The name of Frunzik Mushegovich Mkrtchyan is known in all countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. Several generations were brought up on films with his participation, and the phrases uttered by his heroes are still repeated in every way. But few know about the life path of their beloved actor, People's Artist of the USSR, strewn with thorns, not roses. His soft humor and naturalness in any role created the image of a light, cheerful person.
Childhood and youth
He was born in 1930 in Leninakan (now Gyumri) of the Armenian SSR, in a large, unremarkable Armenian family. They did not live well, on the salary of their father - a factory timekeeper, and mother - a dishwasher in the canteen at the same enterprise. Parents, sisters Ruzanna and Klara and brother Albert called him with a special "home" name Mher. Translated into Russian, this means "light".
After graduating from school in the year the Great Patriotic War ended, Frunzik immediately began working as an assistant projectionist. Either the images in films that he could watch endlessly inspired the boy, or the undeniable acting talent was looking for a way out. One way or another, Frunzik spent all his free time in the drama club at the club of the textile factory, in which he worked. The dream of the future of the actor became a firm decision, and the talent allowed it to come true. Just one year of study in the studio at the Leninakan Drama Theater was enough for Frunzik to be enrolled in the professional staff.
Later, Mkrtchyan entered the Yerevan Theater Institute, and after graduation he was accepted to work as a theater actor. The Sandukyan Theater, well-known in Armenia, has now become his native collective. This was in 1956.
Film career
In the same year, Mkrtchyan's long-awaited film debut took place. However, from the episode played in the film "The Mystery of Lake Sevan" the scissors of the editors left only the actor's leg, which flashed on the screen. Such a blow to pride did not knock Mkrtchyan off his chosen path. He more than compensated for the screen failure on the stage, where his name was already resounding throughout Armenia. The theatergoers went "to Mkrtchyan", appreciating the deep talent of the young actor.
In 1960, Frunzik again tried his hand at cinema. And again without much success. Although his role in the film "Guys of the Music Team" was quite successful, the film as a whole was not interesting to the public. After 5 years, Georgy Danelia invites him to his comedy film "Thirty Three". And it didn't work out here! - the film was banned by censorship for ideological reasons.
However, the dream of a movie screen prompted Mkrtchyan to keep trying. And for good reason. A year later, "Prisoner of the Caucasus" came out on the cinema screens. The deafening success of the comedy brings all-Union glory to both Leonid Gaidai, already a renowned director, and the actors who starred in the film. Fruzik Mkrtchyan in the role of a calculating and roguish uncle Dzhabrail, who is trying to sell his own niece, became a revelation for the Soviet viewer. The role of the wife of Dzhabrail is also noteworthy. Mkrtchyan's inner circle knew that she was played by his second wife, Donara.
They fell in love with the actor, his memorable appearance became recognizable. Therefore, Rolan Bykov's film "Aybolit-66", released in the same year, where Mkrtchyan played one of Barmaley's henchmen, only strengthened the success. But at the moment when the actor becomes famous and famous, the most tragic events begin in his personal life.
Personal life
The disintegrated first, "student" marriage with a fellow student named Knara did not leave a noticeable trace in the fate of the actor. The second darling for Mkrtchyan became not only the beloved woman, but also the mother of his children, the hope for a long, happy family life. All these aspirations were crossed out by the verdict of doctors: Donara was diagnosed with an incurable mental illness that is inherited.
Attempts to cure his wife, appeal to the best doctors in the country occupy all the forces of Frunzik, and he refuses to shoot in many roles, which the directors are vying with each other. And only at the end of the 70s, the audience again saw their favorite on the screen, in the sad and lyrical, like all comedies of Georgy Danelia, the film "Mimino". And again, the role of Mkrtchyan - hitting the bull's-eye, it is dismantled into quotes. The role of the "white clown" with sad eyes and a kind soul is finally assigned to the actor.
The desire to get away from the stereotype and the talent of the dramatic actor, not demanded by the direction, find expression for him in the film "The Soldier and the Elephant". This picture, filled with the piercing tragedy of wartime, permeated with kindness and compassion so inherent in Mkrtchyan himself, became consonant with the most secret strings of his soul. Subsequently, the film was exhibited at the All-Union Film Festival in Yerevan. For this work, the actor received the first prize in the nomination "Best Actor's Work".
Another major role during this period brought success to Mkrtchyan. The director Alla Surikova's sagacity should be thanked for her. Designed to reinforce the importance of family ties, the "bespoke" film "Vanity of Vanities" may have lost much of its ironic charm. But the participation of the wonderful duet of Frunzik Mkrtchyan and Galina Polskikh in it turned the picture into a bright classic of the Soviet comedy genre.
The audience also remembered a small episode in the film "The Lonely Hostel is Provided", imbued with the warmth and kindness characteristic of the actor.
For undoubted success in the art of cinema, Mkrtchyan was awarded one of the highest distinctions of the Soviet Union in 1978 - he became a laureate of the State Prize. For him, this is not only prestigious, but also serves as a solid financial support. The disease that struck his wife was inherited by his only son, Vazgen. Treatment abroad requires funds. In this case, all attempts at cure are ineffective. First, the spouse, and then the son, find themselves within the walls of a closed medical institution in France.
And only the daughter of the actor Nune escaped a sad fate. Mkrtchyan's whole life is completely devoted to his loved ones, he refuses promising proposals for shooting, and only stage work helps to distract from family troubles.
The assignment of the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1984 becomes a pleasant and long-awaited event, but fades from the experienced personal grief. At this time, he starred for the last time in the short film "A Modest Man", surprisingly consonant with the main note of his inner spiritual tuning fork.
And in the early 90s, the theater became a stranger to him. Unrealized expectations of getting the position of chief director after 35 years of conscientious service caused Mkrtchyan to leave the troupe.
Failure befell the actor on the third attempt to start a family. The marriage with a colleague in the acting workshop Tamara Oganesyan did not last long. A significant role in this was played by the fact that Tamara was the daughter of the chairman of the Writers' Union of Armenia.
The hardships of life undermined Mkrtchyan's vitality. More and more often forgetting himself with the help of alcohol, he seemed to deliberately erect an illusory, but insurmountable barrier between himself and the real world.
On December 29, 1993, Frunzik Mkrtchyan passed away. Doctors stated death from a heart attack.
But in our memory, in the images of our favorite heroes on the screen, in the stone and metal of the monuments erected in Armenia both to Mkrtchyan himself and to his movie heroes, he will remain forever.
