Evgeny Leonov is a theater and film actor, popular throughout the post-Soviet space. During his life, the character actor starred in more than 70 films, many of which are included in the collection of the best films of the Soviet Union. Replicas of Leonov’s heroes have been circulating among the people for a long time. And the comedy “Gentlemen of Fortune” with his participation became the first film in terms of the number of views in cinemas back in 1975. Leonov's theatrical career also includes a large number of very diverse roles and genres.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4SMLDPkehE
Height, weight, age. Years of life of Evgeny Leonov
Films with Leonov are still being watched today; they have not lost their comicality and relevance over the years, not only thanks to timeless plots and humor, but also because of the actor’s talent and his easy delivery. Evgeniy was not a tall and portly man, and today many fans of Soviet films still want to know his height, weight, and age. The years of Evgeny Leonov’s life were from 1926 to 1994. The actor died when he was not yet very old; he actively acted in films. A year before the actor’s death, 3 films with his participation were released.
Biography and personal life of Evgeny Leonov
Evgeny Leonov was born in Moscow. At school, the boy took part in amateur performances and went to the drama club; even then he dreamed of becoming an actor. At the beginning of the war in 1941, Zhenya had just finished 7th grade, and he had to go to work at the factory where his whole family worked. A year later, the young man entered an aviation school, where he also took part in a creative circle, and in his third year he decided to try his luck and went to apply for admission to a theater school. Leonov was accepted into an acting course, but no one believed in him.
A plump young man, not tall and with full lips, he gave the impression of a “village” guy. True, already during his studies it became clear that Evgeniy was truly talented, and after completing the course he was accepted into the Moscow Stanislavsky Theater. Leonov appeared on the stage of this theater for 20 years. He played in performances based on the works of Chekhov, Ostrovsky, Bulgakov, Brecht and other classics. For another 20 years, Leonov played in the Mayakovsky and Lenin Komsomol theaters.
Filmography: films starring Evgeny Leonov
The actor's filmography began in 1948. The film crew recruited actors for extras in his theater, and this is how Evgeniy Pavlovich first came to the set. True, for another five years he acted only in episodes and extras; Leonov was not trusted with major roles. Several of his works “The Rumyantsev Case”, “Sea Hunter”, “Difficult Happiness” and a couple of other dramas and stories went unnoticed by the viewer. Perhaps this is all because Leonov was born for the comedy genre. The film “Striped Flight”, released in 1961, made Evgeny Leonov truly popular. It was here that the actor first showed his charisma and charm. From that moment on, Leonov began to be offered comedic roles by the most eminent Soviet directors. The films “Zigzag of Fortune”, then “Gentlemen of Fortune”, “Afonya” and “Big Change” revealed Leonov’s acting potential.
In 1978, the film “An Ordinary Miracle” was released, the cast of which immediately implied the wild success of the film. And so it happened. The film adaptation of the play, which for a long time remained only on the theater stage, is one of the most beautiful fairy tales of that time.
The biography and personal life of Evgeny Leonov after his death was more than once revealed by his family in television programs dedicated to the memory of the beloved actor. In honor of Evgeniy Pavlovich, a memorial plaque was installed on the house where he lived. Also in Moscow and in one of the cities of Kazakhstan, monuments to the actor were erected.
Evgeny Leonov and Vanda Stoilova: how the “gentleman of fortune” found his Vanya
Actor Evgeny Leonov still remains with us in our favorite Soviet films, and his voice can be heard in the cartoon about the best Winnie the Pooh in the world. This post will talk about his family, and how he met his one and only Vanya.
Evgeny Leonov began his acting career at the Moscow Theater Studio, under the direction of Andrei Aleksandrovich Goncharov. And already from 1948 he played on the stage of the K. S. Stanislavsky Theater.
He met the love of his life, Vanda Stoilova, on tour in Sverdlovsk. A girl and a friend, both students of a music pedagogical school, went out for a walk. And they immediately noticed a company of attractive, but clearly not from their city, young people. The young people got to know each other, and the guys invited their girlfriends in the evening to the play “Days of the Turbins,” in which they participated. One of the actors was Evgeny Leonov, who immediately liked the girl with the unusual name Wanda.
Later, Wanda repeatedly said in interviews that she liked Zhenya right away, he had a very kind face and radiant eyes. When the girls came to the theater and sat down in their seats, the boy actors watched them with interest, hiding behind the scenes. It was difficult for Wanda to cope with her excitement; she felt that this was not an ordinary acquaintance.
After the end of the performance, Evgeniy went to see the girl off. They talked a lot, and the actor inspiredly read his favorite poems to Wanda. They met several more times, but then the tour ended, and Evgeniy had to leave for Moscow. Distance did not become an obstacle for lovers. Leonov called Wanda every day, and they talked for a long time about everything in the world. He persuaded the girl to come to Moscow and try to enter GITIS, which she had secretly dreamed of for a long time.
Wanda’s parents were against their daughter’s trip to the capital; they believed that actor Evgeniy Leonov was not a very good match for their beauty. But the girl insisted on her own. He met his beloved at the station, and for the first time he placed her with his friend’s mother. Then, the young people went to meet Evgeniy’s parents, who were very glad that she finally decided to come. After some time, they decided to get married, since Zhenya had to go on tour, and really wanted her to finally become his wife. The bride's parents later realized that they were mistaken, and they could not have wished for a better husband for their daughter. A year later, Wanda entered GITIS, although not into the acting department, but into the department of theater studies. In 1979, a son, Andrei, appeared in the family.
At first, they lived in a communal apartment with their parents and Evgeniy’s older brother. But despite the cramped situation, they were always full of guests and numerous relatives. Leonov's mother was a very hospitable and hospitable woman. When the family got a separate apartment, it was also open to all friends and relatives, and the owners were famous for their hospitality.
All of Evgeniy Leonov’s acquaintances loved him very much and considered him a wonderful person. And he tried to please everyone, and was constantly busy taking care of close and not so close people. He tried to help everyone who turned to him: some get a job in a hospital, others get housing or something they need.
Despite his many fans, for Evgeny Leonov only his Vanya always existed; he always called his wife that way at home. He believed that the most important things in his life were family and theater. His wife and son supported and nursed the actor when he experienced clinical death. He was even able to return to the stage for a while, although he was advised to take care of himself, and play in several performances. Viewers will forever remember Evgeny Leonov as a good-natured and cheerful actor.
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Family and children of Evgeny Leonov
Evgeny Leonov lived his entire childhood in the most ordinary communal apartment in Moscow. His father worked as an engineer at a Soviet aircraft factory, and his mother was a housewife. The actor also had an older brother, who also worked with his father and Zhenya at an aircraft factory during the war. Leonov’s parents had two rooms in their apartment, and one of them was always lived in by one of the relatives who came to the capital on vacation or on business, so Zhenya was used to living in a large family.
The actor lived his entire life with one woman. Leonov was an honest and decent person, a good family man; while still unmarried, he said that his family and children would come first. Evgeny Leonov died at the age of 67.
With warmth in your soul and joy in your heart
After the wedding, Evgeniy and Wanda started a small but very happy family. They had a son, Andrei. Wanda, as she dreamed, became a student at GITIS. The couple lived quite modestly. They had to share a room in a communal apartment with Evgeniy’s brother, but there were never any complaints or complaints from Wanda.
As in childhood, now guests always liked to come to Wanda and Evgeniy. They knew that they were always welcome here, that there was a kind word for each of them and that everyone would be given attention. Very often, after performances, Leonov brought his friends to dinner. Wanda greeted them with joy and hurried to treat them to something tasty.
More than anything in the world, Leonov loved his family. He couldn’t even punish his son for his mischief, since he loved him more than anyone in the world. He asked his wife to be more kind to him. As for his wife, the actor was in love with her like a boy from the first to the last days. He was not interested in other women, although there was no end to his fans.
Son of Evgeny Leonov - Andrey Leonov
The son of Evgeny Leonov, Andrei Leonov, was born in 1959 in Moscow. He followed in his father's footsteps, graduated from the Shchukin Theater School, and today is also a theater and film actor. Leonov Jr. has 37 films to his credit, he worked as a presenter on television, was married twice and has 3 children. He played in an episode in the film “An Ordinary Miracle”, voiced the character of his father Uef in the cartoon “Kin-dza-dza”, and a few years ago he played Evgeny Leonov in the series about the Soviet circus performer Margarita Nazarova. He has the title of Honored Artist of Russia.
Family stories: Evgeny and Vanda Leonov
Happy married couple – Evgeniy and Vanda Leonov. A light and friendly atmosphere reigned in their house. This is how the owners made it - kind, generous people.
Eugene and Wanda's life together began in 1957. That year, the artist Leonov came to Sverdlovsk on tour and in his free time went out to see the city. Two girls were walking towards him. Evgeny liked one of them so much that he, a very shy person in relationships with women, plucked up courage and invited strangers to his performance. The girls agreed and in the evening they enjoyed watching “Days of the Turbins,” where Leonov amazingly played Lariosik.
After the performance, Wanda’s friend quickly left, and Evgeny accompanied Wanda home and read her poems by Blok and Yesenin on the way. The young people met both on the second day and on the third. Then Evgeniy flew home to Moscow. But he often called Wanda and persuaded him to come. And when she appeared in the capital, he immediately introduced her to his parents and proposed marriage. Wanda agreed.
At first they lived in a communal apartment with Evgeniy’s parents. Wanda became such friends with her mother-in-law that when her husband received a separate apartment, she hesitated for a long time to break the news. And, having moved, Wanda tried to make her home similar to her husband’s home - just as hospitable.
In 1959, a son, Andrei, appeared in the family. Leonov then starred in the film “Striped Flight”, in which he played an imaginary tiger tamer. When he was informed about the birth of his son, the happy father rushed to kiss the predators. And then he said that at that moment the tigers looked at him, as if thinking: ““Eat, or what?” Or is he sick?
Leonov loved Andrei endlessly and never punished him. And to his wife, who tried to be strict, he inspired: “Wanda, all issues must be resolved only with kindness.” Evgeny Pavlovich and Andrey believed that their mother was the only adult in their family. Wanda even tried not to leave them alone for a long time. At such moments, the son forgot about his lessons, and the father forgot that it was time for dinner: the eldest and youngest Leonovs played enthusiastically.
Evgeny Pavlovich died in 1994. But not a day goes by without Vanda Vladimirovna thinking about him. About how he loved his home and tried to keep the family friendly. He liked to do everyday life and go shopping for groceries. When the husband returned from the market with full bags, the wife was horrified: “Where is so much, because everything will be lost.” And he answered: “Don’t be afraid, we will invite guests.” From each trip, Evgeniy Pavlovich brought huge armfuls of flowers. Slowly sorting them out together with my wife was real happiness!
Most of all, Leonov was afraid of upsetting his wife and causing her pain. Already seriously ill, returning from performances, he leaned helplessly on a hanger, but reassured the frightened Wanda Vladimirovna: “Don’t worry. I just wanted to catch my breath." A massive heart attack overtook him while on tour in Germany. The actor lay in a coma for 16 days.
For 16 days, his wife and son were next to Leonov, talking to him, praying for him. Thousands of people came to churches these days and lit candles for the health of the great Russian artist. And Evgeny Pavlovich began to recover. He lived another five years.
After the death of her husband, Vanda Vladimirovna could not come to her senses for a long time. And she couldn’t watch the films in which Leonov starred for a long time either. It is impossible to forget the 37 happy years given to her by her husband.
Source: aeslib.ru
Evgeny Leonov's wife - Vanda Stoilova
Evgeny Leonov was a very shy young man, so he didn’t get along well with girls. Wanda and Evgeniy met in the city of Sverdlovsk, where the theater actor came to give a performance; Leonov was already 31 years old. A year later they got married, and a year later the only son of the actor was born into the family. Evgeny Leonov’s wife, Vanda Stoilova, worked at the Lenkom studio, where screenwriters brought their performances and plays to stage them on the theater stage. It was Leonov’s wife who was responsible for selecting the material that eventually came to the public’s eye.
First meeting
The young actor met his future wife Vanda Stoilova during a tour of the Stanislavsky Theater to Sverdlovsk. Evgeniy and his friend decided to walk around the city after the performance and see its sights.
The actor remembered the moment of meeting Wanda in great detail for the rest of his life. It happened like this: Evgeny was walking along Lenin Street with his friend and saw two attractive girls. These were students from a local music school. The girls also noticed young people who were looking around with interest. It immediately became clear that they were not local.
The guys decided to meet pretty girls. After a short conversation, they invited them to their performance. The girls agreed to the proposal. On the appointed day, Vanda Stoilova and her friend came to the theater. They found their seats in the stalls and, having settled down, began to wait for the start of the performance. And behind the scenes, Evgeniy was watching the girls. He could not take his eyes off Wanda and even then he realized that he had fallen in love.
Wanda also felt that the meeting would continue, so she was noticeably worried and fidgeted with the strap of her purse. After the performance, Evgeniy offered to walk her home. After this evening, the young people met several more times. But the tour was coming to an end and Leonov had to leave with his colleagues for Moscow.
But even after leaving, the relationship between Wanda and Eugene did not stop. They were able to withstand the test of distance.
Evgeny Leonov: “On the benefits of alcohol”, Wick 1974
In 1962, the satirical and humorous film magazine “Wick” was first released, which was supposed to ridicule human vices, criticize bribery, bureaucracy, drunkenness and parasitism.
The Soviet audience had never seen such a format, especially since such well-known and beloved actors as Nikulin, Kramarov, Leonov, Ranevskaya and others expressed “their thoughts” in the film magazine. When the episode was released, where Yevgeny Leonov talks about the benefits of alcohol while lying on his bed, “The Wick” in 1974 received a huge number of views, viewers even wrote to the editor about the actor’s amazing sense of humor.
Cause of death of Evgeny Leonov. Actor's funeral
Evgeniy Leonov had a heart condition during the last years of his life. In 1988, the actor suffered a massive heart attack and lay in a deep coma for 16 days; doctors practically brought the man back from the dead. But Leonov did not plan to retire; he was still offered film roles. After a serious operation, Evgeniy Pavlovich starred in 5 films over another 6 years. The actor died in 1994, he had heart failure. A blood clot is the official cause of death of Evgeniy Leonov. The actor's funeral took place at the Novodevichy cemetery, where his grave is located today.
“I was worried that I wouldn’t have time to ask my father for forgiveness”
In the summer of 1988, the Lenkom Theater, where Leonov worked in the last years of his life, went on tour to Hamburg. The summer turned out to be hot and during the day the entire troupe was taken out into the countryside, but some actors remained in the hotel. Actress Elena Shanina had a headache, and Evgeny Leonov was tormented by a cough. “When I walked past Evgeniy Pavlovich’s room, I heard a terrible cough,” recalls actress Elena Shanina. “He stood leaning against the wall and coughed so much that I realized he was very ill. She ran downstairs and asked the translator to call an ambulance. We all thought he had pneumonia. At the hospital they took him for fluorography, and that’s where his heart stopped.” His wife Wanda and son Andrei urgently flew in from Moscow. “My father and I have always been friends, but then before the trip to Hamburg we quarreled,” says Andrei Leonov. “I was very worried that I wouldn’t have time to ask him for forgiveness.” And the actor’s wife, Vanda Leonova, says: “Zhenya had a whole bunch of illnesses. Diabetes mellitus, bad blood vessels, heart... Thank God that this happened in Germany, in our Union he would definitely have died then. He was connected to the equipment. My heart began to beat. In the hospital, before the operation, Zhenya underwent bypass surgery (suturing of blood vessels), and the equipment was turned off. But the heart could not stand it, and a massive heart attack followed. It was against this background that the operation took place, which lasted four and a half hours.” Mark Zakharov, artistic director of the Lenkom Theater, recalls: “There are prayers in the play “Juno and Avos”. I turned to the staff of our theater with a request that the prayers that they will sing from the stage be addressed to God for Evgeniy Pavlovich. Maybe we begged him then.”
Wikipedia Evgeniy Leonov
The memory of Evgeny Leonov lives on today. Films with his participation are in great demand not only among the outgoing generation, but also among young people. Wikipedia Evgeniy Leonov contains information about the actor’s professional career, all his roles in theaters and films, about his childhood, family and public life. For his contribution to the country's film industry, as well as for theatrical work, the actor has 15 awards and prizes, including the titles of People's and Honored Artist of the USSR, a badge of honor, the Order of Lenin, and the USSR State Prize.
