24 June 1912
Sergei Filippov was born in Saratov to a mechanic and a seamstress. He was a comedic actor, a "giant of thought and the father of Russian democracy," and also the most famous lecturer in Soviet cinema..
Whether there is life on Mars or not is unknown to science!
Filippov was a poor student at school. He was a troublemaker. One day, during chemistry class, he mixed hydrochloric acid with iron filings and a couple of chemicals. The pungent odor disrupted the class, and Filippov was expelled.
Talent is measure and tact
At first, he worked as a baker. Then he became fascinated with ballet, but missed the entrance exams to the choreographic school. He enrolled in the Leningrad Variety and Circus Technical School. He was a brilliant student, and after graduating, he was accepted to the Opera and Ballet Theater. But soon after, the actor suffered a heart attack during a performance. He had to give up ballet. Filippov transferred to the Comedy Theater.
Shouldn't I shake things up a bit? What if the old artist gets the same rap as before?
Filippov began receiving invitations to appear in films. Thin, tall, and agile, with a sullen face and sinister expression, he created inimitable images even in minor roles:
I, I... Kemskaya volost!
In 1965, Filippov was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In 1971, he suffered from such severe headaches that Gaidai decided to cast Rostislav Plyatt as Kisa Vorobyaninov. However, Filippov's desire to play the father of Russian democracy was so strong that Plyatt passed on the role.
Monsieur, je ne mange pas sis jour. Geben mir zi bitte… Give something for food to a former State Duma deputy.
He died in 1990. According to the recollections of actress Lyubov Tishchenko, a few days before his death, Sergei Filippov told her:
You know, I've always wanted to play a positive, tragic role, but I've only ever gotten nasty ones. I even cried when I found out the lead role in "When the Trees Were Tall" went to Yuri Nikulin...
