14 1934 October, the
В Leningrad was born Mikhail Kozakov — actor, screenwriter, and director. Pedro Zurita from "Amphibian Man" and the colonel from "Hello, I'm Your Aunt." Director of "Pokrovskie Gates" and "Nameless Star."
I'm an old soldier and I don't know the words of love
("Hello, I'm your aunt")
Father is a writer, author of the novel "The Fall of an Empire" Mikhail Kozakov. Her mother was a literary editor. During Stalin's purges, she was arrested twice: the first time because of her brother (who was executed for espionage), and the second time because of accusations of financial misconduct at the Literary Fund, where she worked.
Actors are born. A parent will give birth to a child who, for some unknown reason, will, as they grow up, develop precisely the facial features, eyes, voice, masculinity, sexuality, and charm that, combined with the character's writing, actions, and emotions, will produce an unprecedented effect.
In life he's a rag and junk, on stage he's King Lear
During the Great Patriotic War, he was evacuated to Leningrad together with other children. Molotov region (now - Perm). After the war, he returned to Leningrad and studied at the choreographic school.
In 1956, he graduated from the Moscow Art Theatre School. His first major theatrical role was Shakespeare's Hamlet.
The young actor wants to understand Hamlet with the same insatiable greed with which his Hamlet wants to know the world
(magazine "Theater", 1957)
At 22, in his final year, he made his film debut in the political drama “Murder on Dante Street.”
In 1961, at 27, he played Pedro Zurita (Gutierrez's husband) in The Amphibian Man – and woke up famous.
In the 1970s, he starred in the films All the King's Men, The Straw Hat, and Hello, I'm Your Aunt!
I became an actor because I wanted to overcome my extreme shyness.
I've always been afraid of life and preferred to live in a fantasy world. For me, the world of my performances, characters, and poems is far more important and real than life itself. Sometimes, while filming or performing, I catch myself thinking, "I'm alive right now. And that's more important than what happens after the performance."
As a director, he made ten films, the most famous of which are "Nameless Star" and "Pokrovskie Vorota." Censors blocked the first film for ten years, seeing parallels between the USSR and the USA. The second also faced difficulties, as it was seen as nostalgic for the Khrushchev Thaw (in exchange for permission, Kozakov agreed to play Dzerzhinsky in three films).
My film "Pokrovskie Vorota," which is considered a cult classic in Moscow, didn't win a single award. Not even from the Moscow mayor's office. Whenever there were film festivals dedicated to Moscow, it wasn't included in the program.
In August 1991 he emigrated with his family to Israel. He performed in Hebrew at the Tel Aviv Chamber Theatre, created a Russian troupe and staged plays.
I fled in fear. Yes, I was a coward. Mishka [my son] was born, the family was huge, there was no work, the phone was silent. I confess: I was a member of the "sausage emigration."
[Before leaving the USSR] I would go to the store manager on Pyatnitskaya and say, "Don't you recognize me? I played in 'Amphibian Man.'" And he would say to the saleswoman, "Dunya, let go of the goods." I would leave like a thief with Hungarian food. I was tired of being humiliated.
In 1996, he returned to Russia. He organized his own troupe, performed solo performances, and was an excellent reciter. Brodsky и Akhmatova, with whom he was personally acquainted.
I'm a lone wolf. A lonely sailor, a sailor without a ship.
In 2002, in his autobiography, "The Third Bell," he admitted to working for the KGB from 1956 to 1988. He claimed he was recruited by the American branch "to help fight American imperialism."
I was supposed to have sexual intercourse with an American journalist, I don't know why. I failed to complete the assignment. Since then, I haven't been given any specific tasks. However, they kept reminding me of their presence from time to time: they'd call me on the phone, arrange meetings in various places. They were interested in my relationship with the ambassador, his wife, or someone else at the embassy.
He died in 2011, at 76, after treatment for lung cancer in an Israeli nursing home. He was buried (according to his wishes) in Moscow.
And he lies somewhere in someone else's cemetery, although who cares where he lies? Where to live is much more important.
