"Garage", "A word about the Poor Hussar", "Promised Heaven", "The Terrorist", "The Magicians", "The Master and Margarita" - the list of films in which starred Valentin Gaft (Valentin Gaft), you can go on for a very long time. The popular Russian actor created more than a dozen bright and interesting images not only on the screen, but also in the theater "Sovremennik", where he served for 50 years. To millions of fans he is also known as a writer, poet, author of wonderful poems and master of inimitable epigrams.
Childhood and teenage years
The future actor was born in September 1935 in Moscow. The boy's parents, Jews by nationality, were originally from Ukraine. Moving to Moscow, they settled in one of the communal houses on Matrosskaya Tishina Street. In this colorful neighborhood and passed the childhood of Vali. The boy's father worked as a lawyer, his mother was engaged in the house and upbringing of her son.
Gaft began to be interested in theater at school age. In high school he became interested in amateur acting and had clearly decided that he would become a professional actor.
Preparing to enter the theater institute, the young man was very worried. To cope with indecision Gaftu helped the famous actor Sergei Stolyarov. Valentin accidentally ran into him in the park and, overcoming shyness, asked to take some time to listen.
The advice he received came in very handy for the guy: he entered the Moscow Art Theater Studio School in one attempt. Parents found out about it after their son was enrolled in the university.
A long road to success
The path to recognition was not easy. The first place of work of a novice actor, where he was taken by patronage, was the Mossovet Theater. Here Valentin lasted only a year. Roles that he got, were insignificant, and the ambitious young man wanted more.
Over the next ten years, the actor changed several troupes: worked at the Satire Theater, the Moscow Drama Theater, "Lenkom", the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya. The search for "his" place ended only in 1969, when Valentin Gaft came to "Sovremennik". It was here that he revealed his acting potential to the fullest. Audiences still remember the performances with his participation, among which:
- "From the notes of Lopatin";
- "Balalaikin and K";
- "Hurry up to do good";
- "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".
In "Sovremennik" Gaft tried his hand as a director. His debut in this field was the play "Balalaikin and K", which he and his comrades decided to return to the repertoire.
In general, Valentin Gaft served on the stage of "Sovremennik" 50 years. He has always considered the theater his second home and sincerely loves what he was doing.
Film career of Valentin Gaft
In the movie Valentin Iosifovich debuted, while still a second-year student: he was invited to the shooting of the movie "Murder on Dante Street." The role was small, so it remained virtually unnoticed by viewers and critics.
Success to the actor came not immediately. For a long time Gaft had to interrupt episodic roles, portraying negative characters.
The turning point in the creative biography of the actor came in the 70's, when he began to offer interesting projects. Truly popular artist became after the release of the film legendary director Eldar Ryazanov. At that time, Gaft was 44 years old.
Subsequently, the actor's filmography was replenished with new pictures Ryazanov, which became true masterpieces of domestic cinematography:
- "Garage";
- "On the poor hussar, put in a good word."
- "Forgotten Melody for the Flute;
- "Promised Heaven";
- "Old Nags."
Simultaneously with the work in these projects, Gaft collaborated with other notable directors. All in the track record of the actor about 200 films, 12 TV plays. Along with shooting in them, he acted as a dubbing actor, voiced cartoons, recorded audiobooks.
In addition to all this, Valentin Josephovich also composes poems and epigrams on colleagues. He is a true master of a sharp word. His quatrains are clever, subtle, sometimes even caustic and angry. Gaft himself does not get tired of repeating that you should not take offense at these numerous barbs, because they are created with love and exclusively on people talented and extraordinary.
No less interesting and lyrical poems by Gaft - penetrating to the depths of the soul and making you think. True connoisseurs of poetry call them brilliant.
Personal life
In the personal life of the actor was also a lot of happy moments and disappointments, fleeting romances and dissolved marriages.
His first wife was a model Elena Izorgina. In marriage, the couple lived a short time. Valentine, being very amorous, easily carried away by other women. Did not suffer from a lack of male attention and Elena. Relationships finally broke down when the young woman fell in love with another and decided to leave to him.
After the divorce, the actor had a short-lived romance with the artist Elena Nikitina. The girl did not claim to be Gaft's wife. About the fact that he now has a son, the actor learned after 3 years, and managed to meet him only in 2014.
For the second time, Gaft married Inna Eliseeva, the daughter of wealthy parents, leading a bohemian lifestyle. In this marriage, the actor had a daughter Olga. When the parents divorced, she stayed to live with her mother. Relationships were not easy. The mother often humiliated her daughter, and the father was not around. When the family turmoil was added to the problems in the creative field and parting with a loved one, Olga could not stand it and committed suicide.
Gaft severely experienced the death of his daughter, blamed himself and even abandoned work. On a serious relationship for a long time did not dare to decide, made only short-term novels.
Everything changed with the appearance in his life Olga Ostroumova. Shapochno they were acquainted a long time ago, even with the filming of the movie "Garage". At that time, Olga was married, and Gaft did not dare to do anything serious.
They met again and married after many years. Children, and later grandchildren of his wife Gaft took as his own. Olga did a lot for the development of her husband's talent. All household problems took on himself, allowing the man to engage in his favorite business. The main thing - it was with her that the actor finally found a family.
Today Valentin Gaft no longer goes on the big stage, a lot of time is devoted to rest in the circle of relatives. Far from a young age, underwent surgery and stroke make themselves known, but the actor does not give up. All the details about his current life can be found in our catalog of artists on the website kontramarka.de.
Filmography (most significant roles)
1956 - "Murder on Dante Street" (debut)
1973 - "Seventeen Moments of Spring".
1975 - "Hello, I'm Your Aunt!"
1978 - "Kings and Cabbage".
1979 - "Garage"
1980 - "A word about the Poor Hussar".
1982 - "The Magicians"
1986 - "On Main Street with Orchestra".
1987 - "The Forgotten Flute Melody", "A Visit to the Minotaur".
1988 - "Thieves in the Law"
1989 - "A Visit from a Lady"
1991 - "Promised Heaven".
1992 - "Anchor, More Anchor!"
1997 - "The Orphan of Kazan"
2005 - "The Master and Margarita"
2013 - "Christmas Trees 3"
2015 - "The Scoundrel"
2016 - "The Fourth"
