Leonid Gennadyevich Parfenov was born in the Vologda region. in Cherepovets. It was in this city that parents came after the birth of Leonid. Mom - Alvina Andreevna is a school teacher, and father - Gennady Viktorovich - a metallurgical engineer. It is even surprising how such a strong voice and character of the post-Soviet era could form in such a small, unappreciative town as Cherepovets. The journalist himself says about his hometown that life there is boring and boring.
From childhood, Parfenov understood that it would be very difficult for him to live here and work at the factory. After all, even an ordinary nail could not be driven in without bending it. Hard physical labor was not to his liking. And then the journalist admits that he felt lonely there.
School years
Literature conquered little Leonid, in which he was completely immersed. There he felt free. Already in the 6th grade I independently read all the necessary school curriculum. Then he began to take an interest in writers, who are not passed even by the humanities of higher institutions. Despite his desire and perseverance, he never managed to become an excellent student, mathematics was difficult andother exact sciences. What can not be said about history and literature.
In this undertaking, Parfyonov was supported by his parents - they were indulgent about his difference from his peers. Dad, of course, really wanted his son to master a serious male profession and also work at a factory. However, over time, the father reconciled and supported his son.
From a young age, the boy knew his destiny and strove for it. Initially, he wrote short articles in a local newspaper. For his work, he was even awarded a trip to the famous Artek camp.
University and adulthood
After a trip to Leningrad at the age of 15, the young man was already confident about his future plans and decided exactly on the place of study. So, in 1977 he entered the State University of St. Petersburg.
Career
As soon as Parfyonov entered the first year of high school, the first thing he did was get two jobs. His main goal was to put his appearance in order and acquire normal clothes. Since he brought with him only a few shirts in his suitcase and even grabbed a school uniform. But, of course, to maintain a solid appearance, funds are needed that the guy was rapidly earning. And gradually put together his gentleman's wardrobe.
During his student years, Leonid went abroad for an internship and saw a large layer of world art, from which he was simply delighted. After all, he had never seen anything like this in the USSR.
Having finishedhis university, Parfenov returned to Cherepovets by distribution, where he had to work for 4 years. This turn of events was not at all to his liking, after all the known possibilities "over the hill". A graduate worked for the Vologda Komsomolets newspaper, he is a talented journalist himself, but he brought a lot of problems to the office. He wanted to write about forbidden topics. Some of the articles of the young journalists fell into the mainstream of metropolitan life. Further, Leonid gets a job at the Vologda television, where he performed the tasks of Ostankino.
Up the career ladder
In 1986, Eduard Sagalaev invited a talented writer to the Central Television, he was offered to become a correspondent for the program "Peace and Youth". These were the first steps in big television. It was there that he was taught a lot - how to put his voice and posture correctly. After all, at that time it was very difficult to get on the screens, only by acquaintance or you should be heard somewhere. And so, an unknown journalist from a small town is just luck.
However, the young talent's career was moving rapidly. Just think - in 4 years he has grown from an ordinary journalist to a TV program host. Leonid Parfyonov usually hosted programs on political topics. Since that time, his own works began to appear. Together with Andrei Razbash, they filmed "Children of the 20th Congress", for which they were pretty paid. This was a breakthrough in his career, then he began to release his own projects - "The Other Day". Released in 1990, it was the first issue in whichneo-political news was discussed, which was a novelty for the Soviet Union. And the presenter Leonid Parfenov himself looked good in the frame, was too charismatic and memorable. After the release of this program, he began to be recognized on the street.
After frank statements on the air about the events in Georgia, Parfyonov is removed from the air. All events coincide with the collapse of the USSR, and from this period a new stage in life begins.
The next step was the VID company, where I worked for more than 4 years. Then, as if for good luck, a new NTV channel is formed, with which Leonid begins his cooperation. Soon he will completely switch to this channel and continue his career.
Big changes
Gradually, Parfyonov acquired professional acumen and became a role model for many aspiring journalists and TV presenters. Somehow he even had to try himself as an editor-in-chief, but he liked his previous job more. Leonid Parfyonov preferred documentaries and frankly missed them. Soon, nevertheless, he returns "to his place" on the first channel, where he was invited by his old friend Konstantin Ernst.
In 2016, a number of documentary trilogies by Leonid Parfyonov, the film "Russian Jews", will be released. In which he acts as an actor, producer and author.
Private life
Elena Chekalova - the wife of Leonid Parfyonov, who hosted the "Happiness Is" program, often shares her married life, talking about happy everyday life. However, the husband is notshares such conversations and tries most often to remain silent about marital life and relationships. After all, he was often accused of being gay, to which the young man usually mysteriously keeps silent.
The couple met on Vologda television, then they already heard a little about him in the capital. And, seeing one of the works of Leonid, the girl asked me to write a note for her newspaper. Thus, they met and continued their relationship in the future. In 1987 they got married, and a year later the first-born son Vanya was born, then in 1993 the long-awaited daughter Maria was born. A wife always speaks with delight of her husband. Despite the workload and work processes, he always tried to help her with household chores, and treated the children in a special way, with great trepidation and love.
He has located his cozy nest not far from the Vologda region, the village of Bolshevo. There is his small two-story house, the life of which was ennobled in the northern traditions.
