Mikhail Kokshenov - Soviet theater and film actor, director. People's Artist of the Russian Federation. He played the main roles in the comedies of Leonid Gaidai, the drama of Vladimir Motyl and many other films recognized as classics of Soviet cinema
Biography of Mikhail Kokshenov
The famous Soviet theater and film actor Mikhail Mikhailovich Kokshenov was born in Moscow on September 16, 1936. His parents met in the Far East, where Mikhail lived up to three years. His father, Mikhail Mikhailovich Kokshenov, worked in the Khabarovsk Territory after receiving an engineering degree, and his mother, Galina Vasilievna, worked in the theater.
The Kokshenov family lived in the Khabarovsk Territory until 1937. When Mikhail was one year old, his father was repressed, and he and his mother returned to Zamoskvorechye. It was there that he spent his childhood. When the war began, my father was taken from prison to the front, where he died. Mikhail's mother went to work as a nurse in a maternity hospital, she had to raise and feed her son. Mom raised Misha alone, she never got married.
Mikhail loved cinema and theater from an early age. However, since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a sailor, like his grandfather. He never got to the river technical school, poor eyesight affected. Mikhail had to give up his dream of becoming a sailor. In addition to cinema, Misha had other hobbies, he loved to play sports, read a lot. But all this did not help to get a good education. Mikhail barely finished 7th grade. If it did not work out to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, the future actor entered the Moscow Industrial College at the geological prospecting department. For several years he went on expeditions and on excavations. However, he refused further work in this direction.
Career in cinema and theater
Having tried different options for activities, Mikhail opted for work in the theater. In 1963, he graduated from the Shchukin School and, at the age of 27, got a job at the Mayakovsky Academic Theater. After working there for three years, Mikhail goes to the theater of miniatures. In 1967 he was invited to shoot the film "Zhenya, Zhenechka and Katyusha".
The first filming of Mikhail in the cinema took place in his student years. At that time, he was not offered a leading role, it was participation in the crowd scene. His name was not included in the credits. His film debut took place in 1964, when Mikhail was offered a role in the film "The Chairman".
The greatest fame was brought to Mikhail by the films of director Leonid Gaidai, with whom the future actor met in absentia. Gaidai saw him on one of the postcards with famous faces and asked him to come. Mikhail was immediately approved for the main role in the film "It Can't Be!" The actor starred in more than a hundred films, played in several performances. Most often, the actor played in comedies of silly hulks, village simpletons, etc.
According to Mikhail Kokshenov in Gaidai's films, there are many phrases proposed by him, with which the famous director often agreed. So in the film "Sportloto-82" was used the replica "To whom oranges, to whom, vitamins?", Which Mikhail heard at the bazaar in Alushta.
During the crisis of the 90s, which also affected the actor, Mikhail tried himself as a director. He owns more than a dozen works, including "Russian business", "Russian miracle".
In 1983, Mikhail Kokshenov received the title of Honored Artist of the USSR, in 2002 he became People's Artist of Russia, and in 2007 he was awarded the Order of Friendship.
Personal life and family
Mikhail Kokshenov was married three times. The first wife of the actor was the artist Alla. In 1986, the young people got married. However, this decision was hasty for both. The couple decided to divorce. From this marriage, Mikhail had a daughter, Alevtina. For the second time, the actor married a student, Elena, who was much younger than him. This marriage lasted until 2007.
Natalya Lepekhina is the third wife of Mikhail Kokshenov. She runs a large oil company, ZAO Electron. The marriage with this woman continues to this day. We can say that the actor still found his love and happiness.
