Leonid Kuravlyov

Leonid Kuravlyov
Леонид Куравлёв
Kuravlyov in 1997
Born	Leonid Vyacheslavovich Kuravlyov (1936-10-08)8 October 1936 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died	30 January 2022(2022-01-30) (aged 85) Moscow, Russia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1959–2015
Spouse	Nina Kuravlyova ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 2012)​
Children	2

Leonid Vyacheslavovich Kuravlyov (Russian: Леонид Вячеславович Куравлёв; 8 October 1936 – 30 January 2022) was a Soviet and Russian film actor. He became a People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1976.[1]

Early life

Kuravlyov was born in Moscow into a working-class family.[2] His father Vyacheslav Yakovlevich Kuravlyov (1909–1979) worked as a locksmith at the Salyut Machine-Building Association and his mother Valentina Dmitriyevna Kuravlyova (1916–1993) was a hairdresser.[3][4] In 1941 with the start of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union (known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War) his mother was arrested on false report, accused of counter-revolutionary activity (Article 58) and exiled to Karaganda, Kazakh SSR to work at the local plant.[5] In five years she was freed without a right to live in Moscow and sent to Zasheyek, Murmansk Oblast in the Russian far north where she continued working as a hairdresser. In 1948 she managed to get a permission to see her son who spent a year with her at Zasheyek, and in 1951 she finally returned to Moscow.[5][6]

Career

In 1955 Kuravlyov entered VGIK to study acting under Boris Bibikov.[7] He graduated in 1960 and joined the Theater Studio of Film Actors.[8] He made his first movie appearances while still a student. In 1960 he was noted by Vasily Shukshin and took part in his diploma film Reported From Lebyazhye.[9] In 1961 they both starred in the popular melodrama When the Trees Were Tall, and in 1964 Shukshin gave him the leading role in his comedy movie There Is Such a Lad which brought Kuravlyov true fame and which he considered to be the start of his successful movie career.[3] He also acted in Your Son and Brother (1965) and felt so grateful for what the director did for him that he later named his son after Shukshin.[10]

The role of Shura Balaganov in Mikhail Schweitzer's comedy The Little Golden Calf based on the book by Ilf and Petrov was one of his first successful roles: he managed to create an image of a brash yet charming petty thief.[11][12] His other notable roles of that period include Khoma Brut in one of the first Soviet horror movies Viy (1967),[13] antagonist Sorokin in a psychological melodrama Not Under the Jurisdiction (1969),[14] Robinson Crusoe in Stanislav Govorukhin's Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1972), a Nazi officer Kurt Eismann in Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)[15] and Lavr Mironovich in Pyotr Todorovsky's The Last Victim (1975).[16]

In the 1970s he appeared in three to four films per year.[17] Even though Kuravlyov was adept at playing serious dramatic roles, he is still best known for his leading roles in top-grossing comedy movies such as Afonya (1975) by Georgiy Daneliya (11th highest-grossing Soviet film, highest grossing film of the year,[2] 62.2 mln viewers),[18] Leonid Gaidai's Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (1973, 17th highest-grossing film, 60 mln viewers)[19] and It Can't Be! (1975, 46th highest-grossing film with 46.9 mln viewers), The Most Charming and Attractive (1985) by Gerald Bezhanov (the highest-grossing film of 1985, 44.9 mln viewers)[20] and others.[21][22]

According to Russian actress Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina, after being tipsy, Kuravlyov openly spoke about his negative attitude towards the leadership of the Soviet Union.[23] She recalled that, drunk, he had opened the window at her house and had shouted to the whole street that he hated the Soviet regime.[23] She had feared that "the police would come and take everyone away as rebels."[23]

Later years

During the late 1990s he hosted a popular TV programme The World of Books with Leonid Kuravlyov where he talked about new book releases. In two years it was closed and then relaunched with new hosts.[24] In 2012 he was awarded the IV class Order "For Merit to the Fatherland".[25]

Kuravlyov was a devoted Christian, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church.[26]

In 2014 Kuravlyov along with 100 other Russian members of culture signed an open letter in support of Vladimir Putin's position regarding Ukraine and Crimea.[27] In his last years Kuravlyov lived in a nursing home where he was diagnosed with dementia.[23]

In January 2022, he was hospitalized with pneumonia.[23] According to Kuravlyov's son, tests for COVID-19 were negative.[23]

Death

Kuravlyov died from pneumonia on 30 January 2022, at the age of 85.[19][28]

Selected filmography

• All that Jam (Весь этот джем, 2015) as Father Leonty[29]
• The Book of Masters (Книга Мастеров, 2009)[30]
• The Heirs (Наследники, 2008)[31]
• Streets of Broken Lights (Улицы разбитых фонарей, 2005) as Ershov, police colonel[32]
• Brigada (Бригада, 2002) as MVD general[14]
• The Aristocratic Peasant Girl (Барышня-крестьянка, 1995) as Grigory Muromsky[33]
• Shirli-Myrli (Ширли-мырли, 1995) as US Ambassador to Russia[34]
• The Master and Margarita (Мастер и Маргарита, 1994) as Bosoy, chairman of housing association[35]
• Weather Is Good on Deribasovskaya, It Rains Again on Brighton Beach (На Дерибасовской хорошая погода или на Брайтон-Бич опять идут дожди, 1992) as President of USSR Mikhail Gorbachev'[36]
• The Stairway (Лестница, 1989) as Uncle Misha
• Private Detective, or Operation Cooperation (Частный детектив, или Операция "Кооперация", 1989) as editor in chief[37]
• Entrance to the Labyrinth (Вход в лабиринт, 1989) as Lev Khlebnikov[38]
• Yolki-palki (Ёлки-палки!, 1988) as electrician[39]
• The Left-Hander (Левша, 1987) as Emperor Alexander I Pavlovich[30][40]
• The Twentieth Century Approaches (Двадцатый век начинается, 1986) as Von Bork[41]
• The Most Charming and Attractive (Самая обаятельная и привлекательная, 1985) as Misha Dyatlov[42]
• Dangerous for Your Life! (Опасно для жизни!, 1985) as Spartak Molodtsov[43]
• TASS Is Authorized to Declare... (ТАСС уполномочен заявить..., 1984) as Zotov[9]
• The Invisible Man (Человек-невидимка, 1984) as Thomas Marvel[44]
• The Trust That Has Burst (Трест, который лопнул, 1984) as Farmer Ezra Plunkett[45]
• Copper Angel (Медный ангел, 1984) as Larsen, professor[46]
• We Are from Jazz (Мы из джаза, 1984) as Samsonov[43]
• Look for a Woman (Ищите женщину, 1983) as Inspector Granden[34]
• Vitya Glushakov - A Friend of the Apaches (Витя Глушаков — друг апачей, 1983)[47]
• Simply Awful! (Просто ужас!, 1982) as Ruslan Ivanovich[48]
• Ladies Invite Gentlemen (Дамы приглашают кавалеров, 1980)[49]
• Borrowing Matchsticks (За спичками, 1980) as peasant[37]
• The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (Место встречи изменить нельзя, 1979) as "Kopchyony", thief[34]
• Little Tragedies (Маленькие трагедии, 1979) as Leporello, servant of Don Juan[32]
• Tailcoat for Scapegrace (Фрак для шалопая, 1979) as police captain Deev[50]
• Incognito from St. Petersburg (Инкогнито из Петербурга, 1977) as Shpekin, postmaster[51]
• Mimino (Мимино, 1977) as Professor Khachikyan[52]
• Timur and His Team (Тимур и его команда, 1976) as Georgiy Garaev, Timur's uncle[33]
• You to Me, Me to You (Ты — мне, я — тебе, 1976) as Ivan Kashkin / Sergei Kashkin[43][36]
• Afonya (Афоня, 1975) as Afanasy Borshchov[9]
• The Flight of Mr. McKinley (Бегство мистера Мак-Кинли, 1975) as Mr. Droot[14]
• It Can't Be! (Не может быть!, 1975) as Vladimir Zavitushkin[43][36]
• Circus in the Circus (Соло для слона с оркестром, 1974) as Grísa[53]
• Seventeen Moments of Spring (Семнадцать мгновений весны, 1973) as Kurt Eismann[34][15]
• Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (Иван Васильевич меняет профессию, 1973) as George Miloslavsky, burglar[34]
• This Merry Planet (Эта весёлая планета, 1973) as Y[54]
• Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Жизнь и удивительные приключения Робинзона Крузо, 1972) as Robinson Crusoe[36]
• Two Days of Miracles (Два дня чудес, 1970) as Vadim Murashev[55]
• Liberation (Освобождение, 1970) as Chuikov's signaler[56]
• Shine, Shine, My Star (Гори, гори, моя звезда, 1970)[57]
• The Beginning (Начало, 1970) as Arkady[58]
• The Little Golden Calf (Золотой телёнок, 1968) as Shura Balaganov[9]
• A Literature Lesson (Урок литературы, 1968)[49]
• Time, Forward! (Время, вперед!, 1968) as Korneyev[59][60]
• Viy (Вий, 1967) as Khoma Brutus[34]
• Older Sister (Старшая сестра, 1966) as Volodya[9]
• Your Son and Brother (Ваш сын и брат, 1965) as Stepan Voyevodin[58]
• There Is Such a Lad (Живёт такой парень, 1964) as Pashka Kolokolnikov[9]
• The Little Golden Calf as Shura Balaganov[9]
• Michman Panin (Мичман Панин, 1960) as stoker Pyotr Kamushkin[14][60]
• There Will Be No Leave Today (Сегодня увольнения не будет ... , 1959)[58]

References

1. "Биография Леонида Куравлева". RIA Novosti. 8 October 2016.
2. "Умер известный актер Леонид Куравлев" (in Russian). 30 January 2022.
3. Leonid Kuravlyov documentary by Channel One Russia, 2016 (in Russian)
4. Family tomb
5. Islands. Leonid Kuravlyov Archived 15 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine documentary by Russia-K, 2016 (in Russian)
6. As a child Leonid Kuravlyov lived in Zasheyek and then Kola Peninsula in cinema article at Komsomolskaya Pravda, 8 October 2012 (in Russian)
7. "Биография Леонида Куравлева" (in Russian).
8. Cinema: Encyclopedia Dictionary, main ed. Sergei Yutkevich (1987). — Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, p. 222
9. ""Жил такой парень". Не стало Леонида Куравлева" (in Russian).
10. Anna Velidzhagina (20 January 2011). "Леонид Куравлев: Я так был благодарен Шукшину, что назвал в его честь сына(Leonid Kuravlyov: I was so grateful to Shukshin that I named my son after him)". Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian).
11. "Самый обаятельный и отрицательный. Биография Леонида Куравлева". Rbc.ru (in Russian).
12. (In russian)
13. "Как снимали "Вий" — первый и последний советский фильм ужасов" (in Russian). 2 November 2021.
14. "Биография Леонида Куравлева". 30 January 2022.
15. "Уникальное дарование: скончался актер Леонид Куравлев" (in Russian).
16. "Последняя жертва".
17. "От Афони до Айсмана. Леонид Куравлёв сам выбирал свои роли" (in Russian). 8 October 2014.
18. "За что советские зрители любили "Афоню" и другое плохое кино" (in Russian).
19. "Ушел из жизни выдающийся актер Леонид Куравлев". 1TV. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
20. ""Самая обаятельная и привлекательная": Абдулов умирал в муках, а Муравьева и Куравлев овдовели" (in Russian).
21. Top-grossing Soviet films at KinoPoisk
22. National films in Soviet distribution by Sergey Kudryavtsev (in Russian)
23. (in Russian) Fedoseeva-Shukshina: Kuravlyov shouted that he hated the Soviet regime, News.ru [ru] (30 January 2022)
24. Leonid Kuravlyov: I write stories, but I'm not talking with editors interview at Komsomolskaya Pravda, 8 October 2001 (in Russian)
25. President's decree № 1699 at Kremlin.ru (in Russian)
26. Olga Shablinskaya. White Studio. Leonid Kuravlyov Archived 15 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine talk show at Russia-K, 2016 (in Russian)
27. Russian members of culture - in support of Vladimir Putin's position on Ukraine and Crimea at Echo of Moscow, 11 March 2014 (in Russian)
28. (in Ukrainian) Leonid Kuravlyov died, Ukrayinska Pravda (30 January 2022)
29. "All That Jam Cast / Crew".
30. Rollberg, Peter (2016). Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 421. ISBN 9781442268425.
31. "Актеры и роли, создатели фильма "Наследники"" (in Russian).
32. "Жил такой парень. Не стало Леонида Куравлева" (in Russian). 30 January 2022.
33. "Леонид Вячеславович Куравлев. Биографическая справка". 8 October 2011.
34. "Умер актер Леонид Куравлев, сыгравший Афоню и Айсмана". BBC (in Russian).
35. ""Мастер и Маргарита" Юрия Кары выходит в прокат" (in Russian). 2 December 2010.
36. "Актер умер в возрасте 85 лет" (in Russian).
37. ""Символично, что он ушел в день рождения Гайдая": Харатьян о смерти Куравлева" (in Russian).
38. "Вход в лабиринт - актеры и роли" (in Russian).
39. "Елки-палки!." (in Russian).
40. "Режиссеры о Леониде Куравлеве: никакой звездной болезни, деликатность и трудолюбие" (in Russian).
41. "Режиссер Игорь Масленников: "У Леонида Куравлева была изюминка русского простака"" (in Russian).
42. "Кто из актеров "Самой обаятельной и привлекательной" действительно знал секреты сватовства" (in Russian).
43. "В возрасте 85-ти лет ушел из жизни замечательный актер Леонид Куравлев" (in Russian).
44. "Человек-невидимка (1984)" (in Russian).
45. "БИОГРАФИЯ ЛЕОНИДА КУРАВЛЁВА: УМЕР АКТЁР ФИЛЬМОВ "АФОНЯ" И "ИВАН ВАСИЛЬЕВИЧ МЕНЯЕТ ПРОФЕССИЮ"" (in Russian). 30 January 2022.
46. "Ярмольник рассказал, как Куравлева однажды разыграли по-крупному" (in Russian).
47. "Леонид Куравлев: любимый, народный, родной" (in Russian).
48. "Просто ужас".
49. "Актер Леонид Куравлев отмечает 85-летний юбилей" (in Russian).
50. ""Фрак для шалопая"" (in Russian).
51. "Инкогнито из Петербурга" (in Russian).
52. ""Мимино": как создавался культовый киношедевр?" (in Russian).
53. "Соло для слона с оркестром" (in Russian).
54. "Умер Леонид Куравлев" (in Russian). 30 January 2022.
55. "Простой хороший человек: Леонид Куравлёв всю жизнь играл сердцем" (in Russian). 8 October 2021.
56. Rollberg, Peter (2016). Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 420. ISBN 9781442268425.
57. "Умер Леонид Куравлев". 30 January 2022.
58. "Не оставшийся в простаках" (in Russian).
59. "Народный артист Леонид Куравлев попал в реанимацию с коронавирусом" (in Russian).
60. "Афоня, Жорж Милославский, инспектор Гранден. Главные роли Леонида Куравлева" (in Russian). 30 January 2022.

External links

• Leonid Kuravlyov at IMDb
• (In Russian) Leonid Kuravlyov biography, filmography, photogallery