Actor Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky all his life was in the shadow of his brother, the famous actor Oleg. But he himself was an outstanding person, his filmography includes more than 50 films, he played many of the brightest roles in the theater. Yankovsky lived a long and interesting life filled with creativity, love and success.
Childhood and family
On February 5, 1930, the firstborn appeared in the family of a hereditary nobleman - Yankovsky Rostislav Ivanovich. The boy's father belonged to the Belarusian-Polish family, his name Jan in the Red Army was remade in the Russian manner in Ivan. Before the revolution, Jan Yankovsky was the captain of the Life Guards of the Semenovsky Regiment, after the coup he served in the Red Army, he had a chance to fight under the command of Tukhachevsky. But these facts of the biography did not help him avoid the repressions that began in the 30s. The Yankovsky family was forced to move for some time, until they stayed in Rybinsk, where their father built a reservoir. ATThis city was inhabited by a huge number of exiles: actors, scientists, writers. A family with noble roots organically fit into this environment. Rostislav's childhood passed in a wonderful atmosphere, despite everyday difficulties, amateur performances were constantly staged in Rybinsk, poems were read, books were discussed. In this environment, the boy grew up developed and creative. During the Second World War, the family went to Kazakhstan, then to Tajikistan, where my father worked at the construction sites of large industrial facilities. For several years, the family traveled to almost all the union republics. During the war, two more boys appeared in the family - Nikolai and Oleg. In the 50s, the Yankovskys moved to Saratov, where the father of the family died, and the care of the boys fell on the shoulders of their elder brother Rostislav and his mother, who studied accounting.
Yankovsky did not really like studying at school, he grew up a little reserved, read a lot, thought, boxed, even won competitions. In adolescence, he became an active participant in school amateur performances. Parents supported their son's passion for theater, but difficult times and the need to earn money did not allow Rostislav to go to study further.
Beginning of adult life
After school, which Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky graduated without brilliance, the young man began working as a car depot dispatcher in Leninabad. At the age of 19, he already got his own family and did not see any prospects for himself in life. There was no time and desire to study, and still the main outlet in hislife was self-activity. He never seriously considered becoming an actor. The family, although they loved music and theater, was never close to theatrical activities. However, the parents of the Yankovsky brothers always and in all endeavors supported their children, so Rostislav was not prevented from going his own way, but was helped with advice and encouragement.
The way to the stage
Yankovsky studied in the drama club at the Palace of Culture, where he was seen by the head of the local drama theater Dmitry Mikhailovich Likhovetsky. Yankovsky Rostislav, whose biography was changing its direction, conquered him with talent and spontaneity, and he immediately offered him to work in the theater. But Rostislav began to refuse, referring to the lack of education and experience, Likhovetsky was persistent. Yankovsky began working in the theater, and at the same time studied at the acting studio. This experience was for him a pass to a new, real life. At this time, he played in such performances as "Makar Dubrava" by Korneichuk, "The Last" by M. Gorky. In 1957, Yankovsky Rostislav Ivanovich, whose biography is now forever associated with the acting profession, moves to Minsk with his family. There he enters the service in the troupe of the Russian Drama Theater. M. Gorky. This theater became the fate of Rostislav Yankovsky, he worked in it until the end of his days.
Education
Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky worried all his life that he did not receive the capit altheater education. But studying at the theater studio in Leninabad, natural talent and home education were enough for the theater to acquire a powerful, mature actor.
Working in the theater
Starting to work in Minsk, Yankovsky almost immediately became a local star. He managed to replay the best repertoire in the theater, at first the directors saw him only in the role of a hero-lover, but gradually he proved to everyone that he could play character roles. The heyday of his work in the theater falls on the 70-80s. At this time, he is in demand both in the cinema and in the theater. With tours of the Minsk Drama Theater, he traveled all over the USSR, visited fraternal states. Everywhere he was accompanied by incredible success. Natural aristocracy, a stately figure, endless charm and great talent have become the reason for such a stable, long-term success.
The actor has always said that he is a happy person, and this, apparently, really was the case, and the proof of this is his biography and roles. Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky served in one theater for almost 60 years (a year was not enough before such a significant anniversary). They repeatedly tried to lure him to other theaters. Once, during a tour in Leningrad, he received three invitations at once: one from the famous Igor Vladimirov, the second from Tabashnikov, the chief director of the Lenin Komsomol Theater in St. Petersburg, and the third from Elina Bystritskaya from the Maly Theater in Moscow. But Yankovsky remained faithful to his native theater and never regretted it. Loy alty and decency are generally the two main features of Rostislav Ivanovich. However, asguest actor Yankovsky often played in many theaters in Russia.
Film career
In 1957, the actor made his debut in the cinema, he was invited to shoot in the adventure film on the historical and revolutionary theme "Red Leaves" at the film studio "Belarusfilm". The young actor then got into the ensemble with already well-known and experienced actors, but he passed this test with honor, and invitations began to arrive quite regularly. The directors appreciated Jankowski for the fact that he did not just play the role, but literally lived on the screen. He loved acting and rarely turned down even small roles. Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky, whose filmography includes more than 50 films, stopped acting in 2008. They stopped offering him at least relatively worthy roles, and Yankovsky did not want to work in a hack, he did not want to dishonor his last name.
The best roles of Rostislav Yankovsky in the theater
In total, the actor played about 160 diverse roles in the theater, his repertoire included classics, melodramas, comedies, tragedies, plays by domestic and foreign authors. Such a variety proves that he could handle any role, fortunately, he did not become a hostage to one role and was able to fully realize himself in his favorite profession. To the question: “What are your best roles in the theater?” Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky always answered: "They are still ahead." Indeed, it is difficult to choose the best - there are too many of them. The undoubted successes of the actor include performances: “Children of the Sun”, “Bath”, “Capercaillie Nest”, “Warsaw Melody”, “Profitableplace”, “Imaginary patient”, “Woe from Wit”. However, Yankovsky did not have passing roles and each of his works is a great achievement of the master.
Best movies
Yankovsky Rostislav Ivanovich worked a lot and successfully in the cinema. On his account there are enough good works, although he was not very lucky with the roles. Cinema could not offer him some stellar, great work that would bring him to the echelon of stars. His best works include such tapes as: “Two comrades served” (dir. E. Karelov), this is a rare case when the Yankovsky brothers met in one tape, “The Tale of the Star Boy” (dir. L. Nechaev), "The Battle for Moscow" (dir. Yu. Ozerov), "The Sea on Fire" (dir. L. Saakov), "Adam's Rib" (dir. V. Krishtofovich), "All the King's Men" (dir. N. Ardashnikov, A. Gutkovich), State Councilor (dir. Philip Yankovsky) is another rare case when uncle and nephew worked together on the set.
Awards and titles
Rostislav Ivanovich Yankovsky, whose awards are quite numerous, was always shy when he was presented with another sign of respect and appreciation of his merits. He was a very modest person, maybe that's why the list of his awards is not so great. He was an Honored and People's Artist of Belarus, People's Artist of the USSR, had the Order of the Badge of Honor, the Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, two Orders of Merit for the Fatherland (Belarus), several medals and prizes, including from the government of Belarus. The most significant awards are Yankovsky Rostislav himself,whose biography was rich in honors, considered the Golden Mask theatrical award - for an outstanding contribution to art, the Man of the Year award (1997), the Listapad festival award.
Private life and family
Yankovsky Rostislav Ivanovich, for whom creativity was considered the most important, was very happy in family life. He met his wife Nina Cheishvili at the age of 19. It was a very strong love that the couple was able to carry through their lives. His wife became Yankovsky's close friend, support and the best woman in the world. In his interviews, the actor invariably emphasized that he and his wife love each other very much. The couple had two sons: Igor and Vladimir. Igor Yankovsky became an actor, he graduated from the College. B. Shchukin, worked in the theater on Malaya Bronnaya, starred in films and commercials a lot. He married a German woman who gave birth to two of Yankovsky's grandchildren. Vladimir also went into art, works as a music video director, he also has a son, Ivan, about whom his grandfather said that he would probably be able to continue the dynasty.
Handsome Yankovsky was often credited with novels, especially with stage partners, but he said that he was not able to betray his wife. Nina, with whom he lived for more than 65 years, worked all her life as a geography teacher, all the hardships of everyday life always lay on her shoulders, but she was happy that her beloved husband and her “boys” were next to her.
Acting dynasty
Yankovsky Rostislav Ivanovich unwittingly became the founder of a creative dynasty. Before him, no one had anything to do with art. But looking atolder brother, the younger ones also reached out to the stage. Oleg became the most famous actor, Nikolai was the deputy director of the puppet theater in Saratov. The brothers were very close all their lives, they always got together every Christmas, they supported each other all their lives. There was no competition or envy in their family, everyone was sincerely happy for the success of others.
The next generation of Yankovsky also continued the tradition of creative life. Oleg's son, Philip, became a director, played several roles in films, married an actress just like his father. And their children followed in the footsteps of their ancestors: Ivan became an actor, he played several roles in the cinema, studies at the Russian Academy of Theater Arts, and his daughter Elizabeth is a student at the Moscow film school. Nikolai's daughters also went into art, Olga is a musician, Natalya is a ballerina, choreographer.
Interesting facts
Yankovsky Rostislav Ivanovich, whose biography is full of interesting events and facts, has always existed a little in the shadow of the famous, younger brother. But, being the eldest of three brothers, he lived the longest life, outliving Nikolai by a year, Oleg by 7 years.
Rostislav Yankovsky was one of the founders and permanent president of the Listapad Film Festival in Minsk.
The actor lived with his wife for more than 60 years, he said that the Yankovskys get married once and for life and, indeed, all three brothers had only one marriage.
