Biography
Yuri Nikulin is one of the country's most beloved actors, the director of the circus, a deserved clown with an impeccable sense of humor and an open heart. Nikulin's biography is the story of life of a man who sincerely loves his family, his work and his fans.
Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin was born in Demidov, Smolensk region, in a family of theater actors. Nikulin's birthday is December 18, 1921. Even as a child he moved to Moscow, where he played in the school drama group, which was headed by his father. After school, Yuri was drafted into the army and, not having time to demobilize, in 1941 went to the front. Co-workers always praised the comic talent of Nikulin, which convinced him of the idea - to go to the theater. But in VGIK the future People's Artist of the USSR was refused in a harsh form - "of course, you have something in you, but you are not suitable for the cinema. Neither did they take him into the ranks of other institutions, schools and studios, until, at last, he entered the studio at the Noginsky Theatre, where, however, he did not stay long, having escaped to the studio of clownery at the Moscow State Circus. Two years later, Nikulin performed in the arena of the circus, then became an assistant to the most beloved - at the time - clown of the country, Pencil. It was there, in the circus, he met his future wife, Tatiana, who came to see the rehearsal of the troupe, and witnessed the accident - Nikulin was attacked by a horse and the artist had to be taken to the hospital, where she began to visit him. After Nikulina's recovery the young people got married and lived in marriage for almost 50 years.
It was Tatiana who pushed doubting Nikulin to his first role in the movie - "just play yourself! The image of a simple guy in the episodic role of Nikulin in the "Girl with a guitar" immediately fell in love with the Soviet audience, and the roles were followed one by one - "The Most Smoothing", "Operation "Y" and other adventures of Shurik", "Caucasian prisoner. The script of the immortal "Diamond Hand" has already been specially written under Nikulin. At the same time, the artist was not limited to comedy roles - one of the best of his works was the game in the dramatic film "When the trees were big. In the early 70's, the actor received popular love, which, however, did not affect his character - he remained the same simple and responsive person who was up to popularity, never refusing to help friends and colleagues.
Yuri Nikulin's biography is closely connected with the Moscow State Circus, the director of which he became in 1982. It was under Yuri Nikulin that the circus received its second life, having experienced a global reconstruction. Now the circus is run by Nikulin's son, Maxim. But with all the modesty of Nikulin, he never considered himself a great clown or a great artist. A quote from Nikulin in one of his recent interviews: "I'm already being lied about, write: "The great clown. This is about me. But what a "great" when clowns were better than me. A few months after the interview, in August, the actor underwent surgery on the heart, during which it happened to stop, causing an organ failure. Nikulina was worried about the whole country. The operation was simple and planned. Nikulin was sure that he would quickly go on the mend, but at the very last moment the vessel closed and the heart stopped. Immediately began resuscitation, but while Nikulin was in a state of clinical death, all organs - kidneys, brain, liver - suffered. Doctors fought for the life of the actor for 16 days, without leaving him, but, alas, and could not save him.
Episodes of life
Yuri Nikulin brought his father to the circus when he was a child. That's when little Yura decided to become a clown. One day at a children's masquerade, he decided to act as a clown and when his performance began, immediately fell to the floor, remembering that this is what clowns do. Nobody laughed. Nikulin repeated the trick several times, but failed to cheer up the audience.
Yuri Nikulin's mother, with whom he always had a warm relationship, initially objected to his son's decision to become a clown. But his father supported the actor, saying: "Let Yura take the risk. In the circus you can experiment. Work - unspoiled edge. If he finds himself - will move forward. And in the theater? There is too much tradition, everything is known, full dependence on the director. In the circus, much is defined by the artist himself. At the first performance of Nikulin as a clown, my mother was very touched and even cried.
When in 1992 the commercial director of the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, Mikhail Sedoy, was killed, Yuri Nikulin transferred the position to his son, Maxim. Once Eldar Ryazanov asked Nikulin: "Yura, but after the murder of a colleague you were not afraid to put your son in this position?", to which he did not hesitate to answer: "Why should I frame someone else's son?
Tatyana Pokrovskaya has been a close friend of Nikulin's all her life, including working as his assistant in the circus. Nikulin said: "Tatiana, my wife. I always listen to her advice. Tanya is my only wife. I am always nervous when Tanya is sick. I am always happy when Tanya is in a good mood. How are you, girl? I say this phrase all my life, addressing Tanya.
Covenants
"If each of us manages to make the other person happy, at least one, everyone on earth will be happy.
"A lot of good can be done if you are in a good mood.
"I was always happy when I made people laugh. Whoever laughs with good laughter infects others with kindness. After such laughter, the atmosphere is different: we forget many life troubles and inconveniences.