The role of Joseph Stalin in history is estimated differently. Some idolize his personality, others zealously hate him and his policies. During the years of his life, the family of Joseph Vissarionovich lived well. His son, Vasily Stalin, often behaved waywardly, committing odious acts unworthy of his family name. However, he did not bear any punishment for his deeds. The grandson of Joseph Stalin, director Alexander Vasilyevich Burdonsky, had to change his last name in order to calmly engage in creativity.
Alexander Bourdonsky biography: early years
The director was born on October 14, 1941 in the city of Kuibyshev, which is now called Samara. His father is the famous Soviet pilot Vasily Stalin, and his mother is Galina Burdonskaya. Given to him after birth, the name of his grandfather, Stalin, helped the boy at a young age. However, after the death of Joseph Vissarionovich, the surname had to be changed to Burdonsky.
The change is due to the debunking of the personality cult of the great leader at the XX Congress of the Communist Party. From that moment, the persecution of Stalin's relatives began. The father of the future director was also hit.
Vasily Stalin
The he alth of father Alexander Burdonsky in prison deteriorated so much that he urgently needed treatment. Nikita Khrushchev decides to release Vasily ahead of schedule, but in return requires compliance with a number of conditions:
- Stop talking about your father's death, blaming current politicians for his death.
- Do not lead a wild life.
Gritting his teeth, Vasily agrees to Nikita Sergeevich's demands. He is allocated a pension, the title is returned and a 3-room apartment is issued. But Vasily Stalin's happiness does not last long: in a drunken state, he announces the murder of his father by Khrushchev and blames the whole world for his misfortunes. He is returned to prison and then sent to the closed city of Kazan.
Based on his biography, the series "Son of the Father of Nations" was filmed, reflecting Vasily's life with his first wife and relations with his own son Alexander.
Fathers and Sons
Alexander Burdonsky, the son of Vasily Stalin, was taken from his mother in early childhood. She was forbidden to visit her child, so the upbringing fell entirely on the shoulders of her father. Constant drinking, a wild lifestyle prevented Vasily from raising his son properly.
As he himself stated, his stepmothers and governesses took care of him. It is worth noting that, despite all the hardships of fate and the temporary absence of his mother, Alexander turned out to be a good person and a loving husband. His father prepared for him a military career, but he preferred to engage in theater and cinema.
The death of the leader and his role in the life of Alexander Bourdonsky
Grandfather, Joseph Stalin, was never interested in the fate of his own grandson. Alexander never saw him live. But he happened to see his grandfather at the funeral. As he later noted, Stalin's death had no effect on his emotional state.
Alexander was not fond of politics, his interests included only theater. Often he received offers to stage a play about his grandfather, but he always refused. He never advertised his relationship with the leader.
According to him, his grandfather was too crazy, but, no doubt, a brilliant politician. In his youth, Alexander treated Joseph Vissarionovich with some contempt. Growing up, I was able to evaluate the role of my grandfather in history more as positive than negative.
The childhood and youth of the actor passed in difficult moral conditions. Thanks to his fortitude and special character, the boy did not lose himself in the glory that fell on him. And in the future he did not use his relationship to show off his famous grandfather. In Bourdonsky's mind, he remained an unattainable figure.
Where did you study
As his father wanted, Alexander began to study at the Kalinin Suvorov School. After graduating from the 7th grade, he entered the Art and Technical School of theatrical profile. Actively participated in the life of the educational institution and the House of Pioneers.
In 1958 he graduated from college and began working as a prop artist in the theaters of the capital of the USSR. At the beginning of 1966, he was studying at GITIS at the director'sfaculty.
In 1971, Bourdonsky graduated from his studies and received an invitation to play in Shakespeare's play. Already in 1972, director Andrei Popov made him an offer to stay at the TsTSA and continue his acting career. It is easy to guess that Alexander agrees.
Actor's personal life
Burdonsky married his colleague and classmate Dalia Tumalyavichuta. She worked as the chief director in the youth theater, died before her husband. There were no children in the marriage, and the widowed Alexander Vasilyevich Burdonsky was left all alone. To his credit, he never used his "special" position, considering himself an ordinary person.
Death
At the age of 76, Alexander Burdonsky died. The news about the death of the director and actor did not cause heated discussions in society, which is natural, because he led a modest lifestyle. Due to heart problems on May 24 last year, the actor died in a Moscow hospital.
