Soviet actors who fled from the USSR

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The Russian proverb "where he was born, he came in handy there" is refuted by Soviet actors and directors, who, due to dissatisfaction in the profession, became defectors, like Andrei Tarkovsky, or emigrants, like Oleg Vidov or Savely Kramarov. But whether it was so good for them abroad, let's remember.

Ilya Baskin

in the Soviet Union he became famous for his episodic role in "Big Change". He played at the Moscow Theater of Miniatures, after graduating from the circus school in 1972.

In 1976, fearing that the Iron Curtain might close again, Ilya emigrated to the United States for a long time. He was attracted by the desire to see the world.

In the United States, he obtained citizenship for nine years, worked in a restaurant, as an insurance agent, and even published the Russian-language newspaper Panorama for 17 years. All this combined with the work of an actor in Hollywood.

Ilya Baskin in American films

The shooting of Paul Mazursky's film "Moscow on the Hudson" about Russian defectors in the United States became a real "kick in the ass" in his career. Then the topic of Russians was very popular in America. After this picture, Ilya Baskin could afford to quit his job as an insurance agent and act only in films.

Compared to his homeland, his career has become more successful. Baskin starred in films with Robin Williams, Denis de Vito, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Helen Miren.

The problem with all Russian actors in Hollywood is the role of "bad Russian guys" and Ilya Baskin did not escape this fate. Despite his participation in such blockbusters as "Spider-Man 2 and 3", "Trasformers 3", "Austin Powers", "The Name of the Rose", "Quantum Leap" he is far from world fame.

Boris Sichkin

known for the role of Buba Kastorsky in the movie "The Elusive Avengers". After the phenomenal success of the film, Boris Sichkin began touring the country with couplets. In 1973 he was arrested on a firing squad for theft of social property on an especially large scale. The investigation lasted 7 years, although Boris Sichkin was acquitted, but the work was gone. The son could not enter the conservatory.

Boris Sichkin as Buba Kastorsky in America

In 1979, the actor and his family emigrated to the United States, where he sang in Russian restaurants. In 1984, Oleg Vidov helped him get the role of Brezhnev in The Last Days, where he was noticed by Oliver Stone and offered a role in Nixon. Sichkin's acting career began to gain momentum. Like all Russian actors, he played Russians.

In the 1990s, Boris Sichkin came to his homeland, but did not stay, although here he is remembered and loved. The directors offered roles, but the actor chose to return to the United States. Buba died in 2002, his ashes were buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery in 2008.

Savely Kramarov

did not star in more than one leading role, but the whole country knew and loved him. Even a tiny episode in the film was remembered and his phrases “went to the people”. Savely Kramarov was treated kindly by the authorities, he received official permission to buy a Voltsvagen-Zhuk car. In 1974 he received the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR.

It seems to be alive and happy, there were so many offers for filming that Savely Viktorovich became more selective in roles, refused many of them. For example, he turned down the role of the Red Army soldier Petrukha in "White Sun of the Desert", which he regretted very much after the popularity of the film.

Savely Viktorovich increasingly began to think about the meaning of life, came to faith, and began to attend synagogue. On Saturday he refused to act and the offers gradually began to thin out, and then they did not.

Savely Kramarov in American films

Kramarov decided to emigrate. He submitted an application, arguing that he wants to connect with his own uncle, who emigrated to Israel, but he was refused.

In 1981, he wrote an open letter to President Reagan about how bad his life was in the USSR and asked for political asylum. The letter was read out on Radio Liberty and Kramarov had to be released from the country.

He is the only actor, after whose emigration films with his participation were not banned. Kramarov starred in the most popular films of the USSR, and if they were banned, there would be nothing to watch. We limited ourselves to cutting out the credits with his participation.

In the USA, Ilya Baskin helped him to settle down, with whom they starred in the film "Big Change". Savely Kramarov actively starred in Hollywood and even was a member of the Screen Actors Guild. But he could not achieve such popularity as in the USSR. After the collapse of the USSR, he often came to Russia. He starred in the film "Passport" by Georgy Danelia.

Savely Kramarov died in 1995 from oncology.

Andrey Tarkovsky

A legendary director, whose work has had a great influence not only on Russian cinema, but also on foreign ones. The Danish director admitted that he came to the cinema thanks to the films of Tarkovsky. Lars von Trier admitted to reporters that he had spied on the director's ideas from a Russian director.

Andrei Tarkovsky in Italy and on the set of the film "Sacrifice"

All films by Andrei Tarkovsky received awards at foreign film festivals - Kansk, Venetian. In the USSR, however, his films were given the 3rd rental category, in which the film was seen in cinemas by a limited number of viewers. Of course, such an injustice offended the director.

In 1982, Tarkovsky went on a business trip to Italy, where he shot the film "Nostalgia". The work was finished, and the director did not return to his homeland. Abroad, he directed one single film "Sacrifice". In 1986, Andrei Tarkovsky died of lung cancer. He was buried in Paris.

Oleg Vidov in his youth and in the USA

Oleg Vidov

One of the most "famous" emigrants, left his homeland due to failures in his film career. To us, ordinary viewers, it seems that all this does not correspond to reality. How did Vidov star in such famous films as The Headless Horseman, the first production of The Ordinary Miracle. He filmed in Denmark when he was 23 years old.

Everything collapsed because of the woman. Oleg's second wife, the professor's daughter and close friend of Galina Brezhneva, in revenge for the divorce, forbade him to see the child and ruined his career. Above received an order not to remove Vidov.

The actor had 30 films in his filmography and he continued to be called to act abroad. He was simply not told about these proposals. Oleg graduated from the VGIK directing department and did not want to give him a diploma. The woman's revenge is terrible!

Oleg Vidov had many friends abroad, and he decided to flee the country. Secretly on a tourist visa, he went to Yugoslavia, and from there his friend, an Austrian actor, ferried him to Austria, then to Italy. An American journalist, and then his third wife Joan Borsten, helped Vidov move to the United States.

In the United States, Vidov worked as a construction worker. Savely Kramarov, who emigrated to the USA, helped him to return to the cinema. Vidov starred with Mickey Rourke and Arnold Schwerzeneger.

He died at 74 from oncology, was buried in Hollywood. Oleg Vidov never regretted leaving the USSR.

As you can see from these examples, no one was left without a job in the cinema. But maybe other actors have a different fate? Which of the emigrants of Russian cinema do you remember?