Viewers love and remember actor Ivan Lapikov, on his account more than seventy films

Soviet theatre and film actor Ivan Lapikov He did not have time to get a theater education, but this did not prevent him from becoming a People's Artist of the USSR. The ability to convincingly play a collective farmer, soldier, engineer or even a monk made Ivan Gerasimovich a favorite of the public. Although his characters were restrained and verbose, but the audience still remembered them for a long time.



The future actor was born on July 7, 1922 at the Zayachy farm (now the Volgograd region). Parents at that time were considered wealthy. Therefore, the family in the 30s had to regularly move from place to place to avoid dekulakization. They say that this affected the character of Ivan himself - he grew up withdrawn and wary, it was difficult to open up to new people.

However, from an early age, Lapikov found solace in music and acting. For a long time Ivan did not know what choice to make. Acting seemed unlikely, because the parents of the guy were devout people who believed that acting was a sin.



Nevertheless, Ivan went to Kharkov, where he studied for two years at the theater school. And then the war began, I had to go home and help build defensive fences near Stalingrad. Moreover, the guy even received a medal “For the Defense of Stalingrad” for transporting the wounded to the rear.

In the spring of 1945, Lapikov even without full education got to the Stalingrad Drama Theater named after Maxim Gorky, where he was entrusted with the roles of the second plan. Here in 1947, Ivan Gerasimovich met his future wife Julia. The actor gave this theater about 20 years. And then he moved to Moscow, where he collaborated with Mosfilm, and also performed on the stage of one of the capital’s theaters.



Of course, the general public remembers any actor for his work in the cinema. And Ivan Lapikov was one of those who are called the kings of episodes. He rarely received the main roles, but each of them became really popular.

In the first three films, the roles were so small that the name of Ivan Lapikov was not even added to the credits. However, the film "Chairman" in 1964 allowed the actor to loudly declare himself. His game was appreciated not only by the audience, but also by colleagues on the set. Mikhail Ulyanov then recalled that Lapikov was frighteningly convincing.



In the film drama Tarkovsky “Andrey Rublev” Lapikov played the monk Kirill. The role was not easy, but the actor managed to convincingly show a proud and envious man who hides his vices behind the screen of piety.

It is worth noting the work in the film “They fought for their homeland”. The actors noted how important it was the presence on the set of a person who was himself a full participant in the war. And on the screen, the hero of Lapikov Petty Officer Popryshchenko was irresistible.



For his role in the film “Minute of Silence”, the actor in 1973 received the Vasiliev Brothers State Prize. And in the family saga "Istoki" embodied in steel, showed the audience the life, life and foundations of the post-revolutionary time (before the war).

Needless to say, even the role of Archbishop Athanasius in the 9-episode film “Young Russia” managed Lapikov with brilliance. It should be noted and “Eternal Call”, where the actor for the role of Pankrat Nazarov received the State Prize of the USSR.



Ivan Lapikov was dismissive of his health, which played a cruel joke with him. His heart could not stand at the moment when the actor performed on stage in front of soldiers of one and Moscow military units. This happened on May 2, 1993.

And although many years have passed since then, the audience continues to remember the actor who could convincingly play even the most complex and non-standard role.