Actor Andrei Alekseevich Popov: photo, biography, private life

Friends and relatives, who are lucky enough to know Andrei Popov, spoke of his human qualities only in superlatives, marveling at his kindness, spiritual generosity, his compassion. The actor himself was unprotected and vulnerable.

There is such an expression: the eyes are the mirror of the soul, so, it is enough to look at the artist's face on the screen and understand that this is said about Andrei Popov.

Andrei Popov - The actor with a capital letter, and it's not just words, he very clearly defined why an acting profession is needed, why a theater is needed and why, in principle, art is needed - to help a person live. And through it I built both acting and directing, and leadership, and pedagogy. He helped people live, according to director Vitaly Maksimov, and it's true.

Biography of People's Artist of the USSR

Andrei Popov was born on April 12, 1918 in Kostroma. Father, Alexei Popov, was a theatrical director, and my mother worked as a doctor, but after the birth of her son she devoted herself entirely to the family and raising her child.

The boy grew naughty, but still obedient, to the question of adults: "What do you want to become when you grow up?" The answer was unchanged - a chimney sweep. However, after growing up, the young man decided to build life, walking on his father's footsteps, the latter was categorically against it. The father was afraid that he would not have enough talent to become interesting, completely giving himself to the audience as an actor.

In 1939, the young man graduated from the studio at the Central Theater of the Red Army and joined the theater of the Soviet Army, the main artistic director of which was his father - Alexei Popov. For quite a long period, Andrei Alekseevich went to the stage, playing only in episodes. Over time, his talent was strengthened and manifested, which could not help noticing the father, the professional relationship between them changed. Finally, he entrusted his son with interesting and even major roles, became proud of Andrei, and the roles followed one another.

Andrei Alekseevich Popov. Family and theater

In the theater of the Soviet Army Andrei Alekseevich met his future wife - actress Irina of Macedonia, with whom she lived happily for the rest of her days. He was disappointed only one thing - they had no children ...

Later, becoming a teacher of GITIS, where he was awarded the title of professor, he was in a fatherly attitude to the students, and his beloved disciple Vitaly Maximov and called his son.

And in 1960, the father of Andrei Popov, without compromising with the leadership of the Main Political Directorate, left the post of artistic director of the TSCA at his own will, after him the leading position was taken by AL Dunaev, and ten years later Andrei Popov.

Shakespeare's hero

Andrei Popov was a huge growth, handsome, charming, possessed, according to the People's Artist of the Soviet Union Lyudmila Kasatkina, the charm of intelligence. She was happy that she got to the theater where Andrei Alekseevich played, which became a very expensive partner for her, together they were involved in the production of "American Tragedy" by Dreiser, in "The Taming of the Shrew" by Shakespeare, in "Elegy" by Pavlovskaya, where he Played Turgenev.

Petruccio in his performance was irresistible. American actor Richard Barton, who plays the same role in the American film "The Taming of the Shrew", was not at all compared to Andrei Popov. It was impossible to replay the actor, he was a real Shakespearean hero.

And in life Andrei Alekseevich Popov, whose photo can be seen in this article, was a very homely man, appreciated the comfort and calm atmosphere. He had a soft sense of humor, without this feeling he did not exist at all, humor helped him and his surroundings to live.

Chekhov in the life of an actor

In addition to Shakespeare's heroes, Chekhov's characters were close to him. Director Leonid Kheifets invited the actor to play Chekhov himself in his film "Ionich", the whole film crew went to Melikhovo to the house-museum of the great writer. Andrei Popov in the makeup of Anton Pavlovich together with the director went to the museum. All the staff of the museum flocked to look at the actor and were so impressed by the resemblance to the writer that the museum director gave him the main relic of the museum - a pince-nez and cap Anton Pavlovich Chekhov.

Touching the things of one of the great Russian writers, Andrei Alekseevich could not play. Inside instantly, everything died, and he asked Chekhov's things to be replaced with sham. When this was done, he calmed down and played already detached.

In leading positions

Becoming the head of the theater of the Soviet Army, Andrei Alekseevich Popov continued to appear on the stage as an actor, he staged his own plays - "Camels on the palms", "Brandenburg Gate", "Unknown Soldier". In addition to serious productions, he was given a musical comedy "Rinaldo goes into battle" and a fairy tale "The Soldier and Eve".

Many talented and beginning directors Andrei Popov invited to his theater. BV Erin, DV Tunkel, MM Butkevich, and then Maria Knebel staged performances in the theater of the Soviet Army. One of the brightest theatrical and film directors was Leonid Kheifets, a pupil of Andrei Popov and Maria Knebel.

The Role of Ivan the Terrible

It was Kheyfets, a pupil of Andrei Alekseevich, who in 1966 became interested in the production of Ivan the Terrible, where Popov was supposed to play the king himself. At first, Andrei Alekseevich long refused the role, believing that this was not his type, but eventually agreeing, he played one of the best roles in his life. Even after the departure of Alexei Popov from the theater, the role of Ivan the Terrible was pursued by him, he played and played ...

Then there was Voynitsky in the production of Uncle Vanya, Epiphodov in The Cherry Orchard. Served by faith and truth to this theater for 35 years, Andrei Alekseevich Popov is forced to leave him because of disagreements with the military leadership of the theater.

MKhAT of Oleg Efremov

After some time he is invited to the Moscow Art Theater by Oleg Efremov and immediately gives the role of Galileo after Berthold Brecht's play The Life of Galileo. In the Moscow Art Theater, the actor was involved in many performances, especially Chekhov. But to be as demanded as in the Theater of the Soviet Army, Andrei Alekseevich was not given.

One period Andrei Popov devoted himself to the Stanislavsky Theater, invited his students to stage plays, and the theater really came to life for a short time. But the students left the theater one by one, and soon Andrei Andreyevich had to leave there.

Filmography of the actor

Andrei Alekseevich Popov was also filmed in the cinema, his debut in this genre was his work in the film "Major Trouble", filmed in 1930, then, after a break, Novikov played in the film "Chamber", Adamov in "The Seventh Satellite", Logunov in the film " Taming the fire "and so on. In the film adaptation of Chekhov's story "The Swedish Match", the actor played Dyukovsky, Nazanskiy in Kuprin's "Duel".

Conclusion

Nikita Mikhalkov invited the famous actor to play Nazar's servant in the film "A few days from the life of II Oblomov" and for this role he asked Andrei Alekseevich to shave his head. On this go Popov could not go, because he had yet to play Chekhov's heroes in the theater. Then Nikita Sergeyevich connected "heavy artillery" - himself and several people from the crew shaved. Seeing this self-forgetfulness, Andrei Popov conceded.

For many, this remarkable man and actor was remembered as the old miser in the painting "Matchmaking the Hussar," but even such an odious character evoked sympathy, because he was played by Andrei Popov.

Actor Andrey Popov, whose personal life and creative life was successful, was happy all his life and, standing on the threshold of death, said that he would not die any more. He did not mean physical immortality, but spiritual. He is remembered, loved and appreciated so far.