Information about Uldis Dumpis on the Internet and in the press is rather scarce, despite his popularity and demand in cinema during the Soviet period. Why was the talented actor "pushed" into the background? Is it true that the reason lies in its origin?
Uldis Dumpis played 80 roles in cinema, for more than 47 years he was part of the troupe of the Latvian National Theater, has the title of People's and Honored Artist of the Republic of Latvia. At the same time, the Soviet press wrote about him reluctantly, as if relegating him to the background, belittling his popularity. The answer to the question why this happened is simple - his father served in the Latvian SS Volunteer Legion during the Second World War. But is this the only reason?
Biography of the actor Uldis Dumpis
Uldis Teodorovich was born in early October 1943, when the Second World War was already in full swing in Europe. He was born in the small Latvian town of Bauska. The territory of the country at that time was already occupied by the Nazis, there was a general mobilization of the indigenous male inhabitants. The boy's father, who was still very young at that time, was also mobilized. He was drafted into the Latvian SS Volunteer Legion, where he soon died. The boy was raised by his mother, a philologist by education.
Uldis completed his primary secondary education at the school of the Islitsa settlement. The young man graduated from high school in the town of Bauska, where he returned with his mother after the end of the war.
The boy knew that he would become an actor as a child. Having received a certificate of secondary education, he applied to the Latvian State Conservatory for the faculty of acting, where he was admitted after the first audition. Uldis was undoubtedly talented, and he, the only one from the course, was invited to the troupe of the Upita A.
Filmography of Uldis Dumpis
In parallel with his work in the theater, Uldis began acting in films. The first roles were episodic, but significant for the plot of the picture. The young man was trusted to play roles with complex subtext, to which his European appearance disposed. The case with the main roles stalled, since the "spot" of the son of a member of the German Legion was in his profile.
Nevertheless, thanks to his talent, Uldis Dumpis managed to break through in Soviet cinema. You can safely include films in the list of his best works in cinema.
- "Shield and Sword" (1968),
- "The Tseplis Affair" (1972),
- "Keys to Paradise" (1975),
- "Night Without Birds" (1978),
- "Spanish version" (1980),
- "My family" (1982),
- "Stranded" (1988) and others.
The actor did not lose popularity and demand even after the collapse of the USSR, when the film industry as an industry literally fell into decay. Uldis Dumpis continued to act in films both in his homeland and in Russia, in Estonia and Austria.
He still plays aristocrats, intellectuals - notaries, hotel owners, policemen. One of the unchanged roles of Dumpis for several decades was the officers of Nazi Germany. The actor plays so soulfully that the viewer begins to impress them, imbued with their fate and problems. But there are other roles in his creative piggy bank, for example, he brought to life the image of the legendary Shtrilitz in the film "Spanish version" directed by Latsis Erik.
Work in the theater
No less successful than in cinema, Uldis Dumpis and in the theater. In 1965, he officially became part of the troupe of the Latvian National Drama Theater, where he continues to serve to this day. In the theater he has nearly 40 works, including plays based on classical works.
Theater critics praised his performances
- "Love Yarovaya",
- "Desire" tram,
- "Summer residents"
- "Duck Hunt"
- "Inspector",
- Lolita and many others.
Most of his awards and titles Uldis Dumpis was awarded for his work in cinema, but the Latvian audience knows him precisely from his work in the national theater. And if this actor is involved in the play, then a full house at the play is inevitable.
In 2002, Uldis Teodorovich Dumpis was awarded the highest award of the Republic of Latvia - the civilian Order of Three Stars, IV degree. He received the award precisely for his theatrical activities.
Since 2003, Uldis Dumpis has not played so actively on the stage of the theater. He acts in films more often, but in this area he has “tempered” his creative ardor since 2007. Maybe the age of the actor affects, and he is already well over 70, but there is no information in the press about his poor health or serious illnesses yet.
Personal life of the actor Uldis Dumpis
In 1965, Uldis married his classmate Deina and lives with her to this day. The actor does not share the ups and downs of his personal life with journalists, and his wife adheres to the same "policy". The woman has been working as the director of Latvian television for many years, she rarely gives interviews and immediately warns reporters that she will not talk about her husband or family.
According to some reports, the couple has a daughter, but this information has not been confirmed either, she came out under the guise of a "duck" in one of the newspapers in Latvia. The Dumpisov couple categorically refused to comment.
It is almost impossible to find a photo of Uldis Dumpis with his wife and children on the Internet. The family does not flaunt their quiet happiness. The actor does not have personal pages on social networks. He himself is sure that he does not need such close attention, that the love of the audience at the performances with his participation is enough. And it is his right to protect himself and his loved ones from the excessive and sometimes intrusive attention of the ubiquitous journalists.
