What happened to Yuri Smirnov, whom the whole country hated for the role of Polipov

actor Yuri Nikolaevich Smirnov He achieved the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1989, and also became People's Artist of the Russian Federation in 1997. But many believe that this talented man could have achieved more in the film. But what spoiled the public’s attitude to Smirnov was that he played his main role too well. How did that happen?



Yuri Nikolaevich Smirnov was born a future actor of theater and cinema in Moscow on November 6, 1938 in the family of a hereditary shoemaker originally from the Volga region. It is not surprising that the boy did not dream of acting career, and did not even think about it. But later, succumbing to the influence of an old friend and classmate Alexander Zbruev (also became a famous actor), he tried to enter a theater university.

Not without difficulty, but Yuri Nikolaevich still became a student of the famous Shchepkin school. However, a year later he was expelled from there for obscure reasons. Fortunately, Smirnov did not give up or give up. And soon became a student of the B. Shchukin Theatre School. Then in 1963 he entered the Taganka Theatre, where he devoted his whole life.

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Publication by Ivan Sadovnikov. From Russia. (@ivan.sadovnikov)



But, as you know, the path of the actor to wide popularity lies through the cinema. And already in 1961, the young Yuri Smirnov made his debut in the film Nine Days of One Year. And let the picture was quite significant for Soviet cinema of those years, but all the glory deservedly went to the performers of the main roles - Batalov, Smoktunovsky, Evstigneev. Smirnov played only an episodic role.

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Publication by Ivan Sadovnikov. From Russia. (@ivan.sadovnikov)



There was a lot of work to be done in the cinema. Only in 1969 came the comedy “Village Detective”, where Smirnov got a small role. The film was warmly welcomed by the audience, it is even interesting to watch today.

However, a noticeable increase in recognition of the actor occurred only after the release of the musical television film "Bumbarash" in 1971. There Smirnov played one of the main characters - the head of "self-defense" Gavrila.

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Publication by Alexander Volkov (@volkov101256)



The key work in the film was the role in the multi-part television film “Eternal Call”, where Yuri Smirnov played a traitor and informant Peter Polipov. And the role was played so convincingly that viewers simply could not believe that this clever careerist from the screen could be a completely different person in real life. The brilliant performance of the actor made millions of viewers hate him.

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Publication by Sputnikkinozritelya (@sputnikkinozritelya)



The censors were also impressed. And they doubted whether it was worth showing ordinary citizens, even wanted to cut scenes with Smirnov. But in the end, the character, which did not fit into the canons of that Soviet time, allowed everyone to see.

“Eternal Call” collected many awards, and the actors received a sea of recognition. But the role of the scoundrel Polipov, in which Yuri Nikolaevich Smirnov was surprisingly organic, left him without deserved praise.

It is striking that after several successful works, Yuri Smirnov was entrusted with less promising and significant projects. Often he appeared on the screen in the role of subtle, minor characters who had no chance to impress the viewer. Although even in 2017, when the actor was under 80, he was still acting in films.

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Posted by @dni_rojdeniya_akterov_



In the personal life of the actor, too, not everything was smooth. At one point, the man became addicted to strong drinks, which threatened to destroy the family. Fortunately, he managed to overcome the trouble and save the marriage. And recently with his wife (she is also an actress) Yuri Smirnov celebrated a golden wedding – 50 years together. And when asked about the secret of such a strong relationship, he declared: “The main thing is patience.”

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Publication by Irina Pavlov (Tarasova) (@irinapavlova_lenfilm)



Do you remember the best roles of this talented actor? Share your opinion in the comments.