Yevgeny Pavlovich Leonov (Russian: Евгений Павлович
Леонов; 2 September 1926 â€" 29 January 1994) was a famous
Soviet and Russian actor who played main parts in several of the most
famous Soviet films, such as Gentlemen of Fortune, Mimino and Striped
Trip. Called "one of Russia's best-loved actors", he also provided the
voice for many Soviet cartoon characters, including Vinny Pukh
(Winnie-the-Pooh).While growing up in a typical Moscow family, he
dreamed of becoming a war-plane pilot, which was a very common desire
of many boys of the World War II period. This is also often attributed
to the fact that his father worked in an airplane factory. During the
Great Patriotic War he and his whole family worked in a weapon
manufacturing/aviation factory. After the war, he joined the Moscow
Art Theatre school, where he studied under Mikhail Yanshin.In his
first film, Leonov was cast as an extra and did not receive any
recognition. He later became Georgiy Daneliya's regular, appearing in
all of his features, including Gentlemen of Fortune, Autumn Marathon,
Mimino, Afonya and Kin-dza-dza!. According to the Allmovie, "his
short, round stature, expressive eyes, broad and open face, slow
movements, and slightly slurred speech made him ideal for the comic
roles in which he specialized". But he also attracted critical notice
for his tragic parts and the invariable naturalness of his acting.
Many notable actors were said to avoid appearing in the same films
with Leonov, for his natural manner of acting made them seem strained.
Леонов; 2 September 1926 â€" 29 January 1994) was a famous
Soviet and Russian actor who played main parts in several of the most
famous Soviet films, such as Gentlemen of Fortune, Mimino and Striped
Trip. Called "one of Russia's best-loved actors", he also provided the
voice for many Soviet cartoon characters, including Vinny Pukh
(Winnie-the-Pooh).While growing up in a typical Moscow family, he
dreamed of becoming a war-plane pilot, which was a very common desire
of many boys of the World War II period. This is also often attributed
to the fact that his father worked in an airplane factory. During the
Great Patriotic War he and his whole family worked in a weapon
manufacturing/aviation factory. After the war, he joined the Moscow
Art Theatre school, where he studied under Mikhail Yanshin.In his
first film, Leonov was cast as an extra and did not receive any
recognition. He later became Georgiy Daneliya's regular, appearing in
all of his features, including Gentlemen of Fortune, Autumn Marathon,
Mimino, Afonya and Kin-dza-dza!. According to the Allmovie, "his
short, round stature, expressive eyes, broad and open face, slow
movements, and slightly slurred speech made him ideal for the comic
roles in which he specialized". But he also attracted critical notice
for his tragic parts and the invariable naturalness of his acting.
Many notable actors were said to avoid appearing in the same films
with Leonov, for his natural manner of acting made them seem strained.
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