Mikhail Zharov

Biography

Mikhail Ivanovich Zharov is a Soviet theater and film actor. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1944) and People's Artist of the USSR (October 26, 1949). In 1920, he graduated from the studio at the theater of the Artistic and Educational Union of Workers' Organization. He acted in theaters No. 1 of the Revolutionary Military Union of the Republic, the Safonov Theater, the Baku Workers' Theater, the Realistic Theater, and the Moscow Chamber Theater. From 1938, he was an actor and director at the Maly Theater. He made his film debut in 1915 with a tiny, practically unnoticeable role as an oprichnik in the film "Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible." He played his first major role, that of Red Army soldier Yegor, in 1925 in the film "The Road to Happiness." In those years, Zharov was considered an unrivaled master of the episodic genre (Don Diego and Pelageya, The Man from the Restaurant, The White Eagle, The Living Corpse, Outskirts, and Puppets). He found expressive, distinctive details and rich, vibrant colors for his characters, imbuing them all—both villains and heroes—with a common quality: they are all great lovers of life, charming, confident, and in control of life. His heroes know how to enjoy everything: food, billiards, wine, women, the simple songs they often hum, a sunny day, or an unexpected win. Zharov combined absolute authenticity and vivid psychological characterization with a sometimes grotesque portrayal of the role, enlivening any plot, even the most serious, with his presence. In the 1930s, thanks to cinema, Zharov achieved national popularity. The artist was in great demand. He was invited by the most famous directors. With Nikolai Ekk he played one of his most famous roles - the bandit Zhigan (A Start in Life), with Grigory Kozintsev and Leonid Trauberg - the smug clerk Dymba (The Return of Maxim and The Vyborg Side), with Vladimir Petrov - the cheerful prankster Kudryash (The Storm) and the good-natured, cheerful courtier Menshikov (Peter the Great), with Isidor Annensky - the loud, healthy landowner Smirnov (The Bear), the cheerful teacher Kovalenko (The Man in the Case) and the carefree landowner Artynov (Anna on the Neck), with the Vasiliev brothers - the daring Cossack Perchikhin (The Defense of Tsaritsyn), with Sergei Eisenstein - Malyuta Skuratov, a cunning, cruel, "smart" peasant, who managed to become the Tsar's right hand ("Ivan the Terrible"). In 1944, he was awarded "For successful work in the field of Soviet cinematography during the Patriotic War and the release of highly artistic films." In total, M.I. Zharov starred in more than 60 films. Over the years, the courage of his characters diminished; they became calmer, wiser, and more grounded. His last film character was the rural policeman Aniskina ("The Village Detective," "Anikina and Fantomas," "And Again Aniskina"). The role was a signature one for the actor: his Aniskina is a village philosopher, a sage, insightful, unfussy, and attentive to all matters. A hero who affirms the belief that our lives depend on our own decision to live correctly and wisely. As a film director, Zharov made three films: “Troublesome Economy”, “Aniskine and Fantomas” (together with V.A. Rappoport), “And Again Aniskine” (together with V.I. Ivanov).

Known For

Чужой бумажник

(archive footage)

Наше кино

Czar's Guard Malyuta Skuratov

Иван Грозный. Сказ второй: Боярский заговор

House Painter

Шахматная горячка

Lartsev

Ошибка инженера Кочина

Zaitsev

Три товарища

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov

Пётр Первый

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov

Пётр Первый. Вторая серия

Soldier

Царь Иван Васильевич Грозный

cantor Havrylo

Богдан Хмельницкий

Waiter at the inn

Мисс Менд

Chairman of the revolution committee

Два-Бульди-два

Koudryash

Гроза

Fyodor Ivanovich Aniskin

Деревенский детектив

Aniskin

И снова Анискин

Фёдор Анискин

Анискин и Фантомас

Waiter

Человек из ресторана

Mikhail Zharov

Дон Диего и Пелагея

Official

Белый орёл

Border checkpoint commander

Марионетки

Любовь и ненависть

Platon Dymba

Возвращение Максима

Жаров рассказывает...

Ukhov

Старшая сестра

Czar's Guard Malyuta Skuratov

Иван Грозный

Perchikhin

Оборона Царицына

Baranov

Воздушный извозчик

Krayevitch, a student

Окраина

Semibab

Беспокойное хозяйство

Vadim Spiridonovich Yeropkin

Близнецы

Фомка «Жиган»

Путёвка в жизнь

шофер Зачесов

Счастливый рейс

cook

Внимание! В городе волшебник!

Minister of War

Каин XVIII

(as M. Zharov)

Красные листья

Семен Митрофанович Ковалев

Самый последний день

Sviristinsky

Девушка с гитарой

Khrenov

Мичурин

Artynov

Анна на шее

Reciter in hospital

Актриса

Grigori Stepanovich Smirnov

Медведь

Михаил Александрович Коваленко (учитель истории и географии)

Человек в футляре

Наш друг Максим

Gavril Fedorovich Rusov

Секретарь райкома

Lazunka, boyarin's son

Степан Разин

Globa

Во имя Родины

Platon Vassilievich Dymba

Выборгская сторона

За тех, кто в море

Млечный путь

Сапоги

Fritz

Юный Фриц

Tsar (voice)

Сказка о царе Салтане

sluzhashchiy i nosil'shchik

Папиросница от Моссельпрома

Actor in Play

Аэлита

Factory worker

Его призыв

Васса Железнова

Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)

The Village Detective: A Song Cycle

Мечтатели

Царицын. Поход Ворошилова

Zhdan

Аня

Hired witness (uncredited)

Живой труп

Visitor in the brothel

Земля в плену

Student

Кто ты такой?

Развод по-нарымски

Воронцов

Так и будет

Лыняев

Дом Островского

Митрич

Власть тьмы

Лаптев

Ревизоры поневоле

menshevik

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