazarev was invited by director Denis Bannikov to his film “Duel. Pushkin - Lermontov", staged in the genre of alternative history, where he played the role of Benckendorff. Igor BIN

Materials used: Network materials

Movies

As a film actor, Evgeny Lazarev was best remembered for his minor roles, and there were many of them. The role of the graduate of the Moscow Art Theater School was wide: his filmography includes the revolutionary Grigory Kotovsky from “The Big Little War” and the Latvian traitor from “The Battle after the Victory.” The artist’s small but striking role was the intelligence officer Emelyanov in “Seventeen Moments of Spring” - the same one who accompanied Stirlitz’s wife to meet her husband.

Evgeny Lazarev (still from the series “Seventeen Moments of Spring”)

After leaving for the USA, Evgeniy Nikolaevich, unlike many Russian actors who tried to break into Hollywood, was not left without work. Acting talent and colorful appearance provided the artist with the roles of Russian and foreign characters in iconic films and TV series. Russian actor Evgeny Lazarev starred in Iron Man 2, Alias ​​by J. J. Abrams, Baron of Arms and the cult TV series ER.

Despite living abroad, he did not stop acting in Russian cinema. Among the actor's roles in the 2000s are Emperor Alexander II in The Turkish Gambit and Alekhine from both parts of Lethal Force. Evgeniy Nikolaevich’s last film role was Count Alexander Benkendorf in the 2014 fantasy drama “Duel. Pushkin - Lermontov."

Emigration to the USA

During perestroika (the biography of actor Yevgeny Lazarev is a direct confirmation of this), his life was connected with America. In the 90s he emigrated to Los Angeles. Here he actively acts in films and TV series. He stages theatrical performances and begins teaching acting at theater schools and universities.

He often directs Chekhov and Bulgakov. In particular, “Uncle Vanya”, “The Seagull”, “Days of the Turbins”. He worked periodically in Mexico, where he was remembered for his directorial productions of the plays “Letters from Mozart” and “An Old-Fashioned Comedy.”

The biography of Evgeny Lazarev says that this man’s life throughout his entire career was connected with the film set. His talent was also in demand in Los Angeles. He played both in TV series and feature films.

Many may remember him from his participation in the popular American sitcom “ER.” In Hollywood films he often played Russian military commanders and state leaders.

In Phillip Noyce's spy thriller "The Saint" he played the role of Russian President Karpov, in Barry Simon's thriller "The Ice Runner" he played the head of the camp Nikolai Antonov, in Phil Aldan Robinson's action film "The Price of Fear" he played General Dubinin, in Andrew Niccol's crime thriller "Baron of Arms" " - General Dmitry Orlov.

Lazarev is also remembered by domestic audiences for his bright and memorable roles in American comedies and superhero action films. He played a plumber in Duplex, the Pope in Pink Panther 2, and Anton Vanko in Iron Man 2.

In the 2000s, Lazarev periodically lived and worked in Russia. At home he also continued to play in films and TV series. In the serial detective film by Alexander Rogozhkin “Deadly Force” he was remembered for the role of Alekhine, in the military detective story “The Turkish Gambit” by Dzhannik Fayziev he got used to the image of Emperor Alexander II.

Fans of computer games can hear his voice in the American shooter Call of Duty. He voices the character of Imran Zakhaev.

Personal life

In the personal life of Evgeny Lazarev there was room for only one woman - actress Anna Obrucheva. The romance between the artists began quickly - at the first meeting, which took place at work, the young people fell in love with each other. However, the work schedule turned out to be so busy that the next time Evgeniy and Anna saw each other was 3 months later, and not on a date, but on the set.

The romance turned out to be stormy; in April 1961, the actors got married and lived separately for some time. Later at the theater. Mayakovsky Evgeny and Anna even worked together - they played in Medea, he - Jason, she - his son. In 1970, the couple had a boy, Nikolai Evgenievich Lazarev, who later followed in the footsteps of his parents and became an actor. It is known that the family also has a daughter, Elena (she is mentioned in the chapter “Borya, it’s me” from Evgeniy Nikolaevich’s book “Chekhov’s Tea Cup”), prepared for publication.

Evgeny Lazarev and Anna Obrucheva with their son Nikolai / Nikolai Lazarev’s website

In the 1990s, Evgeniy Nikolaevich and his wife left for the USA. There were no problems with filming in a new place of life - the artist remained in demand in a foreign language and cultural environment. Moreover, his teaching skills also came in handy - since 2009, Evgeniy Nikolaevich taught at the School of Cinematic Arts of the University of Southern California.

According to the actor’s son, the decision to move to the United States was not rash, and he began filming and staging plays abroad before leaving. Initially, Evgeniy Nikolaevich went to America for heart treatment, and when he returned 1.5 months later, he learned that, despite a warning from the authorities at the Moscow Art Theater School, he was fired from his teaching position. True, Nikolai Lazarev admits that there could be additional reasons for the move.

Death

In 2020, a few weeks before his death, Evgeniy Nikolaevich and his wife returned to Russia with the intention of never returning to the United States. The actor wanted to be closer to the children, besides, Nikolai promised to place his father in the Vishnevsky hospital - due to his illness, he felt worse and worse.

The last role of Evgeny Lazarev (still from the film “Duel. Pushkin - Lermontov”)

However, the doctors were unable to save the artist, despite all their efforts. At the end of autumn, photos of the actor appeared in news feeds for a sad reason - on November 18, 2020, at 9 o’clock in the morning, Evgeny Lazarev died. The cause of death was cardiac arrest.

The actor is buried at the Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery, but there is no grave as such - the family crypt became the burial place.

A little about personal

The actor’s personal life was successful. His wife Anna Obrucheva gave birth to his son Nikolai in 1970. The boy followed in his father's footsteps. He became a People's Artist of Russia and plays in the Russian Army Theater. He made his debut on the big screen at the age of 10 in the comedy television play “A Simple Girl” by Alexander Belinsky. His last notable role was the priest Simon in the historical series “Catherine”.

In the last years of his life, Evgeny Lazarev increasingly began to spend long periods in Russia. In November 2020, he died in a military hospital in the Moscow region. He was 79 years old. I had been sick for a long time before this. Doctors named the cause of death as cardiac arrest. The actor was buried in Balashikha, in the family crypt.

Filmography

• 1959 — “Vasily Surikov”
• 1969 — “Crime and Punishment”
• 1972 - “Fight after victory”
• 1973 — “Seventeen Moments of Spring”
• 1980 — “The Big Little War”
• 1983 — “At the Dangerous Line”
• 1989 — “Lucky”
• 1997 — “Saint”
• 2001 — “Deadly Force”
• 2005 — “Arms Baron”
• 2003 — “Duplex”
• 2005 — “Turkish Gambit”
• 2009 — “The Pink Panther 2”
• 2010 — “Iron Man 2”
• 2014 — “Duel. Pushkin - Lermontov"

Film roles

Evgeny Lazarev was a notable actor on the Soviet screen.

He plays Doctor Zosimov in Lev Kulidzhanov’s drama “Crime and Punishment”, intelligence officer Emelyanov in Tatiana Lioznova’s serial war film “Seventeen Moments of Spring”, Prince Lobanov-Rostovsky in Vasily Ordynsky’s drama “Walking in Torment”, Masha’s father, Nikolai, in the lyrical comedy of Yuri Egorov “Fathers and Grandfathers”, Maximilian Voloshin in the biographical film by Villen Novak “It’s not always summer in Crimea”.