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Pavel Luspekaev was a legendary Soviet actor known as Vereshagin in White Sun of the Desert (1969).
He was born Pavel Borisovich Luspekaev in Luhansk, Ukraine, Soviet Union (now Luhansk, Ukraine). His Armenian-born father, Boris Luspekaev, worked as a butcher, and his mother was a Russian Don Cossack. Young Luspekaev grew up in a trilingual environment, and his mastery of spoken tongues and dialects became an asset to his acting talent, albeit he was also criticized by some hard-line Soviet critics.
At the beginning of the Second World War, young Luspekaev was evacuated to the city of Frunze (Bishkek), Kyrgyzstan. There, he studied at a Technical School and worked as a metalworker. In 1943, at the age of 16, he enlisted in the military intelligence unit No. 00134 of the Ukrainian Front during World War II. He was severely wounded during a clandestine operation against the invading Nazi troops; he survived hiding in the snow, but his feet were permanently damaged by severe frostbite, which later led to a peripheral vascular disease with complications, causing him several consecutive amputations.
After the liberation of Ukraine in 1944, Luspekaev joined the Luhansk Philharmonic Choir and later became part of the troupe of Luhansk Drama Theatre. There he worked as an actor for two years. In 1946, he came to Moscow and applied to the Schepkin School of Theatrical Art. Luspekaev brilliantly performed at the entrance exam, but he was unable to write more than a few words. Some officials from the admissions jury strongly criticized Luspekayev's Southern accent. His destiny was changed by actor-professor Konstantin Zubov, who said to the admissions jury, "I am taking this talented boy, no matter what!"
Luspekaev was one of the leading students under the patronage of Konstantin Zubov. His natural acting talent was polished through his studies of the classical Russian school. In 1950, Luspekaev graduated from the Schepkin School of Theatrical Art, but directors criticized his Southern accent, and he could not find any employment in Moscow. From 1950 to 1956, he worked in Tbilisi, Georgia, at the State Russian Drama Theatre named after A. Griboyedov. In 1955, Luspekaev made his film debut in 'Taina Dvykh Okeanov' (1955). From 1957 to 1959, he worked in Kyiv, Ukraine, at the Drama Theatre named after Lesia Ukrainka. There he was seen on stage by actor Kirill Lavrov, who was strongly impressed by Luspekaev's powerful acting. Kirill Lavrov helped Luspekaev's career by inviting him to join the BDT in Leningrad (St. Petersburg).
From 1959 to 1967, Pavel Luspekaev was a permanent member of the legendary troupe of Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BDT) in St. Petersburg under the directorship of Georgi Tovstonogov. Luspekaev worked with Tovstonogov for 11 years. During that time, Luspekaev worked with an outstanding ensemble of actors at the BDT. There, his stage partners were such stars as Oleg Basilashvili, Tatyana Doronina, Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Vladislav Strzhelchik, Kirill Lavrov, Sergey Yurskiy, Oleg Borisov, Vsevolod Kuznetsov, and other remarkable Soviet actors. Luspekaev was among the leading stars of the BDT troupe. He worked on stage until he became disabled after the amputation of both his feet. His most impressive stage performances were as Cherkun in Maxim Gorky's Varvary (aka. Barbarians), as Viktor in Aleksei Arbuzov's Irkutsk story, and as Makar Nagulnov in Mikhail Sholokhov's Podnyataya tselina (aka. Virgin soil upturned) on the stage of BDT in Leningrad (St. Petersburg).
In 1967, Luspekaev played his last stage performance at the BDT in Leningrad. At that time, his health condition worsened, albeit his desire to work was so strong that he continued his acting career. Luspekaev started rehearsals of his new role as Skalozub in Aleksandr Griboyedov's Gore ot Uma (aka.. Woe from Wit), regardless of the pain in his amputated feet. Hard work was the best painkiller for Luspekaev. Eventually, he was restricted from stage performances because of complications leading to the second surgery on his amputated feet. Despite his severe physical disability, Luspekaev continued a stellar career in film and on television.
He shot to fame after co-starring as Vereshchagin, a heroic customs officer in the Soviet classic film White Sun of the Desert (1969) (aka.. The White Sun of the Desert 1970). Luspekaev was able to overcome his physical pain and disability while he was acting in specially tailored tight boots that were designed to compensate for his amputated feet. The film was directed by Vladimir Motyl and a team of highly talented people, such as writers Valentin Yezhov, Mark Zakharov, and Bulat Okudzhava, cinematographer Eduard Rozovsky, and composer Isaac Schwarts. Luspekaev created his character in a team with a stellar ensemble of actors, such as Anatoliy Kuznetsov, Spartak Mishulin, Kakhi Kavsadze, Nikolai Godovikov, and others. Luspekaev created the main theme from the film in collaboration with composer Isaac Schwarts and lyricist Bulat Okudzhava. The theme song 'Gospozha Udacha' (aka.. Lady Luck) was recorded in performance by Pavel Luspekaev and became a popular hit.
Pavel Luspekaev was recognized for both his acting talent and his admirable personality. His generosity was legendary; he could spend all of his income treating his fellow actors and numerous friends. He was designated Honorable Actor of Russia (1965). By 1970, he was one of the most popular film stars in the Soviet Union. At that time, he was cast to play Stark in 'All The King's Men' and began this new work in collaboration with actor-director Mikhail Kozakov. He was also cast in several other film projects. He died at age 42, of thrombus-embolic complications, during the filming of 'All The King's Men' in Moscow, on April 17, 1970, and was laid to rest in Severnoe Cemetery in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia.
In 1997, Pavel Luspekaev was posthumously awarded the State Prize of Russia for his remarkable performance as Vereshchagin in White Sun of the Desert (1969).
