Veniamin Borisovich Smekhov (Russian: Вениами́н Бори́сович Сме́хов; born 10 August 1940 in Moscow) is a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor and director. He was the winner of the Petropol Award (2000) as well as the Tsarskoselsky Artistic Prize (2009). He refused the title of People's Artist of Russia,[1] which was offered to him on his 70th birthday.[2]
Smekhov has long worked in the Moscow Taganka Theatre where his roles included Woland in a stage adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita. His portrayal of the main antagonist of the story is considered to be the best of any adaption of the novel. In film, he is best known and loved for the role of Athos in a Russian version of D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers (1978) and its sequels (1992, 1993).[3] He also has written children's poetry, scripts, memoirs and comedic materials.
Smekhov spent his childhood in Moscow on Second Meshchansky Street (present day Gilyarovsky Street). He saw his father only after he returned from the Second World War in 1945. From 1947 to 1957 he was a student at School № 235 on Pal'chikov Lane where he was a part of the Palace of Pioneers drama club. V.E. Struchkova led the club and Rolan Bykov worked with the students. In 1957 Smekhov was accepted into the B.V. Shchukin Theatre School, the conservatory of the E. Vakhtangov Theatre. He studied in the class of V.A. Etush. It was Veniamin's uncle, Lev Smekhov, who encouraged him to study at the school. In 1959 he was removed from his class and began the second year of study as an auditor. This was a probationary measure. In April of 1959 he regained his student status. His graduation performances included Moliere's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme in which he played Covielle, and Ostrovsky's Warm Heart in which he played Narkis.
In 1961 Veniamin graduated from acting school and was sent to the Kuybiyshevsky Drama Theatre where he worked for one year. Upon his return to Moscow in 1962, director A.K. Plotnikov accepted him into the Moscow Theatre of Drama and Comedy. In 1964 Yuri Lyubimov became head director of the theatre. Lyubimov reorganized the theatre and it became the Taganka Theatre. From 1985 to 1987 Veniamin worked in the Sovremennik Theatre where he, along with Leonid Filatov and Vitaly Shapovalov, fled after Lyubimov's expulsion from the Soviet Union. Veniamin returned to the Taganka Theatre in 1987 and worked there until 1998.
Veniamin began acting in films in 1968, but he gained widespread popularity after playing the role of Athos in the famous made-for-television film D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers, filmed at the Odessa Film Studio in 1978. He played Athos in all of the followup films as well.
In 1967 he began working as a freelance television director at Gostelradio USSR, the main producer of literary-drama programs. His first work was the teleplay Mayakovsky's Day. It was based on his own script and aired as a part of the Poetic Theatre series. In 1990 he began directing theatre performances, operas and made-for-television films in Russia and abroad, and he taught acting for several years in American universities. During this time he continued to act at the Taganka Theatre when he was in Russia.
In America Veniamin released a series of compact disks, The Library of Russian Classics, in 1998. He has made around 20 solo audio books as well as a large collection of audio book compilations.
In 2011 Veniamin returned to the Taganka Theatre as a guest actor and director. He reprised the role of Woland in Master and Margarita on two occasions that included a dedication performance in memory of actor Vsevolod Sobolev and the 50th anniversary of the Taganka Theatre. He currently performs as an actor in two poetic performances No Years (he also composed and directed this performance) and The Spine of the Flute. He lives in Moscow and very frequently tours with his performances and evenings of poetry. Veniamin also makes poetic programs and documentary films for television. He is also the author of several books of both poetry and prose, and memoirs. He has called himself an actor, director, writer and traveler. Veniamin has participated in theatrical online readings of the works of Anton Chekhov, Leo Tolstoy and Mikhail Bulgakov, including Chekhov Is Alive (25 September 2015), War and Peace. We Read the Novel (8 December 2015) and a Google-Reading of Master and Margarita. I Was There (12 November 2016).
Shchukin Theatre School
* Cruelty - author Nilin, (second year) * Man With A Gun - Chibisov, (second year) * Ward № 6 - Ivan Dmitrich, (third year) * The Minor - Adam Adamiych Vral'man * Warm Heart - Narkis, (fourth year) * Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme - Covielle, (graduation)
The "Gorky" Kuybiyshevsky Drama Theatre
* Ocean A. Stein, directed by P. Monastiyrsky - Chasovnikov * Be Careful of Falling Leaves S. Mikhailkov, directed by P. Monastiyrsky - Lieutenant Yura * Egor Buliychev M. Gorky, directed by A. Grinich - Dostigaev * Story Nights I. Tumanovskaya - journalist Kalitin
* Person Nearby V. Mol'ko, directed by Y. Kirzhner - Boris * Richard III W. Shakespeare, directed by P. Monastiyrsky - Katsby
Moscow Theatre of Drama and Comedy
* Blizzard L. Leonov, directed by A. Plotnikov - M. Nayazmetov * Show America S. Larionov, directed by P. Fomenko - Columbus № 2 * The Truth Comes Home I. Kallan, directed by Y. Gubenko - Son * Microdistrict L. Karelin, directed by P. Fomenko - performed in an episode * Tale of the Soldier and the Snake T. Grabbe, directed by Petrova - Doctor
Taganka Moscow Theatre of Drama and Comedy
* The Good Person of Szechwan B. Brecht, directed by Y. Lyubimov - 3rd God * Hero of Our Time M. Lermontov, stage adaptation by N. Erdman and Y. Lyubimov, directed by Y. Lyubimov - Author, Officer * Jean the Brave T. Grabbe, directed by B. Breev - Doctor * Cow N. Khikmet, directed by P. Fomenko - Engaged Captain (performance taken from rehearsal)
* The Suicide Victim N. Erdman, directed by Y. Lyubimov (performance was banned) * Ten Days That Shook the World J. Reed, directed by Y. Lyubimov - Senator, Passerby With a Cane, Delegate of the Duma, Red Army Soldier, Soldier in the Trenches, Face of the Swamp, Minister * The Fallen and the Living stage adaptation by D. Samoilev, Y. Lyubimov, B. Gribanov, directed by Y. Lyubimov, Peter Fomenko - I. Erenburg, B. Slutsky * Anti-WorldsA. Voznesensky, directed by Y. Lyubimov
* Life of Galileo B. Brecht, directed by Y. Lyubimov - Curator Priuli, Cardinal Bellarmin * Alive (based on B. Mozhaev's Kuz'kin's Life - (performance was banned)
* Listen! V. Mayakovsky, stage adaptation by Y. Lyubimov and V. Smekhov, directed by Y. Lyubimov - Mayakovsky-Cynic * Pugachev S. Esenin - Official
* Mokinpott (How Mr. Mokinpott Escaped His Misfortunes) directed by Y. Lyubimov and M. Levitin - Lord God * Tartuffe J. B. Moliere, directed by Yuri Lyubimov - Kleant
* Mother M. Gorky, directed by Yuri Lyubimov - Gendarme General * Rush Hour E. Stavinsky, stage adaptation by V. Smekhov, directed by Y. Lyubimov - K. Maksimovich
* Watch Your Faces A. Voznesensky, directed by Y. Lyubimov (it was performed three times before it was banned)
* Hamlet W. Shakespeare, directed by Y. Lyubimov - Claudius
* Under the Skin of the Statue of Liberty E. Evtushenko, directed by Y. Lyubimov, B. Glagolin, A. Vasil'ev, V. Smekhov, L. Filatov
* Comrade, Believe! A.S. Pushkin, stage adaptation by Y. Lyubimov and L. Tselinkovsky, directed by Yuri Lyubimov * Benefit. Actors For A. Ostrovsky A. Ostrovsky, directed by Y. Lyubimov, B. Glagolin, A. Vil'kin, V. Smekhov
* Fasten Your Seat belts! stage adaptation by G. Baklonov and Yuri Lyubimov, directed by Yuri Lyubimov - Gera, Radio and Television Corresspondent
*Master and Margarita M. Bulgakov, directed by Y. Lyubimov, A. Vil'kin, B. Glagolin - Woland
* Cautionary Tale N. Gogol', directed by Y. Lyubimov, V. Smekhov - Plyushkin and Writer * Searching For a Genre adapted for the stage and directed by Y. Lyubimov
* House On the Embankment Y. Trifonov, directed by Y. Lyubimov - D. Glebov
* Vladimir Viysotsky composed and directed by Y. Lyubimov (it was performed twice and then banned) * Boris Godunov A.S. Pushkin, directed by Y. Lyubimov (banned before the first performance)
* The Lower Depths M. Gorky, directed by A. Efros - Baron
Sovremennik Theatre * Holy Bondage J.B. Moliere, directed by I. Kvashi -Ludwig the Great * Twin M Roshchin, directed by G. Volchek - Kirill. Premiered in October 1986. * Eastern Tribune A. Galin, directed by L. Kheyfets - Vadim, 1985. * Dilettantes (creative evening performed by the theatre's artists) Premiered on 1 December 1987.
Taganka Theatre
* Vladimir Viysotsky composed and directed by Y. Lyubimov
* The Suicide Victim N. Erdman, directed by Y. Lyubimov, B. Glagolin, V Smekhov - Aristarkh Dominikovich Goloshchapov
* No Years E. Evtushenko, directed by V. Smekhov
* Spine of the Flute V. Mayakovsky, directed by G. Aksenova
Politheatre
* Waves V. Sorokin, directed by E. Boyakov * Memory of Space Poetic One-Man Performance * Twelve Poetic Evening-Performance
Gogol' Center * Pasternak. My Sister - Life directed by M. Didenko
Acting Roles1. 1968 - Two Comrades Served - Baron Krauze2. 1969 - The Air of Sovnarkom - Petrovsky (not credited)3. 1971 - Twenty Years Later - Aramis4. 1976 - Smoke and the Baby - Smoke (voiced by Vladimir Ferapontov)5. 1977 - Middle of Life - Dennis 6. 1979 D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers - Athos7. 1979 I Ask to Accuse Klava K. of My Death - Uncle Seva8. 1983 The Story of Voyages - Local Don Quixote9. 1984 Favorites of the Moon - episode10. 1986 Seven Cries in the Ocean - Baron Porto11. 1988 Puppy - Alexander, journalist for Komsomol'sky Truth12. 1990 Trap For the Single Man - Maksimen13. 1991 Fool - Benjamin Borever14. 1992 Key - Alexander Brown15. 1992 Musketeers Twenty Years Later - Athos16. 1993 The Secret of Queen Anne or Musketeers Thirty Years Later - Athos17. 1993 Breakfast With a View on El'brus - Sumarokov18. 2004 Middle Age, Or All Men Are bas... - Alexander, Sonia's Admirer19. 2007 The Captain's Children - Lev Goreyno20. 2008 Montecristo - Ilia Orlov21. 2008 The Magician Friend Is Flying In - Semen Semenovich22. 2009 The Return of The Musketeers, Or the Treasure of Cardinal Mazarini - Athos23. 2009 Proposed Circumstances - Georgiy Strunin, Director24. 2011 Furtseva - Peter Vladimirovich Boguslavsky25. 2011 Countertrig - Baron von Libenfel's, Olaf's Uncle26. 2012 The Toy Salesman - Ivan Polikarpovich, Professor27. 2013 Finding a Husband In the Big City - Alexander Gordeev, Lisa's Father28. 2014 Spiral - Yakob Arnol'dovich29. 2014 The Frog Princess - Kashcheev30. 2014 Bones - Vitaliy Borisovich Deykevich31. 2016 - Luka Sergeyevich
Television Productions1. 1965 - The Room2. 1965 - Four Friends and the Magic Slippers3. 1969 - Khafiz4. 1971 - Twenty Years Later - Aramis5. 1972 - The Magician From Shiraz - Khafiz (he was also the author of the script and director)6. 1983 - Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves - Mustafa (he was also the author of the script and song lyrics)7. 1983 - Monsieur Lenoir, Who... - Victor Lenoir8. 1984 - The Life and Books of Alexander Green - Visitor, Til's, Bill, Read-Headed Young Man, Guard9. 1984 - Ten Jazz Scenes Based on Macbeth - Macbeth10. 2002 - Willy-Nilly Doctor - Sganarel'11. 2016 - Disturber of the Peace - Hussein Guslia
Director 1. 1967 - Mayakovsky's Day (television)2. 1971 - First Songs - Last Songs (television)3. 1972 - Magician From Shiraz (television)4. 1973 - Frederick Moro (television)5. 1982 - Gentlemen From Congress (television)6. 1985 - The Sorochinsky Market (television)7. 2002 - Willy-Nilly Doctor (television)8. 2013 - Movie Star Between the Hammer and Sickle (documentary film about Marina Ladiynina)9. 2013 - Vladimir Tendryakov. A Portrait In the Background of Time (documentary film)10. 2015 - The Last Poet of the Great War (documentary film about Ion Degen)11. 2015 - Boris Zaborov. Searching For Lost Time (documentary film about Boris Zaborov)12. 2016 - Archives. Film 1. Alexander Dovzhenko and Yulia Solntseva13. 2016 - Archives. Film 2. Elem Klimov and Larisa Shepit'ko
Scenarist1. 1967 - Mayakovsky's Day (television)2. 1971 - First Songs - Last Songs (television)3. 1972 - Magician From Shiraz (television)4. 1983 - Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves5. 1985 - Sorochinsky Market (television)6. 2013 - Movie Star Between the Hammer and Sickle (documentary film about Marina Ladiynina)7. 2013 - Vladimir Tendryakov. A Portrait In the Background of Time (documentary film) 8. 2014 - Volcano Theatre (documentary film)9. 2015 - The Last Poet of the Great War (documentary film about Ion Degen) 10. 2016 - Archives. Film 1. Alexander Dovzhenko and Yulia Solntseva11. 2016 - Archives. Film 2. Elem Klimov and Larisa Shepit'ko
Voice Work1. 1971 - Good! (based on B. Mayakovsky)2. 1970 - Late Child - text from the author3. 1973 - Mayakovsky On Love (television) - reads poetry4. 1978 - A Lucky Person - behind the scenes text5. 1979 - Call of the Fading Summer - behind the scenes text (not credited)6. 1987 - Face To Face With Height (Soviet Sport №3) - speaker7. 2003 - Bowl (documentary film about Andrei Pozdeev) - text from the author8. 2003 - Preserve Everything That Is Dear.., Or Erdman and Stepanova: A Double Portrait In the Interior of An Era - reads for Nikolai Erdman9. 2008 - Hostages of the Future (documentary film about David Burlyuk) - behind the scenes text10. 2009 - A Room and a Half, Or Sentimental Travels to the Homeland (documentary film) - text from the author 11. 2009 - Great Novgorod - Motherland of Russia (documentary film) - behind the scenes text12. 2009 - Great Novgorod in Russia's History - behind the scenes text13. 2011 - Participated in the voice work for the album, Blood Holiday, of the group The King and the Joker 14. 2012 - Participated in the voice work for the album, On the Edge, of the group The King and the Joker15. 2013 - Terezine. Code of Life - (documentary film) - behind the scenes text16. 2013 - I Am Zal - behind the scenes text (voice of Zal)17. 2015 - Boris Zaborov. Searching For Lost Time (documentary film) - behind the scenes text18. 2016 - Archives. Film 1. Alexandra Dovzhenko and Yulia Sol'ntseva - behind the scenes text19. 2016 - Archives. Film 2. Elem Klimov and Larisa Shepit'ko (documentary film)
Dubbing1. 1974 - Agonia - King Andronnikov2. 1976 - Pastoral3. 1976 - Only the Wind Knows the Answer - Kessler4. 1982 - The Chosen Ones - Dr. Fausto5. 1983 - Paul Gauguin 6. 1987 - Pretender - Dino Castello7. 2017 - The Death of Stalin - Vyacheslav Molotov (dubbing was not utilized)
Animation Voice Artist1. 1969 - Mystery - Buff (based on V. Mayakovsky)2. 1974 - The Wizard of Oz - Bastinda3. 1975 - What Do You Want?4. 1979 - Adventures of Captain Wrongel - Admiral, Radio Announcer, Reporter 3 5. 2014 - Lelya and Min'ka - text from the author6. 2014 - See the Music - Antonio Sverchinsky