Biography
The Yankovsky surname is well known to cinema fans in the former USSR. First of all, she was glorified by the legendary actor Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky, who was the father of an equally talented and recognizable artist and director Philip Yankovsky.
Actor and director Philip Yankovsky
The latter not only acts in films himself, but also directs the creation of films that are very popular with television viewers.
Childhood and youth
Philip was born in October 1968 in Saratov. He grew up in a creative cinematic family, both parents were popular and sought-after actors, whom the future artist saw quite often on TV. Oleg Ivanovich and Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Zorina devoted most of their time to work and often took their young son with them to filming.
Philip Yankovsky in childhood with his father Oleg Yankovsky
The biography of Philip Yankovsky was already enriched at the age of 5 with his first role; he played the little boy Alexei in Andrei Tarkovsky’s film “Mirror”. It’s hard to call this a full-fledged film debut for the actor, since at such a young age he remembered little except the very feeling of involvement in the mystery of creating the film and the impression of the work of the great director. But it was from that moment that the little artist already intended to connect his life with cinema in one way or another.
When the time came to choose an educational institution, Philip, without hesitation, went to Moscow to enter the famous Moscow Art Theater School. Innate talent and upbringing in a family of actors played a significant role in passing the auditions; the exams were easy and relaxed for Yankovsky, his skills far exceeded those of other applicants. After enrollment, the student was sent to the course of the famous Oleg Tabakov, who had a huge influence on Philip’s future fate and career.
Philip Yankovsky in his youth with his parents
He established a close, trusting relationship with the course director. For the guy, Oleg Pavlovich became almost a second father, ready to support in difficult times and give invaluable advice. It was Tabakov who actually blessed Yankovsky to receive a second higher education as a film director, which Philip had dreamed of since childhood.
In 2009, a tragedy occurred in the Yankovsky family: Oleg Ivanovich died after a serious illness. This event was a real shock for Philip and unsettled him for a long time. To honor the memory of his father, Oleg Yankovsky’s son planned to publish a book with photographs from his personal archive and make a documentary film. It is unknown how the work on the printed edition is progressing, but the biographical film was released in 2016.
Vlad Stashevsky and Philip Yankovsky in their youth
Marina Neyolova and Alexander Zbruev, Naina Yeltsina and Mark Zakharov, Oleg Basilashvili and Inna Churikova, as well as older brother Rostislav Yankovsky shared their memories of the movie star.
Childhood
Philip Yankovsky, whose biography was rich in events from a very young age, as a child, spent a lot of time behind the scenes, watching his parents and their colleagues play. When the boy was 5 years old, he made his film debut. His first work was a role in the famous film by Andrei Tarkovsky “Mirror”. What little Philip saw on the set struck him to the core. In 1974, he had the opportunity to star in another film - the Norwegian-Soviet film “Under a Stone Sky”, demonstrating discipline and innate artistic talent that was rare for a child of such a young age. Again on the screens, Philip Yankovsky (biography, personal life, height and other information is presented below) appeared in 1986 in the film “Sentimental Journey to Potatoes.” This time the role was the main one, and the praise of his older comrades confirmed the young man’s intention to become an actor and continue his famous dynasty.
Movies
Having first appeared on screen in 1974 in the cult “Mirror”, Philip was inspired by the idea of becoming a film actor. His dream came true - in his 1st year at the institute, the young man was invited to play the main role in the film “Sentimental Journey to Potatoes.” He presented the image of a freshman who was sent from the city straight to the village for a seasonal training camp. The melodramatic picture reflected the difficult life and fate of the people around us and is relevant even today, despite the year of creation in 1986.
Philip Yankovsky made his debut in the film “Mirror”
The filmography of Philip Yankovsky was replenished with successful films year after year, but the film “The Bremen Town Musicians & Co”, which appeared on screens in 2000, brought him real popularity. Philip played Trudabur Jr., the central character of the film, who through his actions tries to earn the heart and hand of the Princess. It is noteworthy that the artist’s father took part in the film, who played Troubadour Sr.
In parallel with his acting career, Philip took his first steps in the field of director. He began by filming videos for many famous figures in Russian show business, while still a student at VGIK.
Philip Jankowski in the film "Musicians of Bremen & Co"
His services were in great demand and highly valued, which was noted by the serious Ovation award that Yankovsky received as the best music video director in 1997. These achievements gave the artist the opportunity to think about larger-scale projects.
In 2002, Yankovsky made his debut as a director of the melodramatic film “On the Move.” When filming the film, he used a truly stellar team: the famous Fyodor Bondarchuk was the producer and actor, and the main role was played by the talented artist Konstantin Khabensky. The film was received very favorably, and the director himself was awarded the title “Discovery of the Year” at the Nika festival in 2003.
Philip Yankovsky and Oleg Tabakov
The director’s next project became even larger-scale and high-budget: he filmed a film adaptation of the adventures of the popular detective Erast Fandorin from the series of books by Boris Akunin “State Councilor”. The cast was amazing with the number of big names. Among them are Oleg Menshikov, who played the role of the main character, Nikita Mikhalkov and Mikhail Efremov, Fyodor Bondarchuk and a number of others, including the director’s favorite teacher Oleg Tabakov.
Despite the significant differences between the film and the books, Yankovsky fully managed to convey the essence and atmosphere of the novels, creating a truly interesting and exciting movie. The film appeared on screens in 2005, and its box office receipts were twice its budget.
Philip Yankovsky with his father and Nikita Mikhalkov
Philip Yankovsky also showed his talent as a director in the fantasy thriller “Sword Bearer” and the film “Stone Head,” which is notable for Nikolai Valuev’s film debut.
Having filmed two more successful projects, Yankovsky returned to the film industry as an actor. For his solemn return to the profession, Philip chose the film of the highest quality: the historical film “Rasputin”, where the main role was played by the French actor Gerard Depardieu, and artists Vladimir Mashkov, Fanny Ardant, Anna Mikhalkova and others also shone. The actor appeared here in the image of Felix Yusupov. Yankovsky was often invited to act, but he preferred directing. But he couldn’t refuse the offer of his French colleague Jose Dayan.
Philip Yankovsky in the TV series "Rasputin"
Philip Yankovsky, whose filmography is not so often replenished with acting images due to his directorial activities, still pleased viewers with his participation in the series “Mysterious Passion”. Yulia Peresild, Alexey Morozov, Chulpan Khamatova and other actors under fictitious names play here poets and writers of the 60s.
At that time, in the neighboring pavilions, Pavel Lungin was filming the eldest of Philip’s children, Ivan Yankovsky, in the thriller “The Queen of Spades.” The young continuer of family traditions was awarded the Golden Eagle for his role as an opera singer.
Philip Yankovsky in the film “Mysterious Passion”
The prototype of Yankovsky’s hero in the film adaptation of Vasily Aksenov’s novel was Yevgeny Yevtushenko. The creators of the film did not pursue external similarity: the author of “Babi Yar” and the actor are similar only in height (Philip is 180 cm, Evgeniy is 177 cm) and thinness. The poet personally approved Yankovsky's candidacy when Konstantin Ernst informed him about the start of work on the film. The co-producer of the film was another “dynasty” person - Denis Evstigneev.
Upon completion of the project, Philip kept the pink shirt as a souvenir.
“Costume paintings, even from the recent past, are my special interest as an actor. My character had a lot of costume changes. The shirt is good. You always want to borrow something from filming, so to speak. You get used to some things.”
Philip Yankovsky in the detective story “Headhunters”
In the detective story “Headhunters”, based on the script by Valery Todorovsky, Yankovsky played a drug policeman in tandem with Elizaveta Boyarskaya. The heroes, each pursuing their own goals, meet a talented chemist who is developing a cure for cancer. The directors of the film took a risk and specifically invited the main role not of a brutal fighter, but of an actor with an appearance like something from the era of French cinema of the mid-20th century. And Philip was also interested in participating in a project that had no analogues in his life.
Yankovsky’s character in the series “Heteras of Major Sokolov,” the head of intelligence of a spy network, opposes the hero of Andrei Panin.
Philip Yankovsky in the series “Heteras of Major Sokolov”
The film was the last in the life of this artist and is dedicated to his memory. In the film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel "The Three Musketeers", carried out by Sergei Zhigunov, Philip played the role of the French king Louis XIII. On the set, he first encountered Vasily Livanov, who played Cardinal Richelieu, and spoke with delight about the “wonderful dramatic actor of the old school.”
Further creative activity
Having filmed several more successful projects, Philip decided to return to cinema as an actor. For his solemn return to the profession, Yankovsky chose a film of the highest quality - the historical film “Rasputin”. A popular French actor named Gerard Depardieu got the main role in it. In addition, other famous artists worked on the site, including:
- Anna Mikhalkova.
- Vladimir Mashkov.
- Fanny Ardant.
Philip Olegovich got the character of Felix Yusupov. It is noteworthy that Yankovsky was often invited to act in films, but he preferred directing. However, he could not refuse the offer of his colleague from France.
Due to his active directorial activities, Yankovsky’s filmography is rarely updated with new works. However, in 2020, he pleased admirers of his work with filming in the multi-part film “Mysterious Passion”. His partners were:
- Chulpan Khamatova.
- Yulia Peresild.
At the same time, in one of the neighboring pavilions, the filming of a thriller called “The Queen of Spades” took place, where one of the main roles went to Philip’s son Ivan. By the way, the latter was awarded the Golden Eagle award for his role as an opera performer.
In the film “Mysterious Passion,” Yevgeny Yevtushenko became the prototype of Yankovsky’s character. It should be noted that the creators did not pursue external similarity. The poet himself approved Philip for this role. The man left the pink shirt as a souvenir at the end of filming.
In the detective film “Headhunters,” the artist played a drug cop in a duet with Elizaveta Boyarskaya. The film's directors specifically offered the main role to an actor whose appearance resembles the era of French cinema of the mid-last century.
In the multi-part film “Heteras of Major Sokolov,” the hero of Yankovsky confronts the character of Andrei Panin. This painting was dedicated to the memory of the latter. Then, in Sergei Zhigunov’s film adaptation of the novel “The Three Musketeers,” Yankovsky appeared in the image of King Louis XIII of France.
Personal life
The personal life of Philip Yankovsky for over two decades has been associated with the name of one single woman, as is customary in the Yankovsky clan. As a creative person, Philip was looking for a life partner with the same character. According to the stories of friends, in his youth the artist, passionate either about his studies or about another stage idea, was rarely seen in the company of girls. In 1988, he met the aspiring Ukrainian actress Oksana Fandera. A romance began between the colleagues, which they sealed with marriage a year later.
Philip Yankovsky and Oksana Fandera
In 1990, the family’s first child, Ivan, was born, and 5 years later, a girl, Elizaveta. The son followed in the footsteps of his relatives and also acts in films. Lisa simply had no choice. The girl graduated from the Moscow International Film College, passed the competition at the Moscow Art Theater School and VGIK without any problems, chose the first university, and from there transferred to GITIS, to the directing department. She argued that she wanted to study in the same place as her brother. She made her debut as an actress with Avdotya Smirnova in the film “The Story of One Destination” about the life of the writer Leo Tolstoy.
Philip Yankovsky with his wife
Philip admits that he is very lucky with his wife, the couple get along well with each other and even after so many years they have retained the freshness of their feelings. Oksana started a page on Instagram, where she periodically publishes family photos. Yankovsky himself does not have accounts on social networks.
Philip Yankovsky with his wife and son Ivan Yankovsky
In 2016, the couple played the main roles in the war drama Brutus, dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. The film was selected by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts as an Oscar contender in the short film category. In 2018, the star couple became a finalist in the “Most Stylish in Russia” competition held by the tabloid Hello!, along with Elena Lyadova and Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Nadezhda Sysoeva and Ilya Bachurin. The victory went to showman Pavel Volya and his wife Laysan Utyasheva.
Lena Perova and Philip Yankovsky
The actor’s family serves as a model of loyalty in the creative environment. But there were some dramas here. Rumor has it that after his first directorial work in 2002, Philip became close to actress Lena Perova. Allegedly, at that moment the scandal in the family was smoothed over by father Oleg Yankovsky.
Studying at university
Philip Yankovsky, whose filmography currently includes more than a dozen titles, graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School, where he studied under Oleg Tabakov. Having received an acting diploma in 1990, the ambitious and handsome young man (height - 180 cm) did not calm down and decided to continue his education at the directing department of VGIK, in the workshop of V. Naumov. A year later he was invited to the film “Afghan Break”. His partners were Michele Placido, Tatyana Dogileva, Nina Ruslanova and other stars of Soviet cinema. According to critics, the film became the best work of filmmakers about the Afghan war. The role of Philip Yankovsky did not go unnoticed. He created a realistic image of the spoiled son of a high-ranking military man who arrived at the war in order to receive a couple of awards and purchase scarce goods.
Disease
At the beginning of autumn 2020, the press reported that Philip Yankovsky had cancer. The artist struggled with cancer for many years. Philip’s tumor was first noticed in 2009. Doctors discovered he had follicular lymphoma.
In 2014, Yankovsky Jr.’s health deteriorated sharply, and he was hospitalized with category III A lymphoma. After chemotherapy, a partial remission began, which inspired optimism, and the actor left for Israel to restore his health.
Philip Yankovsky denied rumors about the disease
Later in an interview, the actor denied this disease. According to him, it was a hematological disease; now his health condition does not cause concern.
The death of a father and the fight against cancer: the trials of Philip Yankovsky
Philip Yankovsky
Philip Yankovsky was accustomed to the close attention of the public, because he grew up in a family of famous actors. The son of “the same Munchausen” had no doubts about his choice of profession: the world of cinema captured him from childhood. Philip dreamed of not only playing on stage and shining on the big screen, but also creating his own films.
Did he only inherit his father's talent? By a fateful coincidence, soon after the death of Oleg Yankovsky from cancer, his son was also diagnosed with cancer. Several years passed for Philip in a silent struggle with the disease: he did not want to share personal problems with fans, and only the artist’s relatives knew the details of the treatment.
That terrible time is behind us, and today Philip Yankovsky turns 51. He overcame the disease and seemed to have returned to life again. However, success would not have been possible without the support of the actor’s wife Oksana Fandera, who has been caring for him for 30 years.
ON SCREEN AND BEHIND THE SCREEN
Philip Yankovsky first went on set at the age of four.
Philip was born in Saratov in the creative family of actors Oleg Yankovsky and Lyudmila Zorina. The parents devoted a lot of time to their careers and often took their son with them to work. It is not surprising that the boy began acting from a young age. The child’s first role was the character of Alyosha in “Mirror”, where Margarita Terekhova became his colleague on the set.
“I was only four years old, it’s difficult to recall something in my memory. Margarita Borisovna played my mother there,” Philip Yankovsky shared with StarHit. “She is a very warm person, she was attentive to me, I remember her reverent attitude and bright maternal spirit. I really believed that she was my mother, she was so accurately reincarnated.”
Inspired by the world of cinema, Philip, after completing his secondary education, entered the Moscow Art Theater School on Oleg Tabakov’s course. The actor developed a trusting relationship with the master. It was Tabakov who approved the artist’s idea of receiving a second director’s diploma.
“Oleg Pavlovich was an amazing teacher, a man obsessed with his profession. And, of course, he cultivated this in us,” noted Yankovsky. “I took more from him for my profession than from my dad.” Dad is dad, he certainly helped with some advice, he is also my teacher, but not to the same extent as Oleg Pavlovich.”
Philip Yankovsky played Yusupov in Rasputin
Already in his first year, Philip was invited to play the main role in the film “Sentimental Journey to Potatoes.” This was followed by several more films, but the character of Troubadour Jr. from the film “Musicians of Bremen & Co” brought real popularity to the actor. His dad then became the artist’s partner on the set.
At the same time, Philip developed his career as a director, starting with filming music videos. The talent of the music video director was highly appreciated not only by customers, but also by critics: in 1997 he received the Ovation Award. Such success made Yankovsky think about larger-scale projects. In 2002, he presented the audience with his debut film “On the Move” with Konstantin Khabensky in the title role, and then directed “State Councilor” based on the book by Boris Akunin. The box office receipts of the film about Erast Fandorin exceeded the spent budget twice.
The character of Philip Yankovsky in the series “Heteras of Major Sokolov” confronts the hero of Andrei Panin
Yankovsky made two more films - “The Sword Bearer” and “Stone Head” - and again returned to work as an actor. Thus, Philip played the role of Felix Yusupov in “Rasputin”, appeared in the drama “Heteras of Major Sokolov” and the series “Mysterious Passion”.
“The illness did not change him”: friends talked about the last days of Oleg Yankovsky
Both the personal and creative life of the director were largely influenced by the family tragedy. In 2009, after a long battle with cancer, Oleg Yankovsky died. This event unsettled Philip; seven years later he expressed his pain in the film “Yankovsky,” in which colleagues and friends talked about what the legendary actor was really like.
FAMILY
In 2015, Philip Yankovsky celebrated his silver wedding with his wife
Like his famous father, Philip Yankovsky was of the opinion that there should be only one marriage in life. And so it happened - for 30 years now there has been a place in the artist’s life only for Oksana Fandera. He met the actress in 1988 and immediately realized that he had found the girl of his dreams.
“By the time I met Philip, I was 20 years old. On his part, I felt a pathological curiosity about my figure. My sociability, openness, frankness, smile, laughter are not always adequately appreciated. Philip is very reserved, so even if he has some moments of dissatisfaction, he in no way shows it. Maybe that’s what bought me,” Fandera suggested.
In 1990, the lovers got married, and soon their first-born Ivan was born. The baby was born premature, weighing just over two kilograms. He was nursed in intensive care for a couple of months. Fortunately, the child grew up healthy. In 1995, he had a sister, Lisa.
Oksana Fandera revealed the secret of her marriage to Philip Yankovsky
Together, the couple solved the problems of their children, worked on film projects, and endured misfortunes. Oksana was there when Philip’s dad died, and then the man who became his second father, Oleg Tabakov. In both sorrow and joy, harmony reigned in the relationship between Oksana and Yankovsky.
“The secret is mutual trust. I never torment Philip with jealousy or suspicion. I don’t sort things out, I don’t dictate my terms, I don’t give ultimatums, understanding that a creative person should be free,” Fandera assured.
Ivan Yankovsky has already been awarded the Golden Eagle
In addition, the actress never quarrels with her husband if he does not give her roles in creative projects. “I clearly understand: if the director doesn’t offer it, it means he simply doesn’t see me there. And, to be honest, Philip, with great reluctance, so it seemed, took me into his paintings. It so happened that every time I rescued either him or the actress. But I must say: working with him is a special pleasure. And as with a director - he always knows exactly what result he needs - and as with an actor - he is a wonderful artist and a subtle, very delicate partner,” Oksana admitted.
The couple are proud of the children who followed in their footsteps. Ivan Yankovsky is already called one of the most talented actors of the young generation. The guy played his first leading role in the thriller “Indigo”; in addition, he actively plays in the theater. Daughter Lisa is interested not only in the stage, but also in directing.
“Lisa is an amazing, unique in some sense combination of the incongruous, external and internal. She falls outside the scope of all roles - despite the appearance of an absolutely lyrical heroine, she has a completely rebellious, characteristic, so to speak, content. Thank God, now the time has come when this has become worth its weight in gold,” concluded the girl’s mother.
FIGHT CANCER
In the photo with Ksenia Sobchak, Philip Yankovsky looks thinner
Oleg Yankovsky passed away at 65 due to pancreatic cancer. Cancer did not spare his son either. Even 10 years ago, rumors appeared that Philip was diagnosed with a tumor. However, the artist did not immediately seek medical help. In 2014, during an examination, doctors discovered the star had follicular lymphoma in the third stage.
Philip Yankovsky about oncology: “Everything is in the past”
A similar disease affects the cells of the spleen, larynx, and tonsils, but with the right approach it is curable. The artist underwent chemotherapy and went to Israel for rehabilitation, after which the cancer subsided.
"Everything is fine. Thank you very much to all those who were worried and worried. Everything is in the past. We live, we work,” Yankovsky told StarHit three years ago.
Oksana Fandera was next to the director during the difficult time of fighting the disease
Despite the optimistic statement, Philip still gave fans a new reason for concern. The director rarely appeared in public, as he was too busy with creativity, and this summer Ksenia Sobchak hinted that she was preparing a joint project with him. The presenter shared a photo with Yankovsky on the microblog, and users noted that he looked thin and emaciated. "I did not recognize. It's a pity. Recently, many famous people have been upset by their appearance. It is not known what is behind this: weakness, illness, promiscuity, hopelessness?” - commentators wondered.
Philip Yankovsky has changed beyond recognition after his battle with cancer
The majority of Ksenia’s subscribers concluded that the artist’s thinness is an inevitable consequence of a long battle with cancer. Some users even feared that the remission stage had ended and the director was unwell again. However, neither the presenter nor Yankovsky commented on the speculation.
Philip’s wife helped dispel fans’ doubts by publishing several pictures of him. “Thin, but happy. No, Philip Olegovich is not sick, it’s clear that everything is fine with him,” noted some of the actress’s subscribers.
Indeed, is it possible to be unhappy when you have been with your faithful and caring chosen one for 30 years? "What is love? This is generally a dumb question. I think that he confuses many people, while others begin to read poetry,” reasoned Philip Yankovsky. “I’ve been lucky in my life; I have a deep, long-lasting love with my wife.”
Based on materials from KP, The Hollywood Reporter, Vokrug TV, PTZh.
Photo: Vadim Tarakanov / Legion-Media, still from the film “Mirror”, still from the TV series “Rasputin”, “Heteras of Major Sokolov”, Instagram
Philip Yankovsky now
In 2018, Philip Yankovsky began filming the drama by Gleb Panfilov based on the works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn. The film is called “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.” The actor received the main role of political prisoner Ivan Shukhov, who spent 10 years in Stalin’s dungeons.
If the book described one day in the life of a prisoner, then Panfilov set the goal of telling about the events that preceded this, which led the hero to the camp. The release of the film is timed to coincide with Victory Day in 2020.
Philip Yankovsky on the set of the film “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” in 2020
The premiere of the fantasy film “We” is planned for the end of 2020 - beginning of 2020, which is based on the novel of the same name by Evgeny Zamyatin. Yankovsky’s partners in the film about a post-apocalyptic future, where people have no names, but only digital codes, were Elena Podkaminskaya, Egor Koreshkov and Yuri Kolokolnikov.
