Actor Lev Prygunov: biography, personal life, photo

Lev Prygunov is an actor who earned the title of Soviet James Bond, as he has repeatedly appeared in foreign films, playing "Russian villains". At the age of 76, this man managed to take part in the creation of over 100 films and serials. In recent years, he rarely manages to see in the frame, because the lion's share of the time the litsedeye eats up another passion - painting. What is known about his past and present?

Lev Prygunov: childhood

The actor was born in 1939, his hometown is Alma-Ata. At the age of 10, Lev Prygunov faced the first serious grief in his life. The family lost its father, who was the victim of an accident that took place during a scientific expedition, in which he participated as a botanist. The maternal grandfather was a village priest. Mother taught literature to high school students.

Remembering the first years of his life, Lev Prygunov describes himself as an uncommunicative child. He was indifferent to school life, he was not interested in boyish games either. The passion of the future actor at that time was the world of birds, which he enthusiastically explored, constantly fleeing into the forest. It is interesting that the son of a schoolteacher was absolutely not interested in reading.

Students

The attempt to become a biology teacher Lev Prygunov made in the first place in memory of his father, with whom he was very friendly until his death. To realize his intention, the guy became a student of the local pedagogical institute. Gnawing the granite of science, the young man gradually became disillusioned with his choice, realizing that he was engaged in an unsuitable business.

From the isolation, inherent in the future actor in school years, there is no trace. The student was opened to new acquaintances, never missed opportunities to communicate with an interesting person. His friends were well-read students-philologists, in the company of which Prygunov gradually became aware of his lack of education. The conclusions led him to immerse himself in the world of books for some time. The guy absorbed any literature that came across him on the way: the works of Bunin, Chekhov, Balzac. His favorite musical direction was jazz.

It is interesting that it was during the years of the studentship of Prygunov that Lev Georgievich was carried away by the fact that in the future he would become the second business of his life - painting. However, the desire to become an actor that emerged at the same time won, he enrolled in one of the theatrical institutions of higher education in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad).

First roles

The invitation to act in film Lev got, being the third year student. For the passage of casting, he had to go to the capital, on the samples he met with Vladimir Vysotsky. Debut for Prygunov was the film "Leaving on shore," in which he eventually got the role. The actor and to this day with pleasure recalls the first experience of filming.

To be photographed in the tape "They went to the East", directed by Giuseppe De Santis, the star was successful after graduating from the university. It was a project in the creation of which the Italian and Soviet sides participated. It is not known how the career of Leo could develop after the success of his first serious work, if not the will of chance. At Прыгунова on shootings of a drama «They went to the east» where he has tried on the image of the Italian soldier, there was a conflict with the employee of KGB therefore it to it the departure abroad for many years was ordered.

The most famous paintings

When the actor is asked to recall his favorite film project, in which he took part, "Bonnevur's Heart" is invariably called Lev Prygunov. The biography of the star contains a story about how he doubted his ability to play honest Komsomol member Vitaly, given his attitude to everything Soviet. However, the image of a positive character was a success for the actor.

Also it is necessary to note the roles that the actor received in the film projects created by director Fayzimer. After watching the drama "Without the right to make a mistake," which was released in 1975, the audience remained impressed for a long time. The character of Prygunov in this tape was a scoundrel, which the actor made unlike the classic negative characters, whose images were actively used at that time. The drama "The Inn on Pyatnitskaya Street", also created by Fayzimer, proved to be a success.

Personal life

The actor entered into a marriage union twice. His first wife was Ella, it was this woman who produced his only son Roman. Unfortunately, Ella was the victim of a car accident. The personal life of Lev Prygunov was far from always cloudless. After the death of the spouse, the widowed man was forced to identify his son in a boarding school, accepting the offspring of the stars of the national cinema, because he was unable to combine care for him with filming.

Olga is the second wife of Leo, whom he met six years after the death of his first wife. Despite the fact that there is a 16-year age difference between them, family happiness lasts more than two decades. He is sincerely proud of the grown-up son, assuring him that he did not help him at all. Roman has already tried his hand at the director, for example, you can see his picture "Duhless".

Hobbies

Lev Prygunov, whose photo is presented in this article at different periods of his life, was interested in painting as a student. The first painting, which is the subject of his pride, was written in 1971, when the actor was in Germany. In 1983, an exhibition of his works was successfully arranged, successfully held in Moscow. Paintings Prygunov connoisseurs gladly buy into their collections, he has Russian and foreign fans. Painting actor now pays more attention than filming in films.