Actor Alexei Smirnov: biography, personal life, films

The image of cheerful, good-natured and funny Fedor from Gaidai's comedy "The Adventures of Shurik" has been familiar to many since childhood. But few know about the difficult life and tragic fate of the performer of this role. The theme of the material is actor Alexei Smirnov.

Stage talent

My favorite artist was born on February 28, 1920. In the family, apart from him, there was a younger brother Arkady. When the boys were small, the parents moved to St. Petersburg. There the children grew up. Dad died young. The sons were brought up by the mother. She was a strong and confident woman. Fearing that he could not cope with his duties and could not raise good boys, the widow even rarely let the boys out into the yard.

The first roles of Alexei Smirnov were still in school. The actor's talent appeared early enough. He actively participated in the amateur class. Therefore, a handsome, young and energetic guy without hesitation took a theater studio. There the young man declared himself as a successful student. In 1940 he was admitted to the Leningrad Theater of Musical Comedy, where he took courses. It is interesting that the actor did not have a hearing.

He managed to play only one role when he was drafted into the army. Subsequently, the Great Patriotic War thundered. The young man immediately enlisted as a volunteer.

Then the artist left his beloved girl, on whom he promised to marry immediately upon his return home.

Sole of company

At the front, as on the stage, Aleksey Makarovich Smirnov was a real star. He was different from other soldiers with a good sense of humor and the ability to cheer. Often a man refused to obey the orders of higher officials. But disobedience to the actor was forgiven.

Another achievement of the artist - concerts, which he himself put for his comrades at the front. Alexey played the leading roles and acted as a director. The evenings he organized were a comfort to many soldiers. Most of all, the military liked the production of The Wedding in Malinovka, where later, ironically, one of the most striking roles was played by actor Alexei Smirnov.

In combat, the man was very bold. He skillfully exterminated enemy equipment, captured the Germans and repeatedly saved his brothers from certain death.

For his loyalty to the Motherland, Alexey was awarded many medals. He was awarded the Order of Glory I and II degrees. The title of the Hero of the Union prevented getting a concussion.

Terrible news

Returning from the hospital, the first thing this man did was to part with his beloved, who was waiting for him. Then nobody could explain such an act of a soldier. And only many years later it became known that after the injury at the front, Alexei Smirnov became fruitless. The biography of a merry and kind artist was actually very sad.

Actually, nobody knew about the military exploits of the actor. It should be noted that the man did not maintain ties with his colleagues. Although Alexei was invited to meetings every year and repeatedly wrote to him, he avoided his friends in the regiment. Moreover, I never told colleagues in the filmmaking shop about the years spent at the front. Friends of the actor are sure that the reason for such actions lies in the fact that any memories of the war were extremely painful for the soldier's wounded soul.

Despite this, in those rare moments when Aleksei Makarovich Smirnov talked about the front, his stories were filled with humor and joy.

The main woman

Throughout his life, the artist considered himself a very ugly man. I did not think anyone would like high growth and an asymmetrical face. He knew that he could not have children, that's why he did not try to have serious relations with the young ladies. He was often seen on the set surrounded by a company of ladies. But the man never stayed alone with them.

The only woman of his life was Mom. Strong and healthy, she accompanied him to the war. But in 1941 at the front the younger brother Arkady was killed. This tragedy broke the woman. Her mental health was disrupted. Therefore, actor Alexei Smirnov was forced to care for the unfortunate.

After the war, he settled in his old little communal with his mother. Because of his modesty, the artist, even when he became popular (plus taking into account military achievements), failed to achieve a separate apartment.

Bitter glory

After the war he worked in the theater. Due to illness, the mother refused to make a tour and make profitable offers. However, very soon his facial features pleased the filmmakers. At first the man was invited to play episodic comic roles. The first screen work was the painting "The Baltic Glory" in 1957. Further on the artist, one after the other, sent down proposals.

At first, only humorous roles played Alexei Smirnov. Films "Striped flight", "Evenings on a farm near Dikanka", "Operation" Y "", "Aibolit-66" became hits. After these roles, the man was recognized on the streets.

However, the actor himself dreamed of playing a dramatic character. Such an opportunity was given by Leonid Bykov - Alexei's comrade, the director and the main character of the film "Only Old Men Are Going to Battle". Many critics and spectators have noticed that these men did not play friendship in front of the camera.

Warm feelings for each other they carried through the time. Therefore, the death of Bykov in April 1979 greatly shook Smirnov's health. When he was subsequently taken to the hospital, the doctors found several more serious illnesses. On May 7 of the same year, the actor was to be discharged. However, that night a man had a heart attack. Very few people came to the funeral of the great artist.

Unknown hero

Especially strongly this good-natured children loved. They ran after him a herd, and he spent hours playing with them. Another of his talents was woodcarving. Almost every little boy Alexei on occasion gave some funny figure. Part of his work he took to the orphanage. There, the actor drew attention to one closed boy and even wanted to register custody over him. However, the authorities did not allow Smirnov to become a father.

In real life, Alexey was far from the image of a clown and a slow-witted man. He read a lot, had a serious library. In parallel, he collected insects and reptiles, which he collected on tours in different parts of the Union. There were many icons in his room. He often quoted Japanese poetry.

The man outside the stage was very easy to dress. He usually wore sports suits. Actor Alexei Smirnov never suffered from stellar illness. Without hesitation I spoke with strangers on the street and greeted everyone who recognized him. He was a really great man with a great soul.