Nikolai Simonov
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Simonov was a Soviet film and stage actor.
. From 1917–1919 he studied art at Samara School of Art and Design. From 1919–1923 he studied art at the Imperial Academy of Arts
. From 1922–1924 he studied acting at the Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
, from which he graduated with honors in 1924.
.
Simonov made his film debut in 1924 and played supporting roles in five Russian silent films. He shot to fame after his role of Commander Zhikharev in the classic film Chapaev
(1934) by the Vasilyev brothers
.
Simonov's portrayal of Peter the Great
in The Conquests of Peter the Great (1937 and 1938) brought him international fame and numerous awards. This portrayal was the one used to define Peter the Great for American audiences in Frank Capra
's 1943 propaganda film The Battle of Russia
, which used brief clips from the Soviet films.
Simonov was considered to be a patriarch of the St. Petersburg school of acting. Simonov's stage performances were legendary; several of his stage works were filmed for a historic record. His leading role in The Living Corpse
, an adaptation of the book by Leo Tolstoy
, is remembered as one of the highest achievements in stage acting in Russian theatre. Simonov's portrayal of Antonio Salieri
in Mozart and Salieri from The Little Tragedies by Alexander Pushkin won him a Stanislavski State Prize award in 1962. Simonov regarded acting on stage as superior to acting in film; he supported the similar position of Constantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
.
.
Early life and education
Nikolai Konstantionovich Simonov was born on December 4, 1901, in Samara, RussiaSamara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
. From 1917–1919 he studied art at Samara School of Art and Design. From 1919–1923 he studied art at the Imperial Academy of Arts
Imperial Academy of Arts
The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, was founded in 1757 by Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts. Catherine the Great renamed it the Imperial Academy of Arts and commissioned a new building, completed 25 years later in 1789...
. From 1922–1924 he studied acting at the Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy is a theatre school in Saint Petersburg. Established in 1779, it is the oldest and largest institution of its kind in Russia.- History :...
, from which he graduated with honors in 1924.
Career
From 1924–1973, Nikolai Simonov was a permanent member with the company of Pushkin Drama Theatre in St. Petersburg. During the 1950s and 1960s he was the theatre's artistic directorArtistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
.
Simonov made his film debut in 1924 and played supporting roles in five Russian silent films. He shot to fame after his role of Commander Zhikharev in the classic film Chapaev
Chapaev (film)
Chapaev is a 1934 Soviet film. It was directed by the Vasilyev brothers on Lenfilm. It is a story about Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev , a legendary Red Army commander who became a hero of the Russian Civil War...
(1934) by the Vasilyev brothers
Vasilyev brothers
Georgi Vasilyev and Sergei Vasilyev , usually credited as Vasilyev brothers were two namesake Russian Soviet film directors and screenwriters...
.
Simonov's portrayal of Peter the Great
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
in The Conquests of Peter the Great (1937 and 1938) brought him international fame and numerous awards. This portrayal was the one used to define Peter the Great for American audiences in Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
's 1943 propaganda film The Battle of Russia
The Battle of Russia
The Battle of Russia is the fifth film of Frank Capra's Why We Fight propaganda film series, and the longest film of the series.The film begins with an overview of previous failed attempts to conquer Russia: by the Teutonic Knights in 1242 , by Charles XII of Sweden in 1704 The Battle of Russia is...
, which used brief clips from the Soviet films.
Simonov was considered to be a patriarch of the St. Petersburg school of acting. Simonov's stage performances were legendary; several of his stage works were filmed for a historic record. His leading role in The Living Corpse
The Living Corpse
The Living Corpse is a Russian play by Leo Tolstoy. Although written around 1900, it was only published shortly after his death—Tolstoy had never considered the work finished...
, an adaptation of the book by Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
, is remembered as one of the highest achievements in stage acting in Russian theatre. Simonov's portrayal of Antonio Salieri
Antonio Salieri
Antonio Salieri was a Venetian classical composer, conductor and teacher born in Legnago, south of Verona, in the Republic of Venice, but who spent his adult life and career as a faithful subject of the Habsburg monarchy....
in Mozart and Salieri from The Little Tragedies by Alexander Pushkin won him a Stanislavski State Prize award in 1962. Simonov regarded acting on stage as superior to acting in film; he supported the similar position of Constantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko was a Georgian-born Russian theatre director, writer, pedagogue, playwright, producer and theatre organizer, who founded the Moscow Art Theatre with his colleague, Konstantin Stanislavsky, in 1898.-Biography:Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko was born...
.
Marriage and children
Simonov was also the father of a remarkable family, his wife was an actress, and his son, Nikolai Nikolaevich Simonov, was a famous surgeon in Russia.Death and afterward
Nikolai Simonov died on April 20, 1973, in St. Petersburg and was laid to rest in the Necropolis of Masters of Arts at Alexander Nevsky LavraAlexander Nevsky Lavra
Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra or Saint Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter I of Russia in 1710 at the eastern end of the Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg supposing that that was the site of the Neva Battle in 1240 when Alexander Nevsky, a prince, defeated the Swedes; however, the battle...
.
Filmography
- Krasnye partizany / Red Partisans (1924)
- Vzduvayte gorny (1925)
- Devyatoe yanvarya / Ninth of January (1925)
- Katerina Izmailova (1927)
- Khabu (1928) - Yegor
- Rodnoy brat / Brother (1929) - Fyodor Gorbachyov
- Kain i Artem / Cain and Artem (1929) - Artem
- Paren s beregov Misuri / A Lad from the Banks of the Missouri (1932) - Iogann Timan
- ChapaevChapaev (film)Chapaev is a 1934 Soviet film. It was directed by the Vasilyev brothers on Lenfilm. It is a story about Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev , a legendary Red Army commander who became a hero of the Russian Civil War...
(1934) - Zhikharev - Chudo / Miracles (1934) - Fyodor, his son
- Goryachie denyochki / Hectic DaysHectic DaysHectic Days was a 1935 comedy film directed by Alexander Zarkhi and Iosif Kheifits.-Cast:* Nikolai Simonov* Tatiana Okunevskaya* Nikolai Cherkasov* Janina Jaime* Alexei Gribov-Film crew:* Written by: Alexander Zarkhi, Iosif Kheifits...
(1935) - Tank Commander Mikhail Trofimovich Belokon - Pyotr pervyy I / The Conquests of Peter the Great, Part One (1937) - Peter the GreatPeter I of RussiaPeter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
- Pyotr pervyy II / The Conquests of Peter the Great, Part Two (1938) - Peter the Great
- Ostrov Bezymyannyj (1946)
- Stalingradskaya bitva I / The Battle of Stalingrad, Part IThe Battle of Stalingrad (1949 movie)The Battle of Stalingrad is a 1949 two-part Soviet epic film about the Battle of Stalingrad, directed by Vladimir Petrov. The script was written by Nikolai Virta.-Film I:...
(1949) - Lt. Gen. Churkov - Stalingradskaya bitva II / The Battle of Stalingrad, Part IIThe Battle of Stalingrad (1949 movie)The Battle of Stalingrad is a 1949 two-part Soviet epic film about the Battle of Stalingrad, directed by Vladimir Petrov. The script was written by Nikolai Virta.-Film I:...
(1949) - Lt. Gen. Churkov - Zhivoy trup (1952) - Fyodor Protasov
- Ovod / The Gadfly (1955) - Cardinal Montanelli
- Geroite na Shipka / Heroes of Shipka (1955)
- Gde-to est syn (1962)
- Chelovek-Amfibiya / Amphibian ManAmphibian Man (film)Amphibian Man is a 1962 Soviet science fiction romance film starring Vladimir Korenev and Directed by Vladimir Chebotaryov and Gennadi Kazansky....
(1962) - Prof. Salvator - Rabochiy posyolok / Workers' Quarters (1965) - Sotnikov
- Na odnoy planete (1965)
- Posledneye delo komissara Berlakha / Suspicion (1972) - Berlach
Awards and honors
- 1938: Order of LeninOrder of LeninThe Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
- 1941: Stalin Prize in film, Pyotr pervyy
- 1947: USSR State Prize
- 1950: USSR State Prize
- 1950: Order of Lenin
- 1950: People's Artist of the USSRPeople's Artist of the USSRPeople's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
- 1966: State Prize of Russia
- 1967: Order of Lenin