Another loss in Russian culture - Leonid Filatov died
Mikhail Medved
Joe's Garage
Sorry to hear it. He was obviously a worthy, influential figure in the
telecommunications, drama and print areas of Russian social culture.
Hopefully his contributions to society will be enhanced and built upon.
> http://www.strana.ru/stories/03/10/20/3418/197648.html
Leonid Filatov died
Strana.Ru
October 27, 2003
Well-known actor Leonid Filatov died on Sunday evening after a serious
illness. This was announced in the Central Clinic Hospital, where doctors
struggled to save his life for 10 days.
Leonid Filatov has been seriously ill the past year, but steadfastly
endured the misfortune that befell him. Moscow will bid farewell to
Leonid Filatov on Wednesday, 20 October, in the Central Dom theater.
The well-known actor died at age 57 after a serious, protracted illness.
As George Zhzhenov, popular artist of the USSR, said, he "was deeply
grieved by the death of his comrade in films, with whom he performed in
the movie "Ekipazh". "Lenny was an extremely interesting, bright person,
a brilliant actor and writer," said Zhzhenov. According to the artist,
"Filatov steadfastly struggled against his illness." In 1993 Filatov had
a mini-stroke, and in 1997 the actor went through a difficult operation
for a kidney transplant. "Nonetheless, Leonid Alekseyevich found in
himself the power to return to the airwaves; up to his final days he was
directing an amazingly good program 'Chtoby pomnili ...'. That such a
talented person would pass away in his creative prime is a big misfortune
for us all," said George Zhzhenov.
Actor Mikhail Efremov said that "he was very good, sympathetic and always
paid careful attention to young artists." "He was a perfectly inimitable
person and actor, with his death passed something that cannot be
replaced," said Filatov's close friend, Leonid Yarmolnik. "His demise is
a painful loss to all Russian culture."
Well-known producer Aleksandr Mitta, who produced the movie "Ekipazh,"
said, "Leonid Alekseyevich was not only a talented actor, but a very
substantial person. He was very amicable, very vital active person; he
was one of the brightest people I've ever met in my life, I think, and in
the lives of all those who were fortunate enough to work and be friends
with him. He was uncompromising in work. He was bursting with at work.
He was that way too in his life as an actor, a poet and a writer. His
life was too intense, but he couldn't live another. Everyone loved him."
The audience loved Leonid Filatov in role in the movies "Zabytaya melodiya
dlya fleity," "Gorod zero," "Ekipazh," "Zhenshchiny lyubyat vserez,"
"Sukiny deti" and "Chicherin." Filatov's books started to be released in
1990, "Pro Fedota-streltsa ydalogo molodtsa," "Lisistrata" and others.
In 1993 Filatove had a mini-stroke. In 1997 the actor underwent a
complicated operation for a kidney transplant. In one of his interviews
Leonid Alekseyevich said that even in the the most agonizing days in the
hospital he continued to compose verse. As concerns the popular
television program "Chtoby pomnili ...", of which Filatov was the author
and lead role, in all those years it wasn't cancelled once due to his
illness. When he was not able to walk, his wife or mother would bring him
to the television. In the most difficult moments, the production staff
arrived in the hospital and conducted the broadcast there, sitting on the
hospital bed. For the "Chtoby pomnili ..." program he was awarded the RF
State prize in the areas of literature and of art .
Leonid Filatov was born in Kazan, grew up in Ashkhabad, finished acting
school in Moscow in one of the better theatrical institutions of higher
learning, the Shchukina school. In 1969 Filatov worked in a theater
troupe in Taganka, with which practically all of his theatrical experience
was associated. His stage appearances included "Pugachev," "Antimiry,"
"Hamlet" and others. Until he was indisposed, he was working in the
"Taganka Actors Association" theater, led by Nikolai Gubenko.
He was married to Inna Shatskaya, actress at the "Taganka Actors
Association" theater, who is regularly found in the TsKB series with her
husband.
from material of ITAR-TASS and RIA "Novosti"
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Joe Cisar http://cisar.org