Pavel Borisovich Luspekaev is a Soviet theater and film actor, remembered for the film "White Sun of the Desert". For the brilliantly performed role of the customs officer Vereshchagin, the Honored Artist of Russia was awarded the State Prize of Russia, albeit posthumously, almost three decades after the film was released.
Childhood and youth
Pavel was born in 1927 in a village near Rostov-on-Don. His father is a native of Armenians, his mother is a Cossack from the Don. The boy began his studies at a vocational school, which was evacuated to Central Asia with the beginning of the war. He began his career as a mechanic, and when he was sixteen, he voluntarily signed up for the front. He served as a scout for the partisans. Once I had to lie in the snow for a long time, which years later led to the appearance of severe vascular disease. During a military operation, his elbow joint was injured, and in the Saratov hospital, the young man was threatened with urgent amputation. With great efforts, he persuaded the doctor to take up the treatment of the hand, saving it, and a miracle happened.
After the amendment, the fighter continued to serve in the Headquarters of the partisan movement. He was demobilized to the liberated Voroshilovgrad and made his debut on the stage of the city drama theater. This is how the dream of a professional acting education was born.
Theatre
On the first attempt, Pavel became a student at the Moscow theater school. His outstanding acting skills set him apart from his fellow students. By the end of the university, the aspiring actor managed to start a family. His colleague Inna Kirillova became his chosen one, and his daughter Larisa soon appeared. Having received his diploma, Luspekaev with his wife and child went to Tbilisi and took part in productions of the Griboyedov Theater. This was followed by a move to the capital of Ukraine and the stage of the renowned theater of Russian drama. Family friend Kirill Lavrov persuaded Luspekaev to go to the theater under the direction of Georgy Tovstonogov. The talented artist was gladly accepted, and the family moved to the northern capital.
Severe illness
All these years, the young artist suffered from a serious vascular disease. Partisan youth and hungry post-war students affected. Doctors repeatedly insisted on the amputation of both legs to the knees, but the actor could not agree - this meant the loss of his beloved profession. When the situation became critical, the doctors went to extreme measures - they amputated both feet. It is difficult to imagine what pain and despair the artist experienced, but did not give up. As a child, he learned to move around the apartment, every step was slow and painful for him. At that moment, my devoted wife Inna, friends and colleagues provided invaluable support. The care of the minister, Ekaterina Furtseva, turned out to be very timely, and she helped Luspekaev with medicines and imported prostheses.
Movie
The first film roles of the actor went unnoticed, almost all of them were of the second plan. The films "Three Fat Men" and "Republic of SHKID" became a great success. When they came to him with the script for "The White Sun of the Desert", he could hardly move on crutches, but very soon, in August 1968, leaning on a stick, he walked along the Caspian coast. He was driven by a great desire to work, to act, to be needed. The image of Pavel Vereshchagin created by Luspekaev has long been considered a classic of Soviet cinema. This work turned out to be the main one in his acting career, he was jubilant - he was recognized.
Pavel Borisovich died unexpectedly in 1970. Doctors at a hotel in the capital recorded a ruptured cardiac aorta. There were unfulfilled plans and unfinished roles.
The artist's biography cannot be called light and cloudless. The war deprived him of his childhood, a serious illness went through his whole life, but Luspekaev was led by a huge natural talent and love of art. During his short creative biography, he managed to star in 24 films. On television, performances with his participation were very popular. He composed stories and loved to sing with the guitar. The artist was also remembered for his theatrical works.
