Georgy Vitsin

Georgy Vitsin

Georgy Vitsin in 1930s
Born (1918-04-23)April 23, 1918
Russian Republic, Petrograd
Died October 22, 2001(2001-10-22) (aged 84)
Moscow, Russia
Occupation actor

Georgy Mikhailovich Vitsin (Russian: Гео́ргий Миха́йлович Ви́цин; April 23, 1918 October 22, 2001) was a Soviet and Russian actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1990).

Biography

Born in St. Petersburg, then Petrograd, in 1918 (official data, in truth, he was born in Terijoki, former Finland, now Zelenogorsk near St. Petersburg, Russia), Vitsin enjoyed a long acting career and continued performing until close to the end of his life. Apart from playing with Nikulin and Morgunov, he appeared in dozens of films that earned him the adoration of millions.[1]

Modest and sympathetic characters played by Vitsin evoked kindly feelings of viewers. At the same time the actor played in detective, historical and lyrical feature films.

His first film roles date to the 1940s.[2] He gained nationwide popularity in the former Soviet Union with the emergence of a series of 1960s comedies by director Leonid Gaidai.[2] He played the role of the Coward among a trio of colorful, scheming characters in such Gaidai movies as Bootleggers (1962), Operation Y and Other Adventures of Shurik (1965), and Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (1967). The last two subsequently beat the Soviet all time record of ticket sales. The trio of actors, including the late Yuri Nikulin and Yevgeny Morgunov, was "the most popular ensemble in the history of the national cinema."[2] In 1990, he was awarded the top artistic title of the Soviet era, that of People's Artist of the Soviet Union.[2]

In spite of the plenty of his characters Vitsin’s talent deserved something greater and he never played the major role of his life. “Vitsin is awfully gifted and both of us together are not worth his finger”, his partners Nikulin and Morgunov said about him.

According to an Oscar-winning film director Nikita Mikhalkov, Vitsin "was one of those rare people and actors whom upon meeting, you immediately feel as if they must know just as much about you as you know about them."[1] According to Mikhalkov, Vitsin was also rare in that his popularity did not affect his personality. He was modest to the point that even in the years leading up to his death, when his financial circumstances were abysmal, he never asked for help.[1] Russian media reported that Vitsin had declined into alcoholism and vagrancy but these reports were false.

During the last seven years of his life Georgi Vitsin did not act in films and appeared only in comic concerts of the Theatre of Film Actor.

On October 22, 2001 at 4:30 p.m. the People’s Artist of the Soviet Union died. Georgy Vitsin was buried at Vagankovo Cemetery, Moscow.

A monument to Georgi Vitsin was established in Zelenogorsk in 2008 marking the town’s 460th jubilee and the 90th anniversary since the actor’s birthday.

Filmography

  1. 1945Hello Moscow!railwayman
  2. 1946The Great Glinka - spectator
  3. 1951BelinskyNikolai Gogol
  4. 1952Composer GlinkaNikolai Gogol
  5. 1954 — Odd Player — Vasia Vesnushkin
  6. 1955 — The Mexican — Billy Carthey
  7. 1955 — Maxim Perepelitsa — grandpa Musiy
  8. 1955Twelfth Nightsir Andrew
  9. 1956 — She Loves You — Kostya Kanareykin
  10. 1956 — Murder on Dante Street — Pitu
  11. 1957Борец и клоунEnrico
  12. 1957Don QuixoteSanson Carrasco
  13. 1957Новый аттракционSemion Iljich
  14. 1958Жених с того светаFicusov
  15. 1958Девушка с гитаройbuyer
  16. 1959Vasily SurikovIlya Repin
  17. 1959Я был спутником Солнца
  18. 1960 — End of old Beryozovka
  19. 1961 — Dog Barbos and Unusual Cross — Coward
  20. 1961BootleggersCoward
  21. 1961 — Artist from Kokhanivka — Дед Кузьма
  22. 1962 — Путь к причалу — интеллигент в вытрезвителе
  23. 1962Strictly BusinessSam
  24. 1963 — Short stories
  25. 1963Kain XVIIIexecutioner
  26. 1963Первый троллейбусdrunk man
  27. 1963Blind Birdtrain passenger
  28. 1964Balzaminov's MarriageMisha Balzaminov
  29. 1964Зайчикassistant director
  30. 1964 — A Tale of Lost Times — evil wizard Andrew
  31. 1964Весенние хлопотыДядя Пудя
  32. 1965Дайте жалобную книгуCoward
  33. 1965Operation Y and Other Adventures of ShurikCoward
  34. 1965Дорога к морю
  35. 1966Кто придумал колесо?
  36. 1966Kidnapping, Caucasian StyleCoward
  37. 1966 — The Formula of the Rainbow - Director of the toy factory
  38. 1967Спасите утопающего
  39. 1968 — Seven Old Men and One Girl — Coward
  40. 1968Старая, старая сказкаwizard
  41. 1969 — В тринадцатом часу ночи — Овинный
  42. 1969 — Kabacjok "13 chairs" — pan Cypa
  43. 1970 — Шаг с крыши — englishman
  44. 1970 — Как мы искали Тишку — Petty Officer Stepanov
  45. 1970 — Опекун — Tebenkov
  46. 1971 — Весенняя сказка — Tsar Berendey
  47. 1971The Twelve Chairsмонтёр Мечников
  48. 1971Gentlemen of FortuneGavrila Sheremetev (Sad Sack)
  49. 1971The Shadowdoctor
  50. 1972 — Tobacco Captain — cook
  51. 1972 — Смертный враг
  52. 1973 — … А вы любили когда-нибудь? — Вторая бабушка и Олин папа
  53. 1973The Sannikov LandIgnaty
  54. 1973 — Неисправимый лгун — Aleksey Ivanovich Tiutiurin
  55. 1973Chipollinolawer Vetch
  56. 1974Дорогой мальчикMacintosh
  57. 1974Моя судьбаdrunk man
  58. 1974Северная рапсодияseller
  59. 1974 — Tsarevich Prosha — «King Katorz IX»
  60. 1975Finest, the brave FalconAgafon
  61. 1975Шаг навстречучеловек в буфете
  62. 1975 — Автомобиль, скрипка и собака Клякса — Banjo/Guitar
  63. 1975 — Не может быть! — daddy
  64. 1975Большой аттракционGankin
  65. 1976Пастух ЯнкаПринц Кукимор
  66. 1976Весёлое сновидение, или Смех и слёзыKrivello
  67. 1976Пока бьют часыДедушка, Великий садовник
  68. 1976The Blue BirdSugar
  69. 1976Twelve ChairsBezenchuk
  70. 1977Маринка, Янка и тайны королевского замкаPrince Kukimor
  71. 1977Солнце, снова солнце
  72. 1980Borrowing MatchsticksTahvo Kenonen, tailor
  73. 1980Комедия давно минувших днейCoward
  74. 1982Sorcererscat (voice)
  75. 1985Соперницыold man
  76. 1985Dangerous for Your Life!Alexander Chokolov
  77. 1986Путешествие пана Кляксы
  78. 1986Я вожатый форпоста
  79. 1992Выстрел в гробуColonel Zakusnyak
  80. 1993Бравые парниGriboyedov
  81. 1994Господа артистыNil Palych
  82. 1994 — A Few Love Stories — Fornari
  83. 1994 — Hagi-Tragger — Genrikh Yanovich

References

  1. 1 2 3 In Brief: Beloved Comic Actor Vitsin Dies. Valeria Korchagina. The Moscow Times. p. 4. October 24, 2001.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Obituaries; Passings; Georgy Vitsin, 83; Russian Movie, Theater Actor. Los Angeles Times. California; Part 2; Metro Desk; p. 15. October 25, 2001.

External links

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