Kocetkov Athanasius Ivanovich

Born March 9, 1930 in the village Balahonovka Samara region in a large peasant family. Grow up his mother Lyubov Prokofyevna Kochetkova (1899-1984). Father Athanasius - Kochetkov, Ivan Vasilyevich (1899-1942), two older brothers and elder sister in the war went to the front. In 1942, Mr.. father died. His tomb found for children at Staraya Russa many years after the victory. Teenager survived the tragedy of war, the future actor will forever remain in our hearts the memory of her and the people of the war generation has had major influence on its formation.

And for life will remain with him the first impressions of childhood, associated with the beauty and grandeur of his native land. The breadth and scope Volga, spells evening river, inexpressible charm of the village summer evenings, the mysterious silence of a snow-covered woods ... Daily, direct contact with nature, could not but provoke a response in the soul impressionable teenager. Poetry and beauty of his native land had awakened imagination, gave rise to unexpected dream, as if pushed to the creative search. It is no coincidence, perhaps, just two people in one rural family, he grew up, devoted himself to art. Older brother Victor, returning from the front, became a professional poet and critic. (Currently, VI Kochetkov - a member of the editorial board of "Our Contemporary"). Athanasius as his childhood and adolescent experiences had translated into dramatic art. And until now, with gratitude, he returned to his roots, drawing inspiration from them, charged with energy for creativity.

True, at first on the acting profession, he never dreamed of, and after graduating from high school in g.Tuymazy that in the southern Urals, went to Chisinau to go to university. For five years he studied science at the Faculty of Geology, and in his spare time visiting student theater. There he saw Dmitry Zhuravlev, a well-known reciter, singer, and advised him to do theater professionally. Having trusted authoritative opinion, after the University of AI Kochetkov had gone to Moscow. It has been a creative contest in the drama school named after M. Schepkin at a small theater, but the degree geologist obliged him three years to work out specialty. Had the most Vera Nikolaevna Pashennaya, famous actress of the Maly Theater to get interested in the talented entrants, intercede for his release from labor. So he became a student at the school named after M. Schepkin of course wonderful directors and educators MOKnebel and VI Tsygankov.

After graduating in 1956. School and joined the troupe studio actor, Kochetkov immediately became very much to act in films. (He - a member of the Union of Cinematographers in 1960). The first director, who Kochetkov starred in movies, was VP Basov ( "The first joy" and "No Ordinary Summer"). Then, one after another, followed by large, central role: Smolyarchuk in the film "Above the Tisza" (1958), Gerasim in the film "Mumu" (1959), Dovbush in the film "Olexa Dovbush" (1960) and many, many. Among the remarkable works AI Kochetkova in the movie also: Antonov ( "Solitude"), . Mostovenko ( "Heart of Russia"), . Smurov ( "First Date"), . Roman ( "Long Day"), . Kharitonov ( "Ordinary Arctic"), . Anton ( "Let's talk, . brother "), . Dubodel ( "People in the swamp"), . Daniel ( "Gloom-river") and, . course, . Maxim Gorky in the films "Mayakovsky begins", . "Incredible Jegudiel Chlamys", . "I am - an actress (the role of Gorky, he performed in 6 pictures),
. In the artist's creative assets of about 100 characters of the central and episodic - in movies Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian filmmakers.

But, of course, work in the film does not exhaust all the creative possibilities Athanasius Kochetkova. An exceptional gift dramatic actor, his bright distinctive personality, open, strong temperament, clearly intended for the stage, could not attract the attention of major theater directors. AA Goncharov, whose Kochetkov considers his godfather on the professional stage, invited him to his play "The Law of wintering". This performance saw a remarkable director BI Ravenskih, in his work focused on the poetic theater - the theater of large generalizations, the theater high-poetic sound. In Kochetkova, . ability to combine the natural scenic drama of existence and the brightness, . almost commonplace and worldly metaphors, . stark simplicity and heroic pathos, . Ravenskih immediately saw "their" artist and invited him to the theater named after Pushkin, . he then led,
.

Years of work in the Moscow Pushkin Drama Theater (1964-1978 gg.) - An interesting, fruitful period of his creative career artist. He has created considerable interest viewers and critics tragically expressive images of Sholokhov's hero Makar feeding ( "Virgin Soil Upturned") and Andrei Sokolov ( "Fate of Man"). Much broader range of artistic Role, . played in the play "Romagnoli" the role of Count Gardengi - Italian-aristocrat, . Rights cynical, . ill, . refined-cycle, . in the play "The Legend of Paganini" the role of the brilliant violin virtuoso Nicolo Paganini,
. Great success was also a daunting role Porphyry Syrovarova in the play "Blizzard" Leonov - a man of tragic destiny, . Former Whites, . then the hero of Spain, . Kochetkov played in restrained tones harsh and tragic at the same time intense,
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In 1978. Little Theater began its production of "King Lear" by William Shakespeare. At one of the central roles of the tragedy - Earl of Kent the theater management has invited his former graduate. So Athanasius Kochetkov returned to his alma mater. From 1978 to the present day - he was one of the leading artists of the troupe Academic Maly Theater.

The range of roles played by the People's Artist of Russia (1976) Athanasius Ivanovich Kochetkov over two decades, with little work in the Maly Theater, is extremely wide and varied. He embodied on the stage comedy characters, . such, . example, . as mayor in the "Inspector" or Gromilov in the "Talents and admirers", . and created the tragic images of Kent in "King Lear", . Theseus in Phaedra ... " He played the role of publicist acute, . Lisitsyn as a "challenge" and deep-dramatic, . complicated psychological, . as Vanyushin in "Children of Vanyushina",
. Roles characteristic (Pop in "Conversations with the clear moon") and heroic (the old man in the "Russian people", Morozov in the "Silver Prince". Roles modern (Ivanov, "It will be"), Znobin in Ivushka neplakuchey and historical (Duke SHUISKI in "Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, Lup-Kleshnin in" Tsar Boris "). Roles in the works of Russian and foreign classical repertoire: Staro (Nedorosl Fonvizin), . Silane ( "Ardent Heart"), . Vishnevsky ( "Talents and admirers"), . Bolshov ( "Soy people, . considered "Ostrovsky), . Varrina ( "Conspiracy Fiesco in Genoa," Schiller) ..,
. Polivanov in the play "Painting" by D. Granik, severe, inflexible Druzhina Morozov in the "Silver Prince" by A. Tolstoy, proud, freedom-loving Pereydenov in "menials" PP Gnedich.

On horoscope Athanasius Kochetkov - "fish". Childhood he spent at the river. This artist explains his unusual attraction to water throughout the life. Water element to it - native. It restores, heals, energises and helps to reflect. He is fond of fishing. He likes to sit in silence, silence, to think ... It likes to swim. He says that when he breaks away from the coast, all the sickness passes, returning force. Especially fond of the Black Sea, the mountains surrounding it. Once he walked on foot the entire Caucasus Mountains. He also loves the forest, reserved, quiet corners of the earth. When a keen chess and checkers. From the writers of most Kochetkov values Ivan Bunin. Of all the people who have ever met, the greatest impression and influenced Kochetkova at Basil Makarovich SHukshin. Not only as a writer, actor and director, but above all as a person, a person, according to Ivanovich, more than anyone expressing a generation to which he belonged.

Of all the artists more Kochetkov Russian appreciates tragic actor Nikolai Simonov. Among the foreign: Jean Gabin and Audrey Hepburn. He likes films of Italian neorealism.

Lives and works in Moscow.