Actor Vadim Tonkov - the idol of the seventies, who created the image of Veronika Mavrikievna

15 years ago, the Honored Artist of Russia Vadim Tonkov, the comic duo Veronica Mavrikievna and Avdotya Nikitichna, the owner of truly all-union fame, was no more. It's hard to imagine that the performances of artists raised thousands of stadiums, the Brezhnev family invited them to private parties, and the dialogues were sorted into quotes after each appearance on the blue screen. Who is Vadim Tonkov, the photo of which is presented in the article, and how did the deafening popularity come to him?

Biography pages

Vadim Tonkov was lucky to be born into an intelligent family. Having appeared in the world in 1932, he no longer found his grandfather alive, who was similar to him, the outstanding architect Fyodor Osipovich Shekhtel. His mother and aunt were artists, his father worked in the State Planning Committee, and the young man expected a career as a lawyer. Everything changed the visit to the theatrical circle, where together with him engaged future partner in the stage Boris Vladimirov and a girl named Martha, who later became his wife. Vadim Tonkov and Boris Vladimirov, when enrolling in GITIS, were immediately enrolled for the second year, which was a great rarity.

Speaking together on skits and in student scenes, friends after graduation in 1953 for some time broke up: Tonkov was sent to the army, and Vladimirov, graduated from the directing department, began to realize the idea of creating a variety theater, which went down in history under the name "Komsomol patrol." Vadim Tonkov began his career with the Moscow theater "Lenkom" under the leadership of M. Zakharov. Having a family by that time, he needed money, so Vladimir Vladimirov agreed to enter the staff of his new theater with a good fee, without hesitation.

Star duet

The duet was initiated by the performance in A. Shirvindt's television program Terem-Teremok on January 1, 1971. Presented in the image of two old women: intelligent, not of this world (they are called "the dandelion of God"), and vicious, rustic, not differing in knowledge, Vadim Tonkov and Boris Vladimirov conducted a dialogue under the fir tree, waiting for the grandchildren brought to the feast. In the morning they woke up famous people, whose statements were quoted in all Soviet cuisines. The author of the text was Tonkov himself, although subsequently reprimands were written by G. Gorin, A. Arkanov, V. Ardov. It is characteristic that the female images were created without the help of disguise, on the heads of the actors appeared a handkerchief, glasses, and an absurd hat with a wig.

The success of the duo was based on a magnificent humor, built on the contrast of two grandmothers, entering into a constant polemic and falling into ironic situations. Tonkov's wife describes that the types were written off from Aunt Vadim Sergeevich, who was born before the revolution and who does not understand well what country she has to live in, and the housekeeper of Vary, her absolute antipode. A. Shirvindt also believes that his grandmother and nanny became the prototype, leading comic conversations in the common kitchen. This once again confirms that the actors genius fell into the image, recognizable and loved by the audience.

"Grandmothers said in two ..."

Acting in all the important concerts and regularly appearing on the festive "Blue Lights", Vadim Tonkov, an actor of a drama school, soon became a hostage to the created image of Mavrikievna, however, like his partner Nikitichny. Being at the peak of deafening popularity, both were faced with the fact that without a makeup remain absolutely unrecognizable for a simple spectator. In this contrast, V. Kharchenko and Yu. Klebanov in 1979 filmed a comedy film "Grandmothers in two said ...", which premiered on television on the eve of the New 1980.

The plot is built on the magical transport of images by a brilliant inventor (Vladimir Basov), who created two "Galatei" - Mavrikievna and Nikitichna. Actors face their characters during the tour. Observing from outside for love and a recognition of public to the heroines, suffer privations and inconveniences that causes sincere laughter of the spectator. The film featured great actors: in addition to Basov, Oleg Anofriev and Nikolai Rybnikov, Eugene Vesnik and Natalia Bondarchuk, which speaks of the recognition of the talent of a unique duet. For the first time for the role of Tonkov and Vladimirov wear women's costumes, which puts them on a par with the best masters of reincarnation in the history of cinematography.

The collapse of the duo

Despite the promising words of Mavrikievna Tonkov and Vladimirov in the feature film of 1979: "We are racing through the years and will be together forever", in 1982 the creative union of two outstanding actors disintegrated. Although the image has always remained in the hearts of the audience. Friends did not quarrel and even continued to cooperate, but this year the duo ceased to exist. Contemporaries talk about the addiction of Vladimirov to alcohol, which led to the breakdown of concerts and experiences because of this more responsible partner. Vadim Tonkov voiced radio plays, wrote books on art, did variety programs, put on plays for children, read poetry superbly. But the audience again and again wanted to see him in the image of Mauritius.

The actor tried to perform alone, starred in the movie "Old Penalties on the main-2", but this was not perceived as brightly as in the duet. Therefore, he tried to find a partner in the person of Harry Grinevich, but this was a repetition, which is always inferior to the original.

Leaving a life

In 1988, there was no Boris Vladimirov. This death seriously affected Tonkov. He suffered another heart attack, the first of which happened at forty-six. He managed to survive a friend for 12 years, but his departure was unexpected and painful for the family and spectators. During the touring on the United States, where several concerts were to be held as part of the creative group, the actor had a heart attack, from which Vadim Sergeyevich was no longer destined to recover. The group flew away without him, returning on return the owed fee to the widow and the daughter of the artist.

Vadim Tonkov, the family for whom always stood in the first place, lived happily in marriage for more than fifty years, left for fans a wonderful song, which became a splash screen for the telecast "While all the houses."