Actor Sergei Varchuk: biography, personal life, roles

Biography

Sergei was born on April 19, 1956 in the city of Sverdlovsk (in 1991 the city was renamed and began to be called, as before, Yekaterinburg), in a working-class family. From the biography of actor Sergei Varchuk it is known that from an early age he had a dream of becoming a captain and traveling to distant countries. After graduating from school, he tried to enter the Leningrad Naval School. But he fails to pass the medical examination due to vision problems. After such a failure, Sergei tries to enter the shipbuilding institute, but quarrels with the physics teacher, and at the entrance exams the teacher gives him an “unsatisfactory” grade in his subject, which deprives him of all chances of becoming an applicant to this institution. Then the future actor Sergei Varchuk enters the physics department at Sverdlovsk University, passing the physics exam with “excellent” marks.

Sergey Varchuk

Soviet and Russian actor.

KinoPoisk: https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/245676/-

Since childhood, I dreamed of the sea and distant countries, so I decided to enter Makarovka - the Leningrad Naval School - but my eyesight failed me. Then he decided that if he could not be a captain, he could very well build ships and go to sea on them as a tester. And he tried to enter the shipbuilding institute, but had a fight with the physics teacher, and she “slapped” him with a C in the entrance exams. Sergei failed. Then he applied to Sverdlovsk University for the physics department and entered.

But romantic dreams of a profession that would be for him not only a job from 9 to 18, but also the meaning of his whole life, remained. The decision to become an actor was influenced by Sergei’s sister. For a long time she worked as an actress. And one day he came to her graduation performance at the Sverdlovsk Theater School. From that time on, Sergei simply fell in love with the theater. The university went sideways: Varchuk passed the exam and went into the army to understand what he really wanted.

After the army, Sergei methodically beat the thresholds of Moscow theater universities for three years, until he entered the Moscow Art Theater School for a course with Oleg Efremov. There, from the first courses, Efremov’s students were treated as future artists of the Moscow Art Theater. Sergei Varchuk recalls: “They envied us, they hated us, because already from our second year we acted in theater performances. Efremov had a difficult time - the theater was being divided, and he came to us to relax, saw in us a second youth and dreamed of creating a youth theater with us. The theater, unfortunately, did not work out, and four years of study flew by quickly, so being assigned to the “Glubinkovo Theater” threatened any of us. I decided that I would not go anywhere, I would make my way in Moscow myself, although the time was not like now: there were no private performances, there was no opportunity to get a job on radio or television, or work with my own program in a nightclub, and even theaters themselves there was much less. In addition, to get any job you needed Moscow registration...

The film “I Can’t Say Goodbye!” became the actor’s calling card. He was noticed and began to be invited to the cinema. On the one hand, this was a big plus for the actor’s future career, on the other hand, as the actor himself admits, success went to his head: “I relaxed and “rested on my laurels” for a long time, I was sure that if I just came to any theater, and they will “rip me off with their hands” and will be happy that I showed them such a courtesy. But I was very mistaken - no one needed me: the theaters were downsizing, experienced artists were forced to retire, and there were simply no rates for us young people. What saved us was that Efremov was able to take our graduation performance into the Moscow Art Theater repertoire, and thus consolidate our entire course in his theater. I played four times a month and earned as much as 16 rubles - it was only thanks to the cinema that I didn’t die of hunger.”

In the second half of the 80s, Varchuk acted a lot. The most notable works of that time: the adventure film "The Head of the Gorgon", the melodrama "And All the Love...", the action film "Scorched by Kandahar".

In the 90s, problems with film production began in Russia. Many actors found themselves in a difficult situation, and it was not easy for Sergei either. To be able to play in the theater, he went to work as a janitor. The actor recalls these difficult times as follows: “It was a very scarce profession, employees were immediately given official housing, and after five years they were permanently registered. They hired me through a lot of connections, only because they knew my films.”

In recent years, Sergei Varchuk is again in demand in cinema. In the drama “Russian Revolt”, based on the story by A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter", he played a small but memorable role of the dashing cavalryman Zurin. Sergei starred a lot in TV series: “Turn of the Key”, “Gold of Ugra”, “Secret Sign”.

Currently, Sergei Varchuk works at the K.S. Theater. Stanislavsky. He was the host of the television program “Rescue Service”.

He basically doesn’t talk about his personal life, believing that “an actor should remain a little inaccessible, a little transcendental, at least a little star.” We only know that he is married and has an adult daughter.

Choice of profession

His decision to become an actor was influenced by his older sister, who worked in the theater for a long time. Having attended her graduation performance, which took place at the Sverdlovsk Theater School, Sergei “gets sick” of the theater. Having passed the next session at the institute, he goes into the army to understand himself and understand what he really needs. After serving in the army, he tries for three years to enter a theater university, and finally enters the Moscow Art Theater School, where Oleg Efremov becomes his mentor.

Childhood

Sergey Varchuk was born in 1956 on April 19 in the city of Yekaterinburg. The actor's parents were ordinary workers. Since childhood, the guy wanted to become a sailor, although his hometown was located far from the oceans and seas. Every night Sergei plunged into a world of dreams, full of sea voyages and adventures.

After graduating from high school, Sergei Varchuk set off to conquer the cultural capital of Russia - Leningrad. In an attempt to fulfill his childhood dream, the guy decided to enter the Makarov Higher Marine Engineering School. Unfortunately, Sergei was not able to become a student at this educational institution. He did not pass the medical examination due to poor eyesight.

But Varchuk did not stop dreaming about ships and decided that building ships was no worse than sailing them. While taking exams at shipbuilding, Sergei failed physics. Varchuk was forced to return home, where he entered Sverdlovsk University at the Faculty of Physics. Sergei did not like studying, and after a year he was finally convinced that his choice was wrong.

Sergei’s sister studied at a theater school and invited her brother to watch her performance at the graduation production. During the performance, Varchuk realized what his calling was.

Sergei received a summons to the army when the session was passed. During his service, he tried to understand himself and understand what he wanted to achieve in life. After the service, the guy decided not to return to the university, as he increasingly felt an attraction to the theater stage. Varchuk goes to Moscow and, without preparation, tries to enter the theater department. On his second attempt, he becomes a student at the Moscow Art Theater School. The leader of the group in which Sergei studied was Oleg Efremov.

Main role, film debut

While still studying at the institute, between the third and fourth years, Sergei Varchuk receives an offer from film director Boris Durov to star in the leading role (Sergei Vatagin) in the melodrama “I Can’t Say Goodbye,” which later became very popular. In the film, the characters show true love, disappointment and betrayal. All fans of Russian melodramas watched with bated breath how the strong working guy Sergei Vatagin suddenly found himself in a wheelchair, how his beautiful wife Marta abandoned him after an injury, and how his best friend betrayed him. They were truly happy when the girl who loved him, Lydia, put Sergei on his feet.

The film appeared on the country's screens in 1982 and was a huge success. The film was watched by more than 34 million viewers. Immediately after the film's release, aspiring actor Sergei Varchuk becomes incredibly famous. He mistakenly believes that now all the doors of the capital's theaters are open to him. But this turned out to be far from the case: at that time there were not so many theaters, and even in those years staff reductions were taking place. In addition, to be enrolled in the theater, Moscow registration was required.

The nineties

Like all actors, hard times began for Sergei Varchuk in the 90s of the last century. There are problems with film production in Russia. The film industry was in decline. In order to work in the theater, the actor gets a job as a janitor in a Moscow housing office. This profession was considered in short supply, since employees immediately after employment received official housing, and after 5 years they received permanent registration.

A successful debut and a thorny path to a career

Sergei Varchuk in his youth
The young actor thought that after such success he would immediately become in demand and easily find work in the theater. However, at that time there were not as many theaters as there are now, and actors, even respected and famous ones, were, on the contrary, laid off. Sergei was lucky that Oleg Efremov was able to ensure that the graduation production of his course was included in the Moscow Art Theater repertoire. Sergei played in the theater once a week and received 16 rubles for this. It was impossible to live on this money, so Sergei focused on filming films. After his debut role, directors began to invite him to their projects.

And in the 90s, when problems began in the film industry, Sergei decided to work as a janitor. At that time, even this profession was in short supply, and it was possible to get a job there only through an acquaintance. Varchuk was lucky that he was recognized. He was allocated official housing, and after 5 years he was provided with registration. He also worked as a private driver, and people often recognized him, although the actor always replied that they were mistaken. Nevertheless, sometimes he acted in films, for example, he starred in the leading role in the film “Tagged”. And in the early 2000s, a white streak began in his career. He actively starred in films and TV series, including “Secret Sign”, “Gold of Ugra”, “People and Shadows-2. Optical illusion".

Sergei Varchuk in the film “I Can’t Say Goodbye”
He also tried himself and hosted the program “Road Patrol” as a TV presenter. Investigation". In addition, he was involved in dubbing foreign films.

Theater and cinema

Since the beginning of the 2000s, the film industry in our country has been getting back on its feet. Directors are beginning to very willingly invite actor Sergei Varchuk to participate in the filming. He starred in a film called “Russian Revolt” based on the work of A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter". Sergei can often be seen in Russian TV series, for example: “The Secret Sign”, “Turn of the Key”, “Ugra’s Gold”.

Sergei Varchuk begins working at the Stanislavsky Theater. Until this time, the actor worked in the following theaters: the Moscow Art Theater, the Gogol Theater, the Russian Army, and Spartakovskaya. For two years – from 2001 to 2003 – Varchuk was the host of the “Rescue Service” program on Russian television.

VARCHUK Sergey Ivanovich

Born 04/19/1956

Winner of the Prize-Prize of the XI Berdyansk International Film Festival “For creating the image of a modern hero on the screen”

Who to be

Since childhood, Sergei dreamed of the sea and distant countries, which is very unusual for a boy from the Urals, he entered the Makarovka - Leningrad Naval School, but did not pass in his eyesight. Then he decided that if I couldn’t be a captain, then he could very well build ships and go to sea on them as a tester. And he tried to enter the shipbuilding institute, but had a fight with the physics teacher, and she “slapped” him with a C in the entrance exams. Sergei failed. Then he applied to Sverdlovsk University for the physics department and entered.

But romantic dreams of a profession that would be for him not only a job from 9 to 18, but also the meaning of his whole life remained. The decision to become an actor was influenced by Sergei’s sister. For a long time she worked as an actress. And one day he came to her graduation performance at the Sverdlovsk Theater School. From that time on, Sergei simply fell in love with the theater. The university went sideways: Varchuk passed the exam and went into the army to understand what he really wanted.

Successful film debut

While still studying at the Moscow Art Theater, between his third and fourth years, Varchuk starred in the melodrama “I Can’t Say Goodbye!”, which was released in 1982 - just in time for the end of the Studio School. Varchuk played the handsome Sergei, who found himself bedridden as a result of a misfortune. In the film, he was raised to his feet by the girl Lida, played by the young actress Anastasia Ivanova. The fate of this actress was tragic - a few years later she was found murdered in her own apartment. The killer has still not been found.

90s

In the 90s, problems with film production began in Russia. Many actors found themselves in a difficult situation, and it was not easy for Sergei either. To be able to play in the theater, he went to work as a janitor: “It was a very scarce profession, employees were immediately given official housing, and after five years they were given permanent jobs. They hired me through a lot of connections, only because they knew my films.”

Sergei Varchuk recalls those years: “It happened, of course, that they asked: why do I need this - everyone thinks that if you are an artist, that means you are rich. I was shy at first. Fortunately, such “recognitions” were infrequent - I cleaned early in the morning or closer to night, because the rest of the time I worked in the theater - so this job was suitable for me. So I worked as a janitor for two years and am still friends with my housing office: sometimes on holidays I give them charity concerts, and they help me with everyday problems. It happened to earn money as a private driver. Here they often recognized me, but I, like a partisan, denied it, saying that I’m not an artist, I only look like him.”

Latest works in cinema

Sergei starred a lot in TV series: “Turn of the Key”, “Gold of Ugra”, “Secret Sign”. On the set of the film “Ugra's Gold” an accident occurred that almost cost Sergei his life. During landing, the helicopter's rear rotor fell off and the aircraft was thrown forward. Sergei and the other actors who were in the helicopter were saved only by the fact that the wheels got stuck in deep sand and the roll almost reached critical.

Currently, Sergei Varchuk works at the K.S. Theater. Stanislavsky. He was the host of the television program “Rescue Service”.

Personal life

He basically doesn’t talk about his personal life, believing that “an actor should remain a little inaccessible, a little transcendental, at least a little star.”

We only know that he is married, has an adult daughter, and is studying to become a designer.

Sergei is madly in love with animals: “I have two dogs and four cats - all picked up on the street. I provide cats and dogs for all my relatives and friends. My dream, if I become very rich, is to open a shelter for homeless animals - to buy a huge area of land, build housing there for them so that they can live together. They all want an owner, they want to go home, they are pets! Of course, I would select them all, but there is no way. I look at my pets - they are so loyal for picking them up, they greet me like that, they wait for me like that! Therefore, when I see a stray dog following me, he looks at me with sad eyes: “Well, take me!” I want to go home,” I have to fight with myself. If someone rich read this and wanted to invest money in this business, I would be very happy.”

Materials used: Encyclopedia of Cinema of Cyril and Methodius (CD LLC "Media-Service-2000"); Katerina Romanenkova, “Sergey Varchuk: And the Swede, and the Reaper, and the Player of the Duda” (website: “Notes of Journalists” https://nsvisual.com/reporter/)

Filmography

The actor has played more than 60 roles in films. He continues to act now. In 2020, the series “Points of Support” was released with the participation of Sergei Varchuk. In the film he played Vladovsky, the new director of the scientific center. The series features many famous actors. In this film, friends successfully investigate even the most complicated crimes. In 2020, in the TV series “Everything is According to the Law,” Sergei plays a minor role - Tabashnikov’s father. Filmography of actor Sergei Varchuk:

"Mysterious passion";
"Stanitsa";
"Arys-field";
"Porcelain Wedding";
"Crazy";
"Ring my doorbell";
“It happened in Gavrilovka”;
"Heiress 2";
"Lawyer 3";
"Castling";
"Kinship Exchange";
"Countess de Monsoreau";
"The Wizard of Oz";
"Mikhailo Lomonosov".

As can be seen from the titles of the films, Sergei Varchuk is a multifaceted actor.

Wife Elena

After the release of the film, which made actor Sergei Varchuk popular, the beautiful Elena, who had not noticed him before, despite her courtship, drew attention to him. Soon Lena agreed to become his wife, and they legalized their relationship. Some time later, the couple had a daughter, Alexandra. But this marriage can hardly be called happy; most likely, there was simply no love on Elena’s part. After some time, Elena found a job in the USA, came home less and less, and in the end she completely left for America, leaving her daughter in the care of Sergei. Alexandra was only 9 years old at that time.

Wife Olga

Changes occurred in the personal life of actor Sergei Varchuk when he was a little over 40. He met his future wife Olga through mutual friends - the family of director Boris Durov. It was the Durovs who decided to introduce their lonely friends to each other. Olga and her ex-husband had the same situation: he went to Europe to work and stayed there to live. Olga became friends and found a common language not only with Sergei’s daughter, Alexandra, but also with her mother. Sergey and Olga lived in a civil marriage for a couple of years, and then registered their relationship. After several years, a son, Ivan, was born into the family. That was the name of Sergei’s father, and Olga had long wanted to have a son, Vanya. Alexandra’s daughter is already an adult and has her own family; she works as a designer. Sasha maintains an excellent relationship with her father and his family.

Sergei’s family tries not to separate and spend all their free time together. They travel together and go to various festivals, visit each other and attend social events.

Sergey loves animals very much. He has two dogs and several cats living in his house, all of them were picked up on the street.

Personal life

“I don’t talk about personal life as a matter of principle - an actor should remain a little inaccessible, a little transcendental, at least a little star,” this is how Sergei Varchuk explains his reluctance to talk about personal things. Therefore, little is known about his women and romances.

The artist's first wife was a girl named Elena. After several years of marriage, the couple separated. Elena went to the United States to work, and Sergei stayed with their nine-year-old daughter Alexandra in Russia. Now Sasha is all grown up, lives independently, and has chosen the profession of designer.

When Sergei was already over forty, he met his second wife Olga. They lived in a civil marriage for two years, and then registered their relationship. A few years later, Olga gave birth to a son, whom Sergei had long dreamed of. The boy's name was thought up in advance - Ivan.

The actor says warmly about his wife: “Oli had the wisdom and patience to make friends not only with my daughter Sasha, but even with her ex-wife. She judged correctly: be that as it may, Elena and I are connected by a common child, so we need to maintain a normal relationship...

We try not to separate. We always travel as a family, and we also try to go to festivals together whenever possible. We practically never go to social events or visit each other separately. It feels somehow uncomfortable without each other. We generally feel like one whole entity. However, this is probably how it should be if the family is real, based on love and mutual respect.”