Leonid Kuravlyov

Soviet and Russian film actor (1936–2022)

Nina Kuravlyova

(m. 1960; died 2012)

Children2

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]
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

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