Lev Durov

Childhood and family

The future actor was born in Moscow in 1931. His childhood and youth years were spent on the territory of the ancient Lefortovo Palace, where his family lived in Catherine’s stables, converted into communal apartments. Many incredible stories and legends have long been associated with this place, and in the 30s of the twentieth century, Lefortovo was considered one of the most disadvantaged and criminal areas of Moscow.

Lev Durov in childhood

It is not surprising that Leva knew how to fend for himself from an early age - otherwise he would not have survived in such harsh conditions. He took part in street fights, chased pigeons with local punks and often came home with bruises and abrasions. Father, Konstantin Vladimirovich, was a stern man of few words, worked as the head of the Soyuzvzryvprom AJSC and enjoyed unquestioned authority in the family. Just a glance was enough for him to rein in the guilty Leva. But he was very rarely at home, so the boy was left to himself most of the time.

Lev Durov with his sister

Mother, Valentina Ignatievna, was also constantly busy - she worked as a researcher at the Central State Military Archive of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs and raised her younger daughters Lyudmila and Svetlana.

The Durov family belongs to the famous dynasty, the first information about which dates back to 1540. Their family included the brave colonel Afanasy Durov, a participant in the Kolyvan campaign, Nadezhda Durova, a legendary cavalry maiden, Anastasia Durova, abbess of the Novodevichy Convent, and many other outstanding personalities. Gradually, the heroic dynasty turned into a circus and artistic dynasty - at its origins were Anatoly and Vladimir Durov, the creators of the famous animal theater. In Soviet times, it was led by Natalya Durova; after her death, “Grandfather Durov’s Corner” was taken over by brother Yuri.

Lev Konstantinovich did not communicate with his famous relatives in his youth and was not even closely acquainted. He first met Natalya Yuryevna at the presentation of the next title, when he had already become a famous artist. From that moment on, they became friends and maintained warm family relations until her last days.

Lev Durov in his school years

But let's return to Leo's childhood, which was not at all sweet. When the boy was ten years old, the war began. During the night bombings, Leva and his friends were on duty on the roof and extinguished incendiary bombs. And after school he ran to the hospital, where he spoke to the wounded and helped the medical staff.

Durov was not particularly diligent in his studies, much less exemplary behavior. Because of this, the boy had to change several schools, but with great grief he still received a certificate with only C grades. With such grades, he had a direct path only to the theater school, where applicants did not have to take school subjects. Moreover, the young man was clearly endowed with acting abilities, for which his friends in the yard nicknamed him the Artist.

Lev Durov with friends

From the age of twelve, Leva attended a theater group at the local Palace of Pioneers, where he accidentally ended up with a friend. The bully and bully Durov quickly became one of his own there, despite the fact that this was a completely new and unusual social circle for him. Surely, artistic genes inherited from legendary ancestors also played a role, and in 1949 the young man entered the Moscow Art Theater School on the course of Gerasimov and Blinnikov. He very soon became Blinnikov’s favorite student, to whom the nimble, intelligent boy reminded him of himself in his youth. He often took him for a ride around Moscow, and during such walks he shared funny stories from his life with Durov.

The childhood of Lev Durov

Lev Durov spent his childhood in the Lefortovo district of Moscow. The actor's parents, Konstantin and Valentina Durov, often received criticism from their son: he often received bad marks and fought very often. He was expelled from school several times. The father was not too strict, he never shouted or scolded Lev, and as punishment he simply did not talk to his son. From the memoirs of Lev Durov: “True, it would be better if he swore. His silence was the worst punishment, because I respected him very much.”

The Durovs lived on the territory of the Lefortovo Museum. “The rooms were probably stables in their previous life. They looked strange: long, narrow, like a pencil case. There was one toilet for forty communal apartments,” recalls Lev Konstantinovich.

Actor Lev Durov was born in Moscow

There were three children in the family, besides Lev there were two more daughters; Lev was the middle child.

When the war began, Leva Durov, along with other boys, extinguished lighter bombs on the roofs, gave amateur concerts in military hospitals, trying to cheer up the wounded: he could simultaneously sing, tap dance and make funny faces to cheer up the wounded.

Theater career

In 1954, Lev successfully graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School and was assigned to the Central Children's Theater. He began with the role of the Little Humpbacked Horse in the play of the same name, followed by the images of Young Cucumber, Burdock, Talking Cloud and poodle Artemon. The pinnacle of his career at the CDT was the role of Tsarevich Fyodor in Boris Godunov. It is worth noting that such luminaries of the national stage as Oleg Efremov and Oleg Tabakov began their creative careers in the same theater.

Lev Durov in his youth

At that time, the director of the CDT was the legendary Anatoly Efros, with whom Durov developed excellent creative and human relations. In 1963, Efros was offered to head Lenkom, where he took Durov with him. Lev Durov. The story of the sausage In a short time, the new artistic director managed to revive the theater, which was going through hard times, and breathe new life into it. Over two years, he staged eight performances, the most high-profile of which were Molière and The Seagull.

Leonid Kanevsky, Lev Durov, Anatoly Efros and Andrei Mironov

Efros involved Durov in all his productions and during his next move in 1967 to the theater on Malaya Bronnaya, he again took him with him. On the advice of the master, Lev Konstantinovich completed directing courses and began to combine acting with production. The theater’s repertoire included several of his successful performances: “Cruel Intentions” by Arbuzov, “Cinderella” by Evgeniy Schwartz, “Indictment” by Dumbadze, “Curtains” by Varfolomeev, “And Still She Turns” by Khmelik, “Xanthippe and This What’s His Name... » Aleshina and many others.

Lev Durov in the play “Curtains” (1978)

Durov served at the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya almost until the last days of his life. At the same time, he appeared on the stage of the School of Modern Play theater, collaborated with the Moscow New Drama Theater, and played at the Satire Theater. But wide popularity and popular love were brought to him by his roles in films, not always the main ones, but each time bright, talented and original.

The last years of the artist

In 1991, Durov was officially recognized as People's Artist of the USSR. In addition, he was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples in 1996 and was elected an honorary member of the Academy of Natural Sciences. In the same 1996, the actor graduated from a course of students at the Moscow Art Theater. Three years after this, Lev Konstantinovich published his own book called “Sinful Notes.”

In July 2000, the artist was elected a two-time laureate of the Moscow International Film Festival. This happened thanks to his filming in the film “The Garden Was Full of the Moon.” Durov was also awarded the Pegasus Prize for his participation in the film “Should we send us a messenger?” One of the actor’s last spectacular roles was the image of the pilot Kaveshnikov in the New Year’s film “The Orphan of Kazan”. Durov's partners in the film were such talented personalities as Oleg Tabakov and Valentin Gaft.

The People's Artist was never afraid of death. At the end of 1990, he suffered a stroke and clinical death. After this, Durov managed to return to his favorite job without any problems. In August 2013, he was again hospitalized due to a hip fracture, but within a month he was on the mend. But in early August 2015, alarming news saddened the man’s family. He was diagnosed with a second stroke, shortly after which it became known that the actor also had increased respiratory failure.

Valentin Gaft, a friend of the actor, recalled that Durov was a very strong man. He never lied and was always stoic about any difficulties. He didn’t complain about feeling unwell, he gave his best on stage and on the set until the last moment. The latest diagnosis was pneumonia, for which Lev was treated at the First City Hospital of Moscow. The doctors realized that the artist had little chance, but fans and loved ones hoped until the end for a miracle. Nevertheless, on August 20, 2015, Lev Konstantinovich died in a Moscow hospital.

Film roles

Durov's film debut took place back in 1954 in the comedy "Good Morning", where he appeared in the image of an assistant to an excavator operator, Yashka Kozyrev. He immediately acquired the role of a simple guy from the people, which at that time was in great demand in Soviet cinema. His heroes captivated with their sincerity, humanity and warmth, and even negative characters involuntarily aroused sympathy among the audience. There were no unimportant roles for Durov, and this was felt well on the other side of the screen.

Young Lev Durov in the film “Good Morning”

The role of the captain of the royal musketeers de Treville in the cult film "D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers" made Lev Konstantinovich a real star, as well as the rest of the actors of this amazing film. This work clearly demonstrated Durov’s comedic talent, which until then only his theater fans could fully appreciate.

Lev Durov in the film "D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers"

It is also worth noting his work in the films “Seventeen Moments of Spring” (1973), “Kalina Krasnaya” (1973), “Big Change” (1973). The tiny episode that Durov played in the film “For Family Reasons” (1977) carries a huge semantic load and is one of the key moments of the film. And the role of little Juliet’s adoptive father in the film “Strange Adults” (1974) cannot leave a single person who watched this film indifferent.

Still from the film “For Family Reasons”

Durov was an unsurpassed storyteller and a true master of artistic expression. He has written four books: “Sinful Notes” (1999), “We Are Strange People” (2002), “Tales from Behind the Scenes” and “Tales for an Encore”, published in 2008 in the “Actors' Book” series. Lev Durov in the program “Born in the USSR” Sharik from the beloved cartoon “Vacation in Prostokvashino”, as well as the characters of three dozen more animated films, speak in the voice of Lev Konstantinovich. In total, Durov’s creative treasury includes about two hundred film roles and about the same number of acting and directing works in the theater.

Actor Lev Durov

The master generously shared his invaluable experience with the younger generation - in the early 90s he taught at the Moscow Art Theater School and gave a start in life to many aspiring actors.

The actor's friend Vladimir Kachan Fr.

Biography of Lev Durov

Durov also collaborated with the School of Modern Play theater, on the stage of which he played in the plays “Everything will be fine, as you wanted” (Semyon Zlotnikov), “Mrs. Lev” (Sergei Kokovkin), “...Greetings, Don Quixote! "(after Miguel Cervantes), "Anton Chekhov. Gull".

In December 2011, the premiere of the play based on Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” took place at the Moscow Theater on Malaya Bronnaya, in which Lev Durov played the main role of the wizard Prospero. The performance was jointly staged by Lev Durov and director Igor Drevalev.

Lev Durov began acting in films in 1954, after graduating from the Moscow Art Theater School. His debut was a cameo role in the film “Good Morning”. In total, the artist played more than 200 roles in films. His work in the films “I Walk Through Moscow” (1963), “Old Robbers” (1971), “Seventeen Moments of Spring” (1973), “D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers” (1978), as well as films “Should we send a messenger?” (1999) and “The Garden Was Full of the Moon” (2000).

In 2012, Lev Durov starred in the film “Three Words about Forgiveness” by the Belarusian Studio in the name of the holy confessor John the Warrior of the St. Elisabeth Monastery.

In 2014, with the participation of Lev Durov, the films “Envy”, “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you - 1919”, “Ostrozhsky Reserve” were released.

Lev Durov's creative activity was not limited to cinema and theater; he worked a lot on the radio, taught, and gave creative evenings in different cities of Russia.

In 1996, Lev Durov graduated from an acting course at the Moscow Art Theater School.

In 1999, Lev Durov’s first book, “Sinful Notes,” was published, and in 2008, two more books were published—“Tales from Behind the Scenes” and “Tales for an Encore.”

In 2014, Lev Durov acted as team captain in the television show “Big Races”.

Lev Durov has received many awards. In 1991, he was awarded the title People's Artist of the USSR. The actor was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1996), “For Services to the Fatherland” IV degree (2002), “For Services to the Fatherland” III degree (2011).

In 2000, he became a two-time laureate of the Moscow International Film Festival for his participation in the film “The Garden Was Full of the Moon”, and a Pegasus Award laureate for his participation in the film “Should we send us a messenger?” In 2006, Lev Durov was awarded the Crystal Turandot theater prize in the category “For Honor and Dignity.”

Lev Durov was married to actress Irina Kirichenko, with whom he remained married until the death of his wife in 2011.

In 1959, their daughter Ekaterina was born, who also became an actress and since 1984 has been working at the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya, and has also acted in films.

Personal life of Lev Durov

Durov met his future wife Irina Kirichenko while still a student. The girl transferred to the Moscow Art Theater School from the Kyiv Theater Institute. The best suitors of the course immediately began to court the tall, slender beauty, but she unexpectedly preferred the unsightly Durov to everyone. When asked what she saw in him, the girl answered with a mysterious smile: “He has a balberka,” which incredibly intrigued the puzzled guys. They tried to find out about the mysterious Balberka from Leva himself, but he was in no hurry to reveal this terrible secret. Only many years later it became clear that the balberka is an ordinary float from a fishing net.

Lev Durov was faithful to his wife all his life

The couple lived in a happy marriage for more than fifty years, raised a daughter, Ekaterina (1959 - 2019), who also became an actress, and had grandchildren Vanya and Katya. Durov adored his Irina, called him queen and was terribly jealous for any reason. Her illness became the most difficult moral and physical test for the actor - he touchingly looked after his wife, carried her in his arms and kept hoping that the woman would get back on her feet. But the miracle did not happen, and in 2011 Irina died.

Lev Durov, Irina Kirichenko and their daughter Katya

Lev Konstantinovich experienced this tragedy very strongly, and only his daughter’s attention saved him from complete despair. Next to him was also his young assistant Oksana Radchenko, whom evil tongues even wrote down as the elderly actor’s mistress. The girl dealt with organizational and everyday issues, helped with housework and in recent years constantly accompanied Durov. But it is unlikely that they were connected by anything more - Lev Konstantinovich loved his Irina very much, so that he could so easily betray her memory and make himself a laughing stock at the end of his life.

Lev Durov's daughter Ekaterina died in 2021 from cancer

Personal life

Lev Durov met his future wife Irina Kirichenko during his student years. They studied together at the Moscow Art Theater School. Lev was not, as they say, handsome: short and unprepossessing, but Ira was just a universally recognized beauty. To get rid of unnecessary questions about why Kirichenko chose such a nondescript guy, Irina answered: “Do you have a Balberka? No? And Leo has it.” Nobody knew what it was. But when curious people asked Durov about the mysterious object, he shyly lowered his eyes and replied that it was “very intimate.” As it turns out, a balberka is a float from a fishing net.

Lev Durov with his wife

The couple lived happily for 57 long years, their daughter Ekaterina was born, and they waited for their grandchildren Katya and Vanya. In 2011, Irina Kirichenko died. Two years before her death, she broke her hip in a fall. Doctors refused to operate on the 79-year-old woman, and she lay motionless for a long time. Lev Konstantinovich touchingly looked after his wife. Her departure was a terrible blow for the actor.

Lev Durov and Oksana Radchenko

Lev Nikolaevich did not remarry after the death of his wife, but in the last years of his life the actor often appeared in society, accompanied by his young assistant Oksana Radchenko. Lev Durov introduced the girl as his personal director. The press made various assumptions about the relationship between the actor and his assistant. Oksana often dealt with everyday issues in Durov’s house, and the man called her “my girl” several times in the presence of the paparazzi. Many agreed that due to his age, the actor simply needed care and someone’s presence nearby.

Last years and death

Durov stated many times that he was not afraid of death, and it really passed him by. During filming, he always tried to perform all the stunts personally, so a variety of situations arose. The actor fell from a horse, drowned in a swamp, and even burned in a closed train carriage while working on the film “The Thirty-Fourth Ambulance” (1984). The gypsy woman, who once looked at his hand, was very surprised that the actor was still alive.

Lev Durov in the film "Ambulance 34"

In 1998, while filming the film “Should We Send a Messenger,” Durov suffered a stroke. The condition was serious, work on the painting was suspended indefinitely. But ten days later, the actor escaped from the hospital and returned to the set. Only those closest to him knew how difficult these remaining filming days were for him. Lev Konstantinovich saw practically nothing and followed the voice of the operator, which served as his main guide.

Lev Durov in the last years of his life

Over time, vision was restored, and, it would seem, all the worst was left behind. But in February 2011, Durov’s beloved wife Irina, who had been seriously ill for several years and was bedridden, passed away. This irreparable loss brought the actor enormous mental suffering, to which physical suffering was added in 2013. Durov received an injury that, at the age of 81, sounded like a death sentence - a fractured femoral neck. The doctors did not give any guarantees that he would get back on his feet, but Lev Konstantinovich courageously endured the most difficult operation and the subsequent rehabilitation, and returned to duty again. Lev Durov died. In early August 2015, the actor was hospitalized with a suspected stroke. First Gradskaya doctors managed to stabilize his condition, but an examination showed that blood clots had begun to form in the vessels, and urgent surgery was necessary. The doctors did everything possible, but they could not save Durov. On August 20, 2015, without regaining consciousness, he died in the intensive care unit of the First City Hospital.

Monument at the grave of Lev Durov
The actor is buried at the Novodevichy cemetery. Two years later, a monument was erected on the grave, money for which was sought “by the whole world.” Part of the funds was collected through a crowdfunding website, the rest was donated by artists and spectators who came to the evening in memory of the actor, held at his home theater on Malaya Bronnaya. The monument turned out to be really very impressive and symbolic - the actor is depicted as a twelve-year-old Lefortovo teenager launching pigeons into the sky.

Illness and death

Durov has repeatedly stated that he is not afraid of death. At the end of 1990, he suffered a severe stroke and clinical death. He "died" many times in the movies. Fortunately, then the people's favorite returned to life and was even able to continue working.

In August 2013, the artist was hospitalized with a hip fracture. But in September of the same year, Lev Konstantinovich was discharged and began to recover. And then it seemed that the worst was over.

Alarming news about the illness and serious condition of everyone’s beloved Lev Durov appeared in early August 2015. The actor and director were again urgently hospitalized. He was unconscious. Durov was previously diagnosed with a second stroke.

It soon became known that the people's favorite condition had worsened - his respiratory failure increased and pneumonia was diagnosed. Doctors at the First City Hospital of Moscow did not give comforting forecasts, but millions of fans of the artist’s talent hoped for a miracle.

However, it did not happen, and a protracted illness still became the cause of the actor’s death. On the night of August 20, 2015, People's Artist Lev Durov died in the hospital. On August 24, a farewell to Lev Durov took place at the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya. The funeral service lasted more than two hours, because many fans came to the actor’s funeral. Durov's grave is located at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Content

• 1 Biography
• 2 Creativity 2.1 Roles in the theater 2.1.1 Diploma performances of the Studio School at the Moscow Art Theater (1954)
• 2.1.2 Central Children's Theater (1954-1963)
• 2.1.3 Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater
• 2.1.4 Theater on Malaya Bronnaya
• 2.1.5 Theater “School of Modern Play”
• 2.1.6 Moscow New Drama Theater
• 2.1.7 Moscow Theater of Satire