Boris Babochkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boris Babochkin
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Boris Babochkin as Chapaev in Chapaev
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Baris Andreyevich Babochkin
18 January 1904 Saratov, Saratov Governorate, Russian Empire
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| Died | 17 July 1975 (aged 71) |
| Years active | 1920 - 1975 |
| Spouse(s) | Ekaterina Georgieva |
Boris Andreyevich Babochkin (Russian: Бори́с Андре́евич Ба́бочкин; born January 18, 1904 – died July 17, 1975) was a famous Soviet actor and director. He became one of the first Soviet-Russian movie stars known around the world. He became very famous for playing the main character in the classic film Chapaev (1934). Later in his career, he faced challenges because of a role he played on stage in Moscow.
Contents
Who Was Boris Babochkin?
Early Life and Acting Dreams
Boris Babochkin was born on January 18, 1904, in Saratov, a city on the Volga river in Russia. His father was a merchant who later worked for a railroad. His mother was a teacher who loved classic Russian books. Young Boris grew up in a home that encouraged learning and creativity.
Boris and his brother enjoyed acting. They often performed in amateur plays in Saratov. When he was 14, Boris joined the Red Army for a year. He served in the same area as the famous commander Chapayev, whom he would later play in a movie. However, they never met in real life.
Starting His Acting Career
In 1920, Boris started drama school in Saratov. But he soon left and moved to Moscow to become a professional actor. He first studied at a drama school linked to the Moscow Art Theatre. He then joined another studio called "Molodye Mastera" in 1921. There, he began his first professional acting season with his older brother, Vitaly.
For the next six years, Boris performed in plays in different cities. He worked in Moscow and Saratov, then in places like Samarkand in Central Asia. He also performed in cities like Voronezh and Berdichev in Ukraine.
Fame in Leningrad
From 1927 to 1940, Babochkin lived and worked in Leningrad. He married a ballerina named Ekaterina Georgieva. They became a part of the city's lively cultural scene. Boris continued to study theatre and film. He made his first movie appearance at Lenfilm Studio in 1927.
In 1934, he starred in Chapaev. This movie became a classic and made him famous worldwide. During the 1930s, he played many main roles in important theatres in Leningrad. In 1937, he became the artistic director of the Bolshoi Drama Theater (BDT). He held this position until 1940.
Moving to Moscow and Challenges
In 1940, Boris Babochkin moved back to Moscow. He later said this was a big mistake. During World War II, he visited Leningrad several times. The city was under siege by the Nazis. He performed for the city's defenders, helping to boost their spirits during a very difficult time.
After the war, he began teaching at the Moscow State Film Institute (VGIK). In 1952, he became the artistic director of the Moscow Drama Theater. There, he played a role in a play called Shadows. His character, Klaverov, was a corrupt politician. Many people thought the character was like a typical Soviet official.
Because of this role, Boris faced strong criticism from a powerful official. This official tried to stop him from performing in public. She also tried to prevent him from getting jobs at film studios and theatres. This made it very hard for him to find work for three years. Eventually, he had to apologize. After this, his acting roles were mostly limited to playing only positive characters.
Later Career and Legacy
Boris Babochkin's acting career faced difficulties for some time. A rare exception was his last role in The Flight of Mr. McKinley (1975). For this film, he received a special award called the State Prize of the USSR.
From 1955 until his death in 1975, Babochkin was a permanent actor at the Maly Theatre in Moscow. He also taught acting at the State Film Institute (VGIK) from 1946 to 1975, becoming a professor in 1966. Over his 55-year career, Boris Babochkin played more than 200 roles on stage. He also acted in 25 movies and TV shows. However, his role as Chapayev in the 1934 film remained the most famous part of his film career.
Awards and Recognition
Boris Babochkin was a highly recognized actor. He was the youngest actor to be named People's Artist of Russia in 1935. He received the Stalin Prize twice, in 1941 and 1951. He also received the State Prize of USSR in 1977, after he had passed away. He earned many other awards for his famous role as Chapaev.
Personal Life
Boris Babochkin was married to Ekaterina Mikhailovna Babochkina. They had two daughters, Natalia and Tatiana. Besides acting, he taught at the Moscow Film School (VGIK). He also wrote many articles and critical works about film and theatre. In 1968, he published his autobiography, In theatre and film, which was very popular in the USSR.
Boris Babochkin died on July 17, 1975, in Moscow, from a heart attack while driving his Volga car. He was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Selected Filmography
- The Return of Nathan Becker (1932) as Mikulich
- Chapaev (1934) as Vasily Chapaev
- Girl Friends (1936) as Andrey
- Friends (1938) as Aleksei
- The Flight of Mr. McKinley (1975) as Sam Boulder
