Vladimir Zeldin | |
|---|---|
Владимир Зельдин | |
 Zeldin in 2015 | |
| Born | Vladimir Mikhailovich Zeldin Владимир Михайлович Зельдин (1915-02-10)10 February 1915 Kozlov, Tambov Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 31 October 2016(2016-10-31) (aged 101) Moscow, Russia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1927–2016 |
| Awards | Full cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" |
Vladimir Mikhailovich Zeldin (Russian:Владимир Михайлович Зельдин; 10 February 1915 – 31 October 2016) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. Acentenarian, he was among the longest-serving stage performers and continued acting up until his death.[1][2]
Zeldin was born in the town ofKozlov (nowMichurinsk,Tambov Oblast of Russia), the youngest of five children. With the start of theRussian Civil War the family moved to their relatives inTver. His mother Anna Nikolayevna Zeldina (née Popova, 1884–1931) was a native Russian teacher turned a housewife. His father Mikhail Yevgenyevich Zeldin (1876–1928) was a musician of Jewish origin who converted toRussian Orthodoxy to enter theMoscow Conservatory; he served as akapellmeister in theImperial Russian Army concert band and as the head of the Kozlov and Tver music schools after theOctober Revolution. Vladimir himself was raised in the Russian Orthodox traditions and associated himself with Russian culture.[3][4]
In 1924 the family moved to Moscow. Zeldin continued studying at the secondary school. He also learned to play trumpet, piano and violin, and at the age of 12 tried to enterThe Bolshoi Theatre Ballet School. According to Zeldin, his father wished him a better career and was highly against this decision, so he did everything to prevent his son from entering the school.[4] For several years Vladimir played trumpet in the military band under theJoint State Political Directorate led by his father's friend Feodor Nikolaevsky. In 1935 he graduated from the theatre college at theMossovet Theatre where he studied under Evgeny Lepkovsky and became its actor.
In 1938 Zeldin moved to the Moscow Transport Theatre (modern-dayGogol Center) where he performed as Antipholus of Syracuse inThe Comedy of Errors and Ferdinand inIntrigue and Love, among other roles.
Zeldin became an all-Union celebrity in 1941 starring in the leading role in the musical comedyThey Met in Moscow byIvan Pyryev. His other famous movie works include Boris Olenich inBallad of Siberia (1947), Aldemaro inDance Teacher (1952), a clown inCarnival Night (1956), Aleksandr Vladimirovich Serebryakov inUncle Vanya (1970), Judge inDesyat Negrityat (1987) and grandfather inCops and Robbers (1997), a remake of the Italian comedyof the same name.
During theBattle of Moscow he and other actors were evacuated toAlmaty where he played in theAlma-Ata Russian Drama Theatre. He also visited the frontline to perform for soldiers and was awarded theMedal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" after the war.[3][4]
From 1945 to his death Zeldin performed in theRussian Army Theatre. His most famous role was Aldemaro inThe Dancing Master play byLope de Vega. Other popular roles include Tranio inThe Taming of the Shrew, Aleksandr Vladimirovich Serebryakov inUncle Vanya, Albert Gregor inThe Makropulos Affair, Frank Gardner inMrs. Warren's Profession and others.The Most Honest, a satirical play about an elderlyBaron Munchausen, was written byGrigori Gorin on Zeldin's suggestion and with him in mind. It was an enormous success and was later adapted byMark Zakharov into a TV movieThe Very Same Munchhausen withOleg Yankovsky in the lead.[5]
In February 2005 Zeldin celebrated his 90th birthday by performing in the new musicalMan of La Mancha (which premiered in December 2004) where he starred both asDon Quixote andMiguel de Cervantes. The role of Don Quixote quickly became his signature role and he closely associated himself with the character.[3][4][6]
He celebrated his 101st birthday on stage by performing the leading role in the playDance with the Master (loosely based onThe Dancing Master) and written specially for him. According to the directorYuli Gusman, a total of 200 performances ofMan of La Mancha andDance with the Master were staged during Zeldin's lifetime.Man of La Mancha was last shown just a month prior to the actor's death. Due to a recenthip fracture, he had to perform with a walking stick.[7][8]
Zeldin was, as of 2014, the oldest livingPeople's Artist of the USSR. He turned 101 in 2016.[9]
In June 2005, his signature appeared under the open letter by "members of culture, science and public representatives" published inIzvestia where they supposedly expressed support to the court decision concerning the formerYukos management. A number of signatories, including Zeldin, denied their involvement.[10]
In October 2013, at the age of 98 he took part in the2014 Winter Olympics torch relay, becoming the oldest torchbearer in history for that time.[11][12]
Vladimir Zeldin died on 31 October 2016 and was buried at theNovodevichy Cemetery in Moscow. He was survived by his third wife Ivetta Evgenievna Kapralova-Zeldina (1933–2017) who died just two months after her husband and was buried near him. They lived together for 52 years.[2][13]
Vladimir Zeldin's only son (from his first civil wife Lyudmila Martynova) died of a gastric infection at the age of 18 months in 1941.[citation needed]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
