Mikhail Zharov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mikhail Zharov
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1939
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| Born |
Mikhail Ivanovich Zharov
27 October 1899 |
| Died | 15 December 1981 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1915–1978 |
Mikhail Ivanovich Zharov (Russian: Михаи́л Ива́нович Жа́ров) was a very famous Soviet actor. He was born on October 27, 1899, and passed away on December 15, 1981. He was known for his amazing acting skills on both stage and screen.
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Becoming an Actor
Mikhail Zharov learned acting from a well-known director named Theodore Komisarjevsky. His first movie role was in Aelita in 1924. This film was directed by Yakov Protazanov. Mikhail later worked with Protazanov many times, including in the movie The Man from the Restaurant (1927). In this film, he acted alongside another famous actor, Mikhail Chekhov.
Life in the Theater
In the 1930s, Mikhail Zharov was a main actor at Alexander Tairov's Chamber Theatre. After that, he moved to the Malyi Theatre in 1938. He stayed there for the rest of his life. At the Malyi Theatre, he really showed off his talent. He often played important roles in classic plays like Wolves and Sheep and The Inspector-General.
Famous Movie Roles
Mikhail Zharov became very popular because of his role as Zhigan in the movie Road to Life (1931). In this film, he played the leader of a group of thieves. This was one of the first movies with sound! Mikhail used his voice to make his character special. He gave Zhigan a unique accent and even sang songs while playing the guitar.
In 1933, he also appeared in the film Okraina.
Playing Historical Figures
Some of his most praised sound films were historical dramas.
- In Peter the Great (1938), he played Prince Menshikov. Menshikov was a close friend and helper of the Russian Emperor Peter the Great.
- He also played Malyuta Skuratov in Sergei Eisenstein's movie Ivan the Terrible (1942–44). Skuratov was a powerful and feared figure during the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible.
The Village Detective
Mikhail Zharov's last and perhaps most beloved role was Aniskin. Aniskin was a funny and clever village policeman in a TV series. This series included The Village Detective (1968), Aniskin & Fantomas (1974), and Aniskin Again (1978). Many people loved watching him play this character.
Awards and Recognition
Mikhail Zharov was a very talented actor. He won the Stalin State Prize three times. He received it twice in 1941 and once more in 1942. These awards showed how much his work was valued.
Selected Films
Mikhail Zharov acted in many movies throughout his career. Here are a few of them:
- Aelita (1924)
- Man from the Restaurant (1927)
- Road to Life (1931)
- Okraina (1933)
- Peter the Great (1938)
- Ivan the Terrible (1944)
- Village Detective (1969)
Images for kids
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Zharov on a 2001 stamp of Russia
