Sergey Varchuk biography personal life

Biography

Sergei Ivanovich Varchuk is familiar to viewers from the wonderful melodrama “I Can’t Say Goodbye.” It is noteworthy that this film, which became the actor’s signature film, turned out to be the student work of the young actor. Then other roles came, but this one remained the star and main one.

The biography of Sergei Varchuk is closely connected with his hometown of Sverdlovsk. Here he was born in April 1956. Here, in an industrial city, where there was no sea or ocean anywhere near, I began to dream about distant sea voyages and ships.

Actor Sergei Varchuk

After graduating from secondary school, the Ural guy went to Leningrad. Here he planned to enter the Higher Naval Engineering School named after Admiral S. O. Makarov. But it didn’t work out: my vision failed. Then Sergei decided that since he could not become the captain of the ship, he could build these ships and then test them when going out to sea. But here too he failed: at the Leningrad Shipbuilding University he failed the physics exam.

In upset feelings, Varchuk returned to his hometown. He applied to the local university to study physics. I studied here for a year, without desire or spark. But at the end of the year, Sergei’s guidelines were completely lost. The guy attended the graduation performance of his sister, who studied at the Sverdlovsk Theater School. And suddenly I realized that the stage was what the young man’s soul was frantically drawn to.

Sergei Varchuk in his youth

Having passed the session, Sergei Varchuk went to repay his debt to the country. The young man was drafted into the Air Force. He needed this break in order to finally understand himself, to decide where the young man was most drawn.

After military service, the young man already knew which path he would take. He left the university and went to Moscow. Since he had no preparation, he failed to enter the theater university on the first try. But Varchuk had no intention of leaving his chosen path. In the end, he entered the Moscow Art Theater School and was enrolled in a course with the talented artist and mentor Oleg Efremov.

Sergei Varchuk in the theater

Sergei and his classmates were jealous of the guy. The guys were looked at as already established artists of the Moscow Art Theater, which was headed by Efremov at that time. But it was a difficult time for the student mentor. The theater was torn apart by contradictions, there was division. Oleg Efremov came to the students tired. Here he rested his soul and made plans. Efremov dreamed that together with his “artists” he would organize a new youth theater.

Unfortunately, these plans were not destined to come true. And after four years of study, Sergei Varchuk’s fellow students, and he himself, faced the prospect of being sent to the outback.

Movies

Between the 3rd and 4th years of theater university, Sergei Varchuk was incredibly lucky. He starred in Boris Durov’s melodrama “I Can’t Say Goodbye.”

The young actor got the role of Sergei Vatagin, a guy who became crippled due to an accident at a logging site. The athletic young man found himself confined to a wheelchair and lost his zest for life. Actress Anastasia Ivanova became Varchuk’s partner on the set. The artist’s heroine Lida turned out to be so in love with Sergei that she went to the outback to be close to her beloved and support him in difficult times.

Sergei Varchuk in the film “I Can’t Say Goodbye”

The artist himself later shared that during preparation for filming, he talked a lot with doctors working with paralyzed patients. The young man spent a month at the Institute of Bone and Spinal Traumatology.

Just in time for the end of the Moscow Art Theater School, the film was released and turned yesterday’s student into a recognizable actor. The aspiring artist was euphoric. It seemed to Sergei that he would be “torn off with his hands” in any capital theater to which he came.

Sergei Varchuk in the film “Acceleration”

However, the reality turned out to be different. There were much fewer capital theaters in the early 1980s than there are now. And the times turned out to be difficult: staff reductions were in full swing in Moscow theaters. Famous artists whose names were known throughout the country were sent into retirement. And there was no talk of getting a job for the young actor. To stay in the capital, registration was required.

Varchuk was saved by the fact that Oleg Efremov managed to get the graduation performance of his course included in the Moscow Art Theater repertoire. The production was performed 4 times a month and brought Sergei 16 rubles in income. It was not possible to live for that kind of money in the capital, but this gave the right to live in Moscow.

Sergei Varchuk in the film “Good Intentions”

The young artist’s main source of income was cinema. After Durov’s melodrama and the main role played, Varchuk is known and invited to act. In 1984, he appeared in the films “Good Intentions,” “How to Become Famous” and “Acceleration.” And even though these films did not bring him popularity, and the roles turned out to be episodic, the young actor was busy.

In 1985-86, the cinematic biography of Sergei Varchuk developed further. He was offered small roles in the films “Moscow Speaks”, “Secret Walk”, “Head of the Gorgon” and “Mikhailo Lomonosov”. In the last historical film he played Greenya. But there was no role comparable to Sergei Vatagin from the 1982 box office leader “I Can’t Say Goodbye,” which was watched by more than 34 million viewers at one time.

Sergei Varchuk in the film “Head of the Gorgon”

In the second half of the 1980s, Sergei Ivanovich acted much more. The following works appear in the artist’s filmography: the adventure film “The Head of the Gorgon” and the melodrama “And All the Love...”. A fresh wave of popularity was brought by his work in the action movie “Scorched by Kandahar.”

The “wild 90s” turned out to be difficult for the artist, as they were for most of his colleagues. Muscovites were quite surprised when they met the famous artist with a broom or shovel, cleaning the yard. Sergei Varchuk actually had to work for two years as a janitor in one of the capital's housing offices, because people of this respected profession were allowed to receive official housing, and after 5 years - registration in the capital. The artist was not ashamed of his work, but he was tired of reacting every time to questions and surprised looks from Muscovites who recognized the star. He tried to work early in the morning or late in the evening, especially since he went on the theater stage during the day.

Sergei Varchuk in the film “Scorched by Kandahar”

To the artist’s credit, it must be said that he did not give up the theater for a minute in the most difficult times. Today Sergei Varchuk also appears on stage: he is an actor at the K. S. Stanislavsky Theater. Performances with the artist’s participation are also performed at the Luna Theater.

Later in the interview, Sergei shared that he is still friends with his housing office. The actor sometimes gives them charity concerts during the holidays, and when necessary, he helps the former employee with household issues. Varchuk also worked as a private driver. There the man was recognized more often, but the artist refused. He said that he simply looked like a famous actor.

Sergei Varchuk in the film “The Wizard of the Emerald City”

Despite the cinematic difficulties in the 90s, Sergei still periodically flashed on the screen. Varchuk played the main role of Georgy in the film "Marked", appeared in the image of Warra - the leader of the Flying Monkeys - in "The Wizard of Oz", played Grisha, the husband of Tanya Shalumova, in all seasons of the television series "Impostors".

The dark period of lack of demand in cinema passed with the beginning of the 21st century. Viewers saw their favorite actor in the historical drama “Russian Revolt,” based on the story “The Captain’s Daughter” by A. S. Pushkin. He got a small but bright role - the dashing cavalryman Zurin.

Sergei Varchuk in the film “Grey Mouse”

You can also see Sergei Varchuk in TV series. The most popular of them are “Turn of the Key”, “Secret Sign” and “Ugra Gold”. Work in the last project almost cost the artist his life. During landing, the rear propeller of the helicopter carrying the actors fell off. The only thing that saved us from disaster was that the helicopter’s wheels got stuck in quicksand.

It is worth noting the rating projects of Sergei Varchuk “Countess de Monsoreau”, “The Thief”, “Drongo”, “Five Minutes to the Metro”, “Detective Agency “Ivan da Marya” and “Stanitsa”.

Sergei Varchuk in the theater

Viewers also remembered Sergei Varchuk for his work as a presenter. For a long time he hosted the program “Rescue Service”. In addition, the artist was the host of the project “Road Patrol. Investigation".

Many heroes of foreign films speak in the voice of Sergei Varchuk. Thus, in the film “A Perfect Murder” he voiced David Shaw played by Viggo Mortensen, in the film “Bugbear” he voiced Nick Wells, played by Robert De Niro, in the film “Who Are You, Mr. Brooks?” — Kevin Costner as Mr. Earl Brooks.

General's son-in-law

The general’s family does not end with his wife, daughter and granddaughter. Recently he got a son-in-law. Victor Gimmelfarb was born in the Kazakh city of Temirtau and grew up as an ordinary boy; from adolescence he was interested in cars and motorcycles. His family, as Life found out, did not lack money. When Gimmelfarb Jr. entered the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, he bought himself a Mitsubishi Lancer, drove it to school, drove it to the observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory, hung out among street racers and did not imagine that his life would soon take a sharp turn. In 2013, at one of the parties he meets Marina Varchuk, a dazzling student at RANEPA.

Since then, his life has changed: Victor sells his budget Mitsubishi Lancer and buys a brand new BMW 3-Series with criminal plates. Now this car is up for sale for 1.2 million rubles. Victor soon receives photographs of a Mercedes-Benz SUV wrapped in gold film, driving which he arrives at the Review. By the way, in his blue three-ruble car, Gimmelfarb came many times to visit his father-in-law at that same estate near Istra.

At the same time, photos from expensive tourist places begin to appear on Victor’s Instagram: for example, from the roof of the Marina Bay hotel in Singapore, from the beaches in Bali. At the resorts, 23-year-old Victor and the general’s daughter ride elephants and swim with dolphins.

A year later, in 2014, the couple got married. And in 2016, Marina and Victor Gimmelfarb have a child.

After the birth of his daughter, Victor’s passion for luxury cars did not disappear: he still loves cars and driving them fast. By that time, Victor had changed several more cars: he sold the BMW 3 Series and now drives a BMW X5. One day he was caught speeding on a highway somewhere near Tver, but he still hasn’t paid the fine, as evidenced by the bailiffs’ database. As a source in the courts told Life, Victor was once caught by inspectors driving a car that had faults for which operation was prohibited. The fine they gave him was a trifling one - 500 rubles, but he never paid it within a month. Therefore, the court imposed a new fine on him, this time in a thousand - for evading payment of the first one.

Personal life

It is known that the personal life of Sergei Varchuk was happy. But it was not always so. The actor's first marriage ended in divorce. After the release of his debut and mega-popular melodrama, Sergei woke up famous. But the main thing for him was the attention that the beautiful Elena finally drew to him. Before this, the girl to whom Sergei showed signs of attention did not even look in the artist’s direction.

Sergei Varchuk with his wife Olga

Lena married him and gave birth to a daughter, Sasha. But this couple most likely did not have real love. Because soon the wife left for the USA, where she found a job. The husband was left alone with his daughter. Elena came home less and less often. The marriage has outlived its usefulness.

When the actor was already over 40, he met his current wife Olga. Director Boris Durov played a huge role in the life of Sergei Varchuk. He discovered this artist to the audience, casting Sergei in the title role in his wonderful film, and gave him a meeting with the love of his life, Olga. The Durov family became friends with her in Vietnam, where the woman came on a business trip. She had the same sad story - her husband went to work in Europe and stayed there.

Sergei Varchuk with his wife

The Durovs, who had been family friends with Sergei for a long time, introduced two lonely friends. This created a strong couple. A month after they met, Sergei and Olga began to live together. The artist’s daughter was then seventeen years old. At first, the girl received her stepmother coolly: Sasha hoped that her mother would return to her and her father and they would become a family again.

Soon Olga managed to find mutual understanding not only with Sergei’s adult daughter, but even with the artist’s ex-wife. And two years later, the lovers officially registered their relationship.

Sergei Varchuk with his wife and son

The couple really wanted a child together, but Olga couldn’t get pregnant for a long time. Then the couple went to the doctors, but this did not help either. And then one good doctor, a friend of the family, advised the husband and wife to get it out of their heads and stop making up problems. This is what they did, and two months later Olga found out that she was pregnant.

Today, the actor’s son, Vanya, is growing up in the family. It is noteworthy that both Sergei and Olga dreamed of having a child with that name long before they met. Therefore, the decision to name the boy Ivan was unanimous.

Sergei Varchuk with his son

Sergei Varchuk’s daughter, Alexandra, is already an adult. She has her own family. Sasha works as a designer. She has an excellent relationship with her father and his family.

Sasha has a page on the social network Instagram, where the girl shares personal and work photos with subscribers. Sergei’s daughter often posts pictures with her famous dad.

Sergey Varchuk

Sergey Varchuk is madly in love with animals. He claims that every time he sees a stray dog ​​or cat, he can hardly resist taking the animal home. After all, he already has two dogs and four cats. And all of them were previously homeless.

Sergey and Olga often travel with the whole family. And they go to events together because they feel uncomfortable without each other.

Second marriage is true happiness

Director Boris Durov introduced the actor to his second wife Olga. Sergei Varchuk was already over 40, he was not looking for love, he was raising his daughter and only saw his calling in this. But, having met Olga, he suddenly realized how kindred spirits they were. The woman’s husband also once went to work abroad and stayed there.

The lovers began to live together, and then got married. True, Varchuk’s daughter Alexandra, who was already 17 years old at that time, did not immediately accept her dad’s new wife. She was still waiting for her mother to come back and live with them. But then she and Olga became really close. Now the family lives very friendly and happy.

Filmography

• 1982 - “I Can’t Say Goodbye”
• 1984 — “Good Intentions”
• 1986 — “Head of the Gorgon”
• 1987 - “The investigation is being conducted by the Experts. Case No. 20 “Boomerang”
• 1988 — “Grey Mouse”
• 1991 — “Marked”
• 1994 — “The Wizard of the Emerald City”
• 1997 — “Countess de Monsoreau”
• 2000 — “Russian revolt”
• 2001 — “Gold of Ugra”
• 2006 — “Challenge”
• 2008 — “Ring my doorbell”
• 2011 — “Countergame”
• 2016 — “Mysterious Passion”
• 2016 — “Big Money”