Honored Artist of the RSFSR since 1991 - Mikhail Vasilyevich Zhigalov - today is well known to the multi-million army of his fans throughout the entire post-Soviet space. Especially the audience remembered his film works in the series "Border. Taiga Romance", "Don't Be Born Beautiful" and "Molodezhka". In addition, the popular actor is a member of the Moscow Sovremennik troupe.
A native of Samara and a native of the family of a state security official, Mikhail Zhigalov, developing his creative career, became a graduate of the drama studio at the Central Children's Theater and today has a large number of film works and theater projects behind him. During his professional career, he had to overcome with great difficulty the stable role of a bandit and an alcoholic that had developed from the very beginning of acting specialization. However, his dedication and natural talent helped him get rid of the negative fame of the "actor of one role", as many lovers of his work are happy to testify.
Biography and career of Mikhail Vasilyevich Zhigalov
On May 2, 1945, the future popular theater and film actor was born. His younger sister was also brought up in the family of Mikhail. Due to the nomadic profession of their father, the Zhigalovs often moved. Therefore, after Samara there was Moscow and Czechoslovakia, where the boy attended high school. And when the head of the family was again transferred to the capital of our Motherland, Zhigalov Jr. had to get used to the new reality of life with great difficulty.
After receiving a certificate of secondary education, Mikhail entered the capital engineering university on the second attempt, after which he began to work at the research institute. Here he made a good showing of himself, so he even received an invitation to England as a research assistant, where he had to finish a thematic dissertation. However, Zhigalov flatly refused, leaving the research institute.
After Mikhail firmly decided to connect his life with creative activity, he entered the theater studio at the Youth Theater, after graduating from which he became a member of her troupe. And after a while he begins to serve in the legendary Sovremennik, where he continues to appear on the stage to this day. Among the most successful theatrical projects with his participation, undoubtedly, are the performances "Three Sisters", "Plakha" and "Days of the Turbins".
Mikhail Vasilyevich's cinematic debut took place in 1972, when he first appeared on the set in the film "The Last Day". The role of the police lieutenant in this drama and the subsequent characters in his filmography quickly formed a stable opinion in the director's environment about the novice actor. He was happily trusted to play bandits, people in uniform or alcoholics, not understanding how such a colorful actor could transform into deeper and more complex characters.
However, this negative opinion in the cinematic public was broken in 1990. The film "After the Duel" directed by Marlen Khutsiev, where Zhigalov starred in the role of Prince Pyotr Vyazemsky, became a key one in this process. And then other production directors began to make more universal proposals. So, in the "zero" Mikhail Zhigalov was noted, including in the film projects "Border. Taiga Novel”,“Man's Work”,“Hunting on the Asphalt”,“Don't Be Born Beautiful”,“Kisses of the Fallen Angels”and“Landing Dad”. His latest films include Molodezhka (2013-2015) and Windy Woman (2014).
Personal life of the artist
Behind the shoulders of the family life of the Honored Artist of the RSFSR, there are three marriages and three children. The first wife of Mikhail Zhigalov, while still a student, was Nina, with whom the breakup took place after her husband decided to become an artist.
The second time Mikhail went to the registry office with Irina Malikova (dubbing actress). In this family union, in 1980, a son, Vasily, was born. And in 1983, due to a short romance with Regina (translator), the illegitimate son Arkady was born.
With the doctor Tatyana, Mikhail Zhigalov had a relationship in the format of a civil marriage since 1989. In this regard, daughter Anna was born in 1991. The couple decided to legalize the relationship only in 2002.
Of the three children of Mikhail Vasilyevich, only Arkady followed in the footsteps of his parent. Today, after a minor acting experience, he decided to focus on directing.
