Aleksey Batalov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aleksey Batalov
Batalov in 2006
Born	Aleksey Vladimirovich Batalov (1928-11-20)20 November 1928 Vladimir, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Died	15 June 2017(2017-06-15) (aged 88) Moscow, Russia
Occupation	Actor, film director, screenwriter, pedagogue
Spouse(s)	Gitana Leontenko ​ (m. 1963)​

Aleksey Vladimirovich Batalov (Russian: Алексе́й Влади́мирович Бата́лов; born November 20, 1928 – died June 15, 2017) was a famous actor, film director, writer, and teacher from the Soviet Union and Russia. He was known for playing good and honorable characters in movies. He received many high honors, including being named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1976 and a Hero of Socialist Labour in 1989.

A Life in Movies

Early Life and Family

Aleksey Batalov was born on November 20, 1928, in a city called Vladimir. His family was very involved in theater and acting. His uncle, Nikolai Batalov, was also a well-known actor who starred in the classic film Mother (1926). A famous poet named Anna Akhmatova was a friend of his family. Aleksey even painted a well-known picture of her in 1952.

Becoming a Star

Batalov started his acting career at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1953. However, he soon left to focus more on making movies. During a time in the Soviet Union called the Khrushchev Thaw, he became one of the most recognized actors. This was a period when there was more freedom in arts and culture.

His most famous film from this time was The Cranes Are Flying (1957). This movie was so good that it won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the Cannes Film Festival! He also starred in another important film called Nine Days of One Year (1962). Batalov was even a judge at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1967 and 1973.

Choosing Roles Carefully

In the 1960s and 1970s, Batalov was very careful about which movie roles he accepted. He often chose to act in films based on famous Russian books. For example, he starred in The Lady with the Dog (1960), which was based on a story by Anton Chekhov. He also appeared in The Flight (1970), based on a book by Mikhail Bulgakov.

Besides acting, Batalov also directed movies. He directed film versions of The Overcoat (1960) by Nikolai Gogol and Three Fat Men (1966) by Yuri Olesha. In the 1970s, he started teaching acting at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, a famous film school.

A Memorable Role and Later Life

In 1979, Batalov took on a role that became very popular. He played Gosha, a smart factory worker, in the movie Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. Even though he wasn't sure about the role at first, he played it brilliantly. The movie was a huge success and won him the USSR State Prize. His character, Gosha, was very important to the film's message in the Soviet Union.

After this film, Batalov mostly stopped acting. He spent his time teaching and guiding new actors. In 2002, he received a special Lifetime Achievement Nika Award for his amazing career. He also received the State Prize of the Russian Federation in 2005. In 2007, he was given another Lifetime Achievement Award at the 29th Moscow International Film Festival.

Aleksey Batalov passed away on June 15, 2017, in Moscow. He was 88 years old and died from problems after a fall.

Honours and Awards

Aleksey Batalov receiving an award from Vladimir Putin on March 1, 2000.

Aleksey Batalov received many important awards for his contributions to film and art. Here are some of them:

Awards from Russia and the USSR

• Hero of Socialist Labour (1989) – This was one of the highest honors in the Soviet Union for contributions to the country.
• Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
  • 2nd class (2008) – For his great work in developing national culture and his many years of creative and teaching activities.
  • 3rd class (1998) – For his important contributions to Russian filmmaking.
• Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR (1966) – For his role in the movie Nine Days in One Year.
• Two Orders of Lenin (1967, 1989) – Another very high Soviet award.
• Lenin Komsomol Prize (1967)
• Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1964)
• People's Artist of the RSFSR (1969)
• People's Artist of the USSR (1976) – The highest artistic honor in the Soviet Union.
• USSR State Prize (1981) – For his role in the movie Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears.
• State Prize of the Russian Federation (2005)
• Russian Presidential Prize in Literature and Art (2000)

International Awards

• Order of St. Cyril and Methodius (Bulgaria)

Community Awards

• Order of Peter the Great (2003)
• Juno Award (1997)
• Idol Award (2002) – For his great service to art.
• Commemorative Medal for the 150th anniversary of Anton Chekhov (2005) – From the Moscow Art Theatre.

Filmography

Actor

Director

• The Overcoat (1959)
• Three Fat Men (1966)
• The Gambler (1972)

Voice

• Hedgehog in the Fog (1975) as Narrator
• The Adventures of Lolo the Penguin (1988) as Narrator

See also

In Spanish: Alekséi Batálov para niños