Biography of Boris Grachevsky
Grachevsky’s homeland is a town in the Moscow region. He was born there in 1949. Little Boris spent his entire childhood in Polushkino, near Moscow. It was here that his parents worked in the sanatorium of the same name. Mom worked as a librarian, and dad was responsible for cultural events. Already as a five-year-old boy, Boris Grachevsky (photo below) knew the taste of fame. Dad repeatedly involved him in various performances, which was extremely interesting to the boy.
Despite his obvious creative potential, Boris Grachevsky decided to connect his life with television at a more conscious age. So, after school, Grachevsky decided to master the profession of a turner. After graduating from his specialty, Boris Grachevsky decisively set out to serve in the Soviet army. After returning to civilian life, Grachevsky realized that the profession of a turner was not created for him at all. Then, thanks to his father’s connections, he was taken to Maxim Gorky’s film studio. It was from this moment that Boris Grachevsky plunged headlong into creativity.
Boris Grachevsky: “My wife is fighting with me”
Boris Grachevsky // Photo: Legion-Media
On the eve of the anniversary, on March 18, Boris Grachevsky will turn 70 years old, “StarHit” took him back to the past.
2001
WHAT MAKES YOUR HANDS GIVE UP?
It was: From indifference. When people don't care. There is such a category, I don’t want to point fingers...
Became: Envy! I know that fellow filmmakers hate me because I do some nonsense, but at the same time they recognize me everywhere. It's just that kids and adults love Jumble. The narrow-mindedness also upsets me; it’s disgusting when people pick at my underwear. The concept of “private life” has become no longer personal.
ARE YOU A CONSISTENT PERSON?
It was: 27 years, same home phone number. Well, several mobile numbers have been added. The wife doesn’t change, everything remains...
Became: Never say never. Once they reproached me: they say, Boris Yuryevich, they said that you won’t marry again. And now? Happily married for the third time. This is the way it turned out, how it turned out.
Grachevsky sometimes appears in film magazines himself // Photo: Personal archive
2002
BORIS YURIEVICH, ARE YOU A SPORTS PERSON?
Was: Only in theory. I tighten my brain so that it works better, and push it to give more ideas.
What happened: There was a period when I spent 3–4 hours in the gym every day. I swam in the pool, ran on the track, and lifted weights. But after turning 60, he underwent surgery on his leg and had to give up sports. I am grateful to my wife Katya, who takes care of my health. He fights to eat right. She cooks and calculates calories herself. I even carry boxes when I’m filming in the studio.
Ekaterina Belotserkovskaya is the screenwriter’s third wife // Photo: Legion-Media
2004
HOW DO YOU RAISING CHILDREN?
It happened: My wife jokes: the good things come from her, the bad things come from me. Sometimes I grumble: Ksyusha and Maxim rarely call, we see each other only on holidays... But when they were filming “While Everyone is Home,” they said how grateful they were for their childhood. I was shocked, my grievances went away.
It became: The elders have grown up! Now I am raising my daughter Vasilisa from my second marriage. She is 6 years old. I try to pamper, I give LOL dolls. The baby is sometimes capricious, like a normal aunt. But I don’t raise my voice to her. If I scream, my heart will break. For what?
Boris’s son is a businessman, his daughter works in a travel agency // Photo: Personal archive
2005
THEY SAY GRACHEVSKY USES FOLLOWING THINGS, COMPOSES VOID DITTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME DOESN'T LIKE THE LENINGRAD GROUP...
It was: I don’t accept public swearing. It becomes disgusting when people speak dirty. I spend a lot of time on stage and I think that you need to be polite with the audience. At the same time, I like dark humor.
Became: I can swear masterfully, but this requires a special, closed company. I just won’t use obscene language like that. There are exceptions, for example, cases when I tell a joke or ditty. The Leningrad group is at a higher level than just swearing. Their words hit hard, you even feel ashamed of the truth that Shnurov speaks. I have nothing against the fact that Sergei ended up on the cultural council. What's bad? I attended concerts several times and saw the powerful energy emanating from him and how skillfully he communicated with the audience. I think another 30 years will pass and swearing will become legal. We are the only country in the world where there are words that cannot be spoken. It should not be. For example, there is an ass, but there is no word.
More than 100 celebrities starred in “Jumble” // Photo: Legion-Media
Career: beginning
The first work at the film studio was not entirely creative. Initially, Boris Grachevsky worked in the prop department as a loader. This was followed by experience as a laborer as part of the Crime and Punishment project. At this moment, Grachevsky followed the filming with particular zeal. Then, in the same position, he worked on the set of the film “Barbara is Beautiful, Long Braid.”
The director saw with what ecstasy and enthusiasm Grachevsky watched everything that was happening, and decided to use it in the film. The first role was small - Grachevsky was put on a monster costume and tried to dive out of the water. After this experience, Grachevsky was invited to play cameo roles more than once. But despite the fact that Grachevsky was already slowly starting to act, his main activities were also washing floors, unloading props and other handyman concerns. It was that experience that helped Boris Grachevsky learn all the ins and outs of the filming process. After two years of such wanderings, Boris decided to enter VGIK in the direction of “Organization of Film Production.” Here he was noticed by Alexander Khmelik, the editor-in-chief of the new show “Yeralash” at that time.
The childhood of Boris Grachevsky
Borya was born in Moscow and after that he immediately went with his parents to Polushkino, a holiday home located in the Moscow region.
The boy’s parents lived and worked there: his mother worked in the library, his father was in charge of cultural events. Boris spent his childhood among vacationers. Many memories take him back to that time. Video course “Spring”
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This is how, as a very small boy, he fell in love with a four-year-old girl, the daughter of a washerwoman, and how he watched his father, who was a very cheerful man, work. His son called him “Holiday Man.” My father could answer any joke with three on the same topic. He literally rained them down left and right.
Already at the age of five, Borya began to help his father, participating in his concert numbers, and at the age of six the boy understood the taste of success.
Boris Grachevsky is the ideological inspirer of the magazine Yeralash. During his school years, Grachevsky was a leader among the courtyard children. He still remembers well how one day the children decided to go straight to school - across the river. It was autumn, and the ice was still very weak. Borya went first, the ice around him began to crack, but in order not to lose authority, he did not turn back, but lay down on his stomach and crawled across the river. None of the other guys decided to do this.
After school, he entered a technical school, where he learned to become a turner. Next came military service. Upon returning, the young man asked his father to get him a job on television or in the cinema. So he ended up at the Gorky Film Studio, working there as a loader.
The success of "Jumble"
After talking with Grachevsky once, Khmelik made him an offer to head a new project. It was under the leadership of Boris Grachevsky that “Yeralash” released its first issue and instantly captivated the entire Soviet audience. So, since 1974, every release of Yeralash was accompanied by the continuous supervision of the young director. Over the entire period of its existence, Grachevsky has released more than seven hundred mini-pictures on the television screen with the participation of talented and very charismatic children. At that time, unknown children took part in his films - Lazarev, Golovin, Stukov, Loye. It was Boris Grachevsky who revealed their potential and provided an excellent start to their careers.
Over the years, he created an ideal system for running a film magazine. Grachevsky always felt his actors very subtly and set them up for work. He was directly involved in the editing; as for the filming process, the director of the film magazine confidently delegated all the work to his wards. One of Grachevsky’s bright and interesting ideas was to attract already well-known media personalities to work in the magazine. Since then, Boris Grachevsky and Yeralash have been forever connected by strong threads.
The beginning of the career of Boris Grachevsky: from a loader to “Yeralash”
After working as a loader, he ended up in the prop department, and then he was hired as a laborer for the filming of “Crime and Punishment.” This way he was able to see the entire filming process closer. Later he ended up on the set of the film “Varvara the Beauty, Long Braid,” which was directed by Alexander Rowe. From then on, the film studio became Grachevsky’s second home; he practically never left it. During filming, he was ready to carry out any assignments.
Two months passed, and Rowe drew attention to his assistant, offering him a small role in the film. It consisted in the fact that Grachevsky, supposedly a monster living under water, stuck his hand out of the water and threatened it, saying: “You owe me!” The role was not the most enviable, since for filming it was necessary to lie near a trough and wave a hand wearing a special glove. Grachevsky believes that this was his most important role in life. Boris Grachevsky. One Hundred Questions for an AdultThe work at the studio lasted more than two years, Boris starred in episodes and washed the floor if necessary. He did absolutely any job, thanks to which over these two years he mastered several film professions.
Realizing that his entire future life would be connected exclusively with cinema, he entered VGIK, receiving a specialty in “Film Production Organization.” Thanks to Alexander Khmelik, the film magazine “Yeralash” appeared. It was 1974.
When he needed a director, he remembered Grachevsky, knowing him as a persistent organizer. Having made such a choice, he was right. The first issue was successful. To date, more than seven hundred stories have been published, and a lot of material has been filmed. The program has produced many stars.
Many people know Sasha Loye, Fyodor Stukov, Sergei Lazarev, Alexander Golovin, Yulia Volkova, Vlad Topalov. Boris Grachevsky is divorcing his young wife. Over the decades of leading a film magazine, Grachevsky has managed to fine-tune the work so that it clearly resembles the work of a good watch. Everyone knows what to do, rehearsals, castings, and filming are underway. Boris Yuryevich himself spends a lot of time at work, but is not present on the set. He has the right to be proud of the team and the film magazine as a whole.
A distinctive feature of “Jumble” was the participation of famous personalities in it: singers, actors, TV presenters. This tradition was invented by the director of a film magazine.
Grachevsky's film projects
2009 became a very important year for Boris Yuryevich. This year his first full-length film was born - a painting called “The Roof”. Five years later, Grachevsky shot another full-length film, “Between the Legs, or Tantric Symphony.” This picture has a peculiar overtone with a hint of sexuality. The film presents to the audience a story about deep feelings between a young provincial girl and an already fading composer. Boris Grachevsky chose Yanina Melekhova and Andrei Ilyin for the main roles.
Films of Boris Grachevsky
After the new artistic director of the television magazine “Yeralash” Boris Grachevsky became popular, he came up with an obsessive idea to make a film. There were already connections at that time, familiar actors, cameramen, etc. was quite enough, so Grachevsky began filming without hesitation. On May 31, 2009, the world learned about his debut directorial work - a full-length feature film called “The Roof”. In addition, not many people know that he is a co-author of the script for the film.
After success and the award received, Boris decides to make a second, but this time a short film with the interesting title “Important Conversation.”
First marriage
The personal life of Boris Grachevsky did not always receive such close attention. He met his first wife at the very beginning of his journey. He worked as a laborer, and she studied at a university in the capital. At first, Grachevsky was not at all attracted to the girl. Feelings flared up only after long and very persistent courtship on the part of the young man. So in 1970, Boris and Galina became spouses. During the first years, the young family had to huddle in one of the Moscow barracks. As soon as the wife became pregnant, it was decided to move into a communal apartment with Galina’s parents. It was here that the first-born of Boris Grachevsky was born. After the birth of their daughter Ksyusha, the Grachevskys lived in marriage for almost thirty-five years. Their breakup was a real blow for their daughter. Ksenia immediately stopped all communication with her father.
Grachevsky Boris - biography
Today, Grachevsky is the artistic director, director and director of the children's film magazine "Yeralash", the creator of several films, an assistant screenwriter in one of his masterpieces, has his own project called "Social Advertising", is considered a member of the cinematographic society "NIKA", in addition, He is rightfully an honored figure of culture and art; during his life he received several important awards - “Golden Aries”, “Golden Ostap”, which he received twice, and “Our New Children's Cinema”. You will learn more about his life below.
Second marriage
After the divorce, the personal life of Boris Grachevsky became one of the most discussed topics in the media. He was often seen at various events, accompanied by Anna Panasenko. The girl was almost forty years younger than Grachevsky, but despite this age difference, the lovers got married. A year later, a daughter was born into the new family. The girl was named Vasilisa. Less than two years later, this couple also broke up. The couple separated very loudly. Endless accusations and a lot of dirty words poured out of everyone's mouth.
Personal life of Boris Grachevsky
Boris's acquaintance with his first wife occurred during the period when the young man had to work as a loader. Galina did not immediately agree to date the man, but later she even married him. The newlyweds had to live very modestly: first a barracks, then a communal apartment for the wife’s parents, the birth of first a son, and then a daughter.
After joining the family, the couple borrowed money to buy their own apartment. It was difficult, but they overcame everything together, having lived for almost 35 years. However, such a long idyll ended at one point - the man decided to get a divorce. Everyone was shocked by the director's decision. The son has maintained a neutral relationship with Boris, but the daughter considers her father a traitor without communicating with him.
After a short period of bachelorhood, the director of Yeralash got married for the second time. His wife was young Anna Panasenko. The age difference between the spouses is almost forty years, but their family still welcomed a daughter in 2012.
A divorce followed in 2014, and in 2020 the elderly Grachevsky married for the third time.
Third marriage
In 2020, Boris Grachevsky decided to enter into a new relationship. His chosen one and future legal wife was Ekaterina Belotserkovskaya.
At the end of the year, the director presented his beloved with an expensive ring. And after a short amount of time, the lovers held a wedding celebration on the island of Mauritius. The couple live together to this day. They have no children. The age difference is thirty-five years.
Boris Grachevsky's wife - photo
For the first time after the wedding, Grachevsky and his wife lived in one of the barracks on the outskirts of Moscow. However, after learning about the pregnancy, they moved into the communal apartment of Galina’s parents. Some time later, their first child, Maxim, was born.
Then a daughter, Ksenia, was born. Divorce after such a long life together was very unexpected for all family, friends and relatives. And even Galina was shocked by the divorce announcement. Boris Grachevsky himself speaks about his wife with admiration in an interview. But he prefers to call his ex-wife a widow, because she believes that for her he no longer exists.
After such a separation, Grachevsky’s personal life was always under the close attention of fans. He lived alone for almost five years. However, in 2011, attention was attracted by the fact that Boris appeared at many events with his girlfriend Anna, who was 37 years younger than him. This didn't bother any of them. Their acquaintance occurred at the premiere of the film “Hipsters,” directed by Vladimir Todorovsky. Boris and Anna did not hide their feelings for each other. And soon Boris Grachevsky got a new wife. They had a modest wedding.
The biography of Grachevsky’s second wife is rich: from childhood she wrote poems and fairy tales, which became famous thanks to the Internet, studied to become a director in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Culture, then moved to Moscow and worked as an animator. The young wife became a muse for Boris. Soon they had a daughter, Vasilisa. However, this family lasted only three years. 2 years after the birth of their daughter, their marriage failed. The divorce of this couple was very popular. Grachevsky accused his wife of treason.
Friends of the family noted the fact that Grachevskaya, in an effort to build a career, attended various parties, which was reflected in the fact that she began to devote less and less time to her family. Anna accused him of divorcing her because of his jealousy. The girl wanted to build her own career. But she did not feel support from her husband. Therefore, the main reason for Anna’s divorce was that Grachevsky did not allow her to grow professionally. Boris was so angry with Anna and demanded that she not bear his last name. During the divorce, his wife demanded living space and maintenance for her little daughter. Thus, Grachevsky paid alimony and bought an apartment.
After such a high-profile breakup, Boris swore that he would never marry again. However, he did not keep his word. In 2020, the founder of Yeralash entered into a new relationship.
His protégé was actress Ekaterina, whom he met on the set of his second feature film. Soon he presented his beloved with an expensive ring. Boris Grachevsky and his wife got married in Mauritius. Today the couple live together. They didn't have children.
Interview
On Wednesday, July 18, at the “Creative Meetings” club at the Moscow Jewish Community Center, a meeting was held with Boris Grachevsky, Honored Artist of Russia, artistic director of the popular humorous film magazine “Yeralash”. At the end of the evening, Boris Yuryevich gave an interview to the correspondent of “ Jewish . ru ".
— Boris Yuryevich, do you plan to use Jewish characters and Jewish plots in “Jumble” in the future?
- No, and that’s absolutely accurate. Not now, not in the future. Yeralash is a spectacle for everyone. They say that Yeralash is a Jewish magazine. He is not Jewish at all, he has no nationality. Even the anti-Semites laugh... to our tune.
— What about the famous Jewish humor?
PHOTO: photographer Grigoriev V.
- And he is on his own. He doesn't care about anyone or anything. I can’t stand it when an idiotic story is told (speaks with a Jewish accent): “Abram pimped out to Sarah...”. Especially if the story is stupid and stupid. I don't like it. If there is a Jewish joke, then it must also contain Jewish philosophy. After all, there are a million such jokes.
— Don’t you involve Jewish children in roles?
- No. Casting... a popular Russian word... so, we conduct casting for absolutely everyone. Same. We register everyone, accept everyone. How can I explain to a child in the Ryazan region why the role was given to a Jewish candidate? This is not entirely good. Questions immediately arise: why is this so?..
— What else are you planning besides filming in Anapa?
“We’re already filming, and we’ll go back to work in September.” Now I’m going on tour to Crimea, then to England. I need a rest. I plan something all the time, I never sit still.
— Tell me, please, which line are you Jewish?
- In every way. I am a Jew from any side. My roots are from Vitebsk, Klintsy. My mother is Zharkovskaya, and I am Grachevsky after my father. So no matter where you spit, there are only Jews.
— Did this influence you in any way?
- Don't know. Maybe it had an impact, maybe not. Maybe nothing had any effect at all. One thing I can say for sure: it was my perseverance, my desire to work, my desire to do, to leave a mark on the earth. My wish is that people who smile when they see me continue to smile.
* * *
During the meeting, Grachevsky noted that he became the first Jewish turner in his family, having received the fourth category after graduating from the Kaliningrad Mechanical College. However, the future creator of Yeralash was brought to the Gorky Film Studio for the first time by his father, who got him a job as a loader. Boris Yuryevich presented to the audience new episodes of his film magazine that had not yet been released on the big screen, as well as a humorous video created together with Leonid Yakubovich and Arkady Inin. As the hero of the evening put it, this film collection contained “jokes for our own people,” like a miniature about Jews praying in a synagogue to the melody of the song “It’s time to hit the road...”.
