Leonid Kuravlev: biography, personal life, films with the actor

Leonid Kuravlev is one of the brightest stars of Russian cinema. It is impossible to imagine Soviet television without the parasite Afonya, the charismatic robber Georges Miloslavsky or the woman lover Misha Dyatlov from the film “The Most Charming and Attractive”. Each character played by Kuravlev represents the image of a handsome and charming man. Leonid Kuravlev played many roles, each of which was undoubtedly remembered and liked by the viewer.

Leonid Kuravlev

Biography of Leonid Kuravlev

Leonid Kuravlev was born on October 8, 1936. His parents were simple people: his father Vyacheslav Yakovlevich Kuravlev worked as a mechanic at an aircraft factory, and his mother Valentina Dmitrievna Kuravleva earned money as a hairdresser. The main part of caring for the son was entrusted to the woman. My father spent a lot of time at work. Lenya was a fairly domestic and obedient boy. He didn't play around, listened to his parents, and was considered quiet in some ways. The family idyll did not last long.

In 1941, Leonid’s mother, Valentina, was unfairly slandered and driven into exile. The woman was sent to a labor camp in the north, in the village of Zasheyek, Murmansk region. Mom's sister, Aunt Nadya, and her husband, Uncle Kolya, took care of little Lena. The boy spent most of his time with them until his mother was released. Lenya was very homesick for his mother. At the age of 10, he went to his mother on the peninsula. As an adult, Kuravlev will remember these years with special tenderness.

Kuravlev with his parents

After Valentina returns, the family will move to Moscow. In the Izmailovo area, where the Kuravlev family would live, there were a lot of punks wandering around. However, Leonid, being a calm and obedient boy, will not get involved with them in the same company.

Childhood

Leonid was born on October 8, 1936 on the working outskirts of Moscow in the family of an aircraft factory mechanic, Vyacheslav Yakovlevich.

and hairdresser
Valentina Dmitrievna Kuravlevykh
. At the beginning of the war, the mother was arrested under the notorious Article 58 (counter-revolutionary activities) and exiled to Karaganda. There she worked for 5 years at a metallurgical plant.

During these years, the boy lived with his mother’s sister, Nadezhda (later talking about his childhood, Leonid Vyacheslavovich never mentioned why he did not stay with his father). Then, when Valentina Dmitrievna was sent to the Kola Peninsula to the village of Zasheyek, she was able to take her son to her. Lenya spent about a year with her, and then his mother sent him back to Moscow. Soon the authorities allowed her to return to the capital and the family was finally reunited.

Leonid Kuravlev with his parents. Photo uznayvse.ru

Personal life and women of Leonid Kuravlev

At the age of 16, Leonid unexpectedly fell in love. A bright and enthusiastic feeling awoke in the young man during a walk at the city skating rink. He looked in fascination at the pretty girl who skated smoothly and confidently past him. Since then, not a single representative of the fair sex could evoke such a deep and warm feeling in Lenya. He spent the whole evening watching the beautiful speed skater, keeping track of where she lived and studied. The beautiful stranger turned out to be seventh grade student Ninochka Antonova. For a year, the boy looked closely at the girl and secretly watched her, but one fine day Lenya plucked up courage and invited Nina to take a walk together. Since then, a tender and strong friendship began between them, smoothly flowing into a love affair.

In his entire life, Kuravlev had never met a girl like his Nina. Nina has always been a very serious and self-sufficient person, and at the same time a friendly and sympathetic girl. She admired Lenya, supported him and never tormented him with jealousy and suspicion, even when the inconspicuous boy turned into a famous film actor, whom many women fancied.

Nina Antonova

Biography

Leonid was born in the fall of 1936 in Moscow, into a very ordinary working-class family. His father worked in a factory all his life, and his mother worked as a hairdresser. None of the relatives had anything to do with art. The actor's childhood was very tragic. They wrote a denunciation against my mother, as a result of which he was undeservedly sent into exile for seven whole years, which he went into with her. Returning to the capital was not easy, and living was even more difficult. There was a catastrophic lack of money even for the most ordinary needs.

Things were also going very badly at school. Lenya studied very poorly, and did not even make any efforts to improve his performance. But in the 10th grade his creative abilities began to emerge. And the key decision to connect life with art was participation in a school production. Therefore, immediately after school, Leonid submitted documents to VGIK. However, I succeeded only on the second attempt.

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And in 1959 he got his first experience in big cinema. He got a minor role in the film “There Will Be No Layoffs Today.” This event became fateful for the young actor, since during the filming he was able to fully reveal his talent.

First steps into the world of art

Leonid graduated from school and tried to enter VGIK on the advice of his sister. The first attempt failed. Lenya was not upset and got a job. He worked hard at a soft toy factory and harbored thoughts about a creative future. Two years later, he still managed to enroll in the first year of Boris Vladimirovich Bibikov. Studying was not easy for Leonid.

By nature, he was quite constrained and closed, and these qualities prevent him from showing his acting talents.

He seemed such an unpromising student that Boris Vladimirovich seriously thought about expelling him. However, in his third year, Kuravlev seemed to have grown wings. He gradually loosened up and began to show good hopes. The boy showed himself excellently in an excerpt from Kataev’s play “Squaring the Circle.”

The comedy genre of the work was an excellent success for Leonid.

Everyone in the hall laughed and applauded with admiration, and Boris Bibikov even praised Kuravlev, saying that even Boris Livanov did not play such a superb character on the stage. Kuravlev was very pleased with this compliment and with a calm soul continued his studies, developing his acting talent.

Young Kuravlev

First film work

Leonid got his first film role when he was still a student. Vasily Shukshin invited the young boy to take part in his thesis “They report from Lebyazhye.” Kuravlev played combine operator Senya Gromov with a stutter, who needed to get spare parts for transport. The role was a great success for the student. At the same time, Kuravlev was invited to film the film “Midshipman Panin”. In the historian - revolutionary cinema, Leonid played the sailor Kamushkin.

Sailor Kamushkin

Vasily Shukshin liked Kuravlev’s work and he will give Leonid a lucky ticket - the role of the main character in the film “There Lives Such a Guy.”

2There lives a guy like this"

This film is to this day the most beloved in Kuravlev’s filmography, and fateful for his career. The whole country learned about the young actor, and women appreciated not only Leonid’s acting abilities, but also his external data. Ladies began to look at Leonid, but the faithful and loving “Romeo” showed no one except his beloved girl Nina. The couple continued their romantic relationship. When Lena turned 24 and Nina turned 21, they happily got married.

Khoma Brut

In 1967, the first horror film “Viy” appeared on the screens of the USSR. Its appearance became a sensation even for foreign countries. US newspapers wrote that the first “horror film” was filmed in the Soviet Union. The film, based on the story by Nikolai Gogol, really impresses even the modern generation. The perfectly selected cast included such wonderful actors as Natalya Varley, Nikolai Kutuzov, Vadim Zakharchenko.

The main role of student Khoma went to Leonid Kuravlev. And he coped with the task excellently. Both Natalya Varley, who played the witch lady, and Khoma, who was scared to death, were able to convey with dignity the tense and frightening plot of the story to viewers.

From the very beginning, not only Kuravlev, but also Vyacheslav Nevinny was invited to play the role of Khoma, but the director approved of Leonid. For most actors, the first horror film evoked unpleasant associations. Despite the enormous success of the film, the acting troupe complained that participation in “Viya” brought them nothing but misfortune.

Khoma Brut

Kuravlev’s attitude to “Viy”

And, Leonid Kuravlev got a lot of pleasure from filming Gogol’s film. He eagerly reread his scenes and dialogues, and was proud to be participating in the embodiment of the story of such a wonderful writer as Nikolai Gogol. Leonid liked everything: the selection of colleagues, the gloomy atmosphere. In one of the episodes, an unpleasant incident happened to Natalya Varleya. They filmed a scene in which the “dead lady” flies in a coffin under the dome of the church. Suddenly the coffin spun, and Natalya Varley flew down...

A fall from a three-meter height could have ended in failure if Leonid Kuravlev had not caught her at that moment. Even so, Khoma saw a glimmer of good fortune. He is the only actor who did not suffer either morally or physically after participating in the “devilish” film.

Filming "Viya"

Afonya Borshchev

For the role of the mediocrity and egoist Afanasy Borshchev in the film “Afonya”, three candidates were considered: Vladimir Vysotsky, Daniil Olbrykhsky and Leonid Kuravlev. After some thought, the director settled on Lena and was not mistaken. The passive alcoholic Borshchev, played by Kuravlev, appeared to the audience as a somewhat touching and charming guy.

The film was a great success, and some phrases from their footage still wander among Russian citizens: “Afonya, you owe me a lot!”, “Make yourself at home, but don’t forget that you are a guest!”

Afanasy Borshchev

Georges Miloslavsky

One of the brightest and audience-favorite roles in which Leonid Kuravlev starred is Georges Miloslavsky, a thief and swindler from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession.”

Fate could have decided otherwise and instead of Kuravlev, the character would have been represented by an equally charming and bright actor like Andrei Mironov.

But, unfortunately, Mironov’s relationship with the “tsar” and the “house manager” of the film, Yuri Yakovlev, did not work out. And Kuravlev fit into Miloslavsky’s place organically. Now it is difficult to imagine this kind and funny comedy with other performers.

“Ivan Vasilyevich is changing his profession”

Films by Leonid Kuravlev

Leonid Kuravlev as Leni and Inna Gulaya as Natasha in the feature film “When the Trees Were Big” by Lev Kulidzhanov (1962)

Leonid Kuravlev as Pyotr Kamushkin in Mikhail Schweitzer's feature film "Midshipman Panin" (1960)

Leonid Kuravlev (left) as Shura Balaganov and Zinovy ​​Gerdt as Mikhail Panikovsky in the feature film “The Golden Calf” by Mikhail Schweitzer (1968)

Leonid Kuravlev made his film debut when he was in his third year. He starred in the course work of Alexander Gordon and Andrei Tarkovsky - the film “There will be no layoffs today...”.

A year later, Kuravlev played in the film “Midshipman Panin” by Mikhail Schweitzer. He was invited to audition by the director's wife Sofya Milkina, who noticed the aspiring actor during a vocal exam at VGIK. In 1960, about 30 million viewers watched the film at the box office.

On the set of this film, Leonid Kuravlev met and became friends with Vasily Shukshin. The director invited him to star in his diploma work - the film “They report from Lebyazhye”. And the next year they played together in Lev Kulidzhanov’s film “When the Trees Were Big.”

Kuravlev's fame was brought to him by Shukshin's painting “There Lives a Guy Like This.” In it, the actor played the main role - driver Pavel Kolokolnikov. At the 1964 Venice Film Festival, the film received the Lion of St. Mark award for best film for children.

In the late 1960s, Leonid Kuravlev began acting a lot. Among the popular films of those years were “Time, Forward!”, “Beyond Judgment,” and “The Golden Calf.” He played the role of a simpleton. The artist's heroes were workers, plumbers, and police officers.

Soon Kuravlev stopped accepting invitations to such roles. He even refused Shukshin when the director offered the actor the main role in his film “Stoves and Benches.”

Shukshin and I talked for quite a long time. I remember that I was afraid of repetition, because the character of the hero in “Stoves and Benches” somewhere overlapped with the character of Pashka Kolokolnikov, the writer Shukshin was the same, the performer, Kuravlev, was the same. I couldn’t say frankly then that I wouldn’t play. I just couldn't. My situation at that time was quite common for many actors who had worked in cinema for many years: I was tired of performing in the roles in which I was cast - essentially, I was still the same simpleton. I just wanted to run away from my simpletons, and the offers at that moment were suitable: “Seventeen Moments of Spring”, “Robinson Crusoe”.

Leonid Kuravlev. Quoted from the book by writer Fyodor Razzakov “Dossier on the Stars”

Leonid Kuravlev (left) as Georges Miloslavsky and Yuri Yakovlev as Ivan the Terrible in the feature film by Leonid Gaidai “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession” (1973)

Leonid Kuravlev (left) as Kurt Eisman and Leonid Bronevoy as Heinrich Müller in Tatyana Lioznova’s multi-part feature television film “Seventeen Moments of Spring” (1973)

Leonid Kuravlev as Afanasy Borshchov in the feature film Afonya by Georgy Danelia (1975)

Kuravlev tried himself in another role in the 1970s. Tatyana Lioznova invited the actor to star in the series “Seventeen Moments of Spring.” He first auditioned for the role of Adolf Hitler. And then the director invited him to play Obersturmbannführer Eismann.

Film critics considered this role of Kuravlev unsuccessful. Journalist A. Blinova wrote: “The silent Eisman does not look like a thoughtful philosopher, much less like an anti-Hitler. A German might have a similar face with blue eyes. Similar, but not Kuravlev’s with the long trail of his guys, his Russian people with their recognition.”

Another popular film with Kuravlev’s participation was Leonid Gaidai’s comedy “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession.” The actor played the recidivist thief Georges Miloslavsky. At first, Andrei Mironov was supposed to play this role. But soon Gaidai decided to take another actor. At the audition, Mironov seemed to the director too “refined and intelligent, not like a thief.”

Georgy Yumatov, Anatoly Kuznetsov, Vyacheslav Nevinny and other actors auditioned for the role. Gaidai eventually chose Kuravlev.

And in 1975, Leonid Kuravlev played the plumber Afanasy Borshchov in the tragicomedy Afonya by Georgy Danelia. In addition to him, many famous actors of those years also auditioned for this role - Vladimir Vysotsky, Daniel Olbrychsky, Nikolai Karachentsov.

The film "Afonya" became the most popular in 1975. It was watched by 62 million viewers. At the IX All-Union Film Festival in Frunze, the film received a special prize. And two years later, in 1977, for “services in the field of Soviet cinema” Leonid Kuravlev was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the RSFSR.

In the 1980s, the actor continued to appear frequently in films. Among Kuravlev’s popular roles are criminal Valentin Bisyagin in the series “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed,” dispatcher Leonid Shindin in the film “We, the Undersigned,” and Inspector Grandin in the comedy “Look for the Woman.” And the film “The Most Charming and Attractive,” in which the artist played together with Irina Muravyova, Tatyana Vasilyeva and Alexander Abdulov, became the leader of the Soviet film exhibition in 1985. It was watched by almost 45 million viewers.

Kuravlev's best roles

Leonid Kuravlev starred in more than 200 films. He played a wide variety of roles. The most popular of them: “Seventeen Moments of Spring” (Obersturmbannführer Eismann); "Can't be!" (Volodya Zavitushkin); “The most charming and attractive” (womanizer Misha Dyatlov); “Timur and his team” (Timur’s uncle, Georgy Garayev) and many, many others. Wikipedia has a complete list of the actor’s filmography.

Kuravlev as Gorbachev

Selected filmography

No article could contain a complete list of films with Leonid Kuravlev. We offer a selection of filmography, where the roles are only the main ones or in very famous films:

Leonid Kuravlev and Tamara Semina

In the film “Fatherless” Leonid Kuravlev played the new husband of a negligent mother played by Tamara Semina. It is worth noting that Tamara Semina was liked by many men and co-stars. Evil tongues started talking about the love affair between Kuravlev and Semina, but the gossip had no basis. Tamara, like Leonid, were devoted to their rightful soul mates. All her life, from her student days, Semina loved only her husband, Vladimir Prokofiev. Tamara and Leonid worked as a couple, only in a duet when performing the song “How to Pull Yourself Together.”

Semina and Kuravlev

Children of Leonid Kuravlev

Despite the fact that many women dreamed of Leonid, the man always remained faithful to his wife Nina Vasilievna, with whom he lived for about 60 years.

Nina always supported her husband and never made him jealous, watching his romantic actions on the TV screen.

Nina Vasilievna worked as an English teacher and gradually rose to the position of director.

Kuravlev family

Daughter of Leonid Kuravlev - Ekaterina

A daughter, Katenka, was born into the family. From an early age, the girl dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. She dreamed of becoming as popular an artist as her beloved daddy. Ekaterina grew up and entered VGIK. TV viewers could watch her acting in the film “the most charming and attractive.” It was she who played Nadya Klyueva’s roommate, who met the trainers, and persuaded her new friend to go on a visit “for dates.”

Katya Kuravleva

The girl played well in films. She has about 5 roles to her credit. Soon Catherine realized that the world of cinema was not her real goal. The girl abandoned cinema and entered medical school. At the moment, Ekaterina Kuravleva works as a wonderful psychotherapist who helps her patients by practicing unconventional methods of treatment.

Son of Lkeonid Kuravlev - Vasily

When the eldest daughter turned 15 years old, the Kuravlev family was replenished with another family member. Leonid and Nina had a son, who was named Vasily, in honor of Shukshin. From an early age Vasily had no desire for acting. He was not at all interested in television. The boy dreamed of sports and wanted to become a professional tennis player. The father supported his son's aspirations. But, as an adult, Vasily became an economist and forgot his dreams of big-time sports. He also went bald early, like his father, which made him look very much like him.

Vasya Kuravlev

Kuravlev has always been an excellent family man and role model. He never yelled at children. All he had to do was cast a stern look at the child, and he immediately understood his mistake and tried to correct it. Leonid did all the household chores himself: he did an excellent job of repairing wiring, furniture and plumbing.

Daughter of Leonid Kuravlev - Ekaterina Kuravlyova

Our hero became a father for the first time in the early 60s. A charming girl appeared in the family, who was very similar to her grandmother, Leonid’s mother. The parents decided to name the child Katya.

Daughter of Leonid Kuravlev - Ekaterina Kuravleva

During her school years, Leonid Kuravlev’s daughter, Ekaterina Kuravlyova, studied well. She loved to recite poems.

Having received a certificate, the girl becomes a student of the world famous Pike. But then Katya realized that it was not hers. She goes to medical school and becomes a psychotherapist.

The woman is currently caring for her father. She took upon herself all the worries after the passing of our hero’s beloved wife.

Sadness in the Kuravlev family

Peace, love and understanding have always reigned in the Kuravlev family. Leonid enjoyed spending time with his family. The actor tried to spend every free minute with dear people, preferring home leisure to acting parties and public events.

In 2010, Leonid and Nina celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Their marriage can truly be called not just successful, but also happy.

Kuravlev with his wife

And, two years later, after the Golden Wedding, grief came to the Kuravlev family: Nina Vasilievna died. Recently her health has deteriorated greatly. The woman on her feet suffered two heart attacks. An urgent operation was required, but its outcome was sad. It was not possible to save Nina Vasilievna.

April 5, 2012 became the darkest day in Leonid’s life.

Without my beloved wife, the world ceased to make sense.

His wife was buried at the Troekurovskoye cemetery in Moscow. Every day he came to the cemetery, mourning his soulmate. At Kuravlev’s request, the name Leonid Kuravlev was engraved on his wife’s tombstone, next to the date of birth and death. Even after death, Leonid does not want to be separated from his Ninochka, and takes comfort in the fact that he will be buried with his “dove.”

Kuravlev now

Leonid Kuravlev now

Leonid Vyacheslavovich is 84 years old (in 2021), he is alive, healthy, active: he walks around Moscow every day. Protects your feet, because old age makes itself felt. Lives in a house built by order of Stalin. He is proud that the famous pilot Vodopyanov lived next door.

The concierge strictly follows the instructions, not allowing strangers to see the actor. As a last resort, he consults with Ekaterina Leonidovna, who moved to her father’s apartment to be close. After the death of his beloved, Leonid Kuravlev practically disappeared from public view. His dislike of crowds was aggravated by personal experiences.

Every week he visits the Troekurovsky cemetery at Nina’s grave. Because her advice, kind words and support are not enough. Job offers come in periodically, but pickiness does not allow me to take part in a project that I am not passionate about. “I’m ashamed to film in places where they rape, cut, and kill.”

Family support

The Kuravlevs’ daughter, Ekaterina, became so worried about her father’s health and well-being that she practically moved into her parents’ apartment. Father and son Vasily often visit. Kuravlev spends a lot of time with his beloved grandchildren. Now children and grandchildren are his new reason for existence. He often walks with them, talks, and gives gifts.

Neighbors have always admired and admire the Kuravlev family. Despite his enormous popularity, neither Leonid, nor his wife Nina, nor his children, nor his grandchildren, ever became arrogant. They always behaved politely and affably with others.

Kuravlev with grandchildren

Rumors of death

Kuravlev finally stopped acting in films. Leonid began to appear little in public and led a reclusive life. He was seen so little and rarely on the street that they began to talk about the actor passing away.

With lightning speed, rumors spread that Leonid Kuravlev had died.

For the first time, TV presenter David Shneiderov spoke with such news on his Facebook page. The news spread on Channel 5 as well. The “alive” Kuravlev was shocked to the core by such “sad news.” Having realized his mistake, David Shneiderov immediately deleted the false post, but the gossip had already spread across the Internet. Perhaps outraged by his “death,” Leonid found new strength to live and move.

Leonid Kuravlev 83

He again began to appear in public, visit fans, and arrange meetings. Leonid never refuses to give an autograph to both the older generation and the youth. He is pleased that his work is remembered and respected to this day. The fake news about the date of the actor’s death outraged and agitated many Internet users. They were glad to learn that Leonid Kuravlev was alive. People sincerely wished their beloved artist health and long life.

Leonid Kuravlev now