Oleg Taktarov is a famous Russian and American mixed martial arts fighter, known by the nickname "Russian Bear", an actor, producer and director, who graduated from acting school in Hollywood.
Biography and career
On August 26, 1967, Oleg Nikolaevich Taktarov was born in the small military town of Arzamas-16 in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The father of the future actor and fighter was a military man. From an early age, he sent his son to the martial arts section. The coach saw great potential in little Oleg, and even then he was sure that this talented child is able to achieve great success. In 1990, Oleg Taktarov coped with the necessary standards and became a master of sports.
In 1993, at an amateur tournament in Riga, Oleg received his first title, he became the world champion in ultimate fighting. This event did not go unnoticed by world scouts, and soon the newly minted amateur champion received an invitation to the US professional ring. Oleg quickly gained fame among fans of mixed martial arts, as the most calm and restrained fighter.
At first, MMA organized fights by category, fighters entered the ring only against opponents of the same style. Oleg took part in the sambo category. His first matches did not bring much joy. And only at the UFC-6 tournament did he achieve success. Having defeated the famous American David Abbott in the final, he became a champion at the professional level. In total, Oleg entered the ring 24 times.
Taktarov set off to conquer the ring at the behest of his father, but from childhood he dreamed of becoming a hero of some Hollywood blockbuster. A childhood dream came true in 1997. The actor was invited to the film "Absolute Power". After a successful film debut, offers from producers and directors fell on the newly-made actor one after another. To date, the actor has more than 60 works in films.
In 2017, the famous fighter was offered another role in Hollywood, which he turned down. The fact is that according to the script, he was supposed to play a Russian punisher from a separatist detachment. The action of the film takes place on the territory of Donbass. Taktarov explained his refusal by the low, from the point of view of morality, the level of the idea and script.
In addition to working in films, Oleg Taktarov produced his own series in 2009. He also took part in the dubbing of computer games several times.
Personal life
The actor was married three times. He lived with his first wife for about five years, after which the couple divorced. In marriage, a son, Sergei, was born. With his second wife, the actor, as they say, "did not get along with the characters," in addition, he categorically did not like the position that his wife held: she was in charge of the correctional institution, and it was not her plans to leave there.
A few years later, the actor met a Russian girl, Maria, to whom he soon made a serious proposal. The girl did not refuse, and a little later the couple had a son, who was named Nikita.
