The attitude in Russia to the famous film actor Oleg Vidov is twofold. Some believe that he was forced to leave his homeland, others elevate him to the rank of a traitor and condemn him for chasing a "long" ruble, for a better life. However, both of them cannot but agree that Vidov is a really talented actor and the images he once created in Soviet cinema still rive the attention of viewers.
From electrician to actor
Many Soviet and Russian actors who left for permanent residence abroad had to put an end to their professional careers once and for all. Actually, Oleg Vidov did not count on its continuation, although even before leaving the Soviet Union he had experience of filming in foreign cinema.
It was after the next filming in Yugoslavia that the actor decided not to come back. Perhaps this decision is quite laconic to his inner world. After all, even in childhood, he and his parents changed enough places of residence not only in the USSR, among them Mongolia and Germany appear. Due to frequent travels, there was no stability in her studies, although the actor's mother herself is a teacher in life.
As a result, at the age of 14, Oleg graduated from the school for working youth and, with her certificate, joined the ranks of the working class, and later received the profession of an electrician. By the way, his father only worked as a carpenter all his life and was not in the family of famous actors. As a newly-made electrician, Vidov appeared for the first time in the Ostankino film studio.
The boy was only 17. Between times, I saw firsthand how the shooting was going on and fired up the dream of entering VGIK. And he entered. But all this, of course, did not happen at lightning speed. The guy's interest in what is happening at the film studio was noticed by director Alexander Mitta. He was just filming a film about a school that needed teenagers.
A cute blond electrician boy came in handy. Therefore, before VGIK, Oleg already had a little experience in an episode of the film "My friend, Kolka" (1961). There was a burning desire to see myself on the screen in the future. And a great desire is more than half the battle. It is unlikely that the future actor was then thinking about the material component.
A challenge to yourself or the Motherland
Already a freshman, Vidov starred a lot in episodes. This was followed by more serious works: "Zarechenskie Grooms", "Red Mantle", "Snowstorm", "An Ordinary Miracle", "The Tale of Tsar Saltan", "Gentlemen of Fortune", "Headless Horseman" (joint work with Cuba). Even before the "Horseman" there were joint shootings with Hungary, Denmark, Yugoslavia and Oleg felt the difference in the shooting atmosphere, and in fees too.
The second wife of Oleg Borisovich Vidov, Natalya Fedotova, was the daughter of a professor - a historian. The marriage was quick and later both realized that they were completely different people. Natalia did not work anywhere, but she was a friend of Galina Brezhneva and loved to move in the society of those in power.
Oleg initially loved moving, flights, in a word - freedom. Oleg and Natalia broke up in 1976, even before his decision to leave the Union. I must say that Vidov's first family could not resist because of their youth, although he speaks very warmly of Marina. He believes that many stupid things were done because of jealousy, because he was already making his first successes in the cinema.
It is believed that by deciding not to return, Vidov put an end to his family life. However, the popular actor denies this, the divorce has already been filed. He never thought that he would be able to actively act outside of his country. From Yugoslavia, he moved to Austria, then to Italy. There was no turning back.
During this difficult period of adaptation in a foreign country, Oleg met his third future wife, with whom he lived until his death. They met in Italy in 1985, when Vidov was staying temporarily with actor Richard Harrison. For the sake of American journalist Joan Borsteen, he moved to America.
Another language, a different mentality, but the feeling of a kindred spirit was above all linguistic, everyday, financial difficulties. He perfectly understood that knowledge of English is not only mutual understanding in the family, but a profession. Therefore, I did not expect to act in films. I didn’t plan what he would be doing there. There was only one desire - to drastically change my life, my environment.
Can an actor become a businessman
At first, Oleg Vidov worked as a construction worker in order to earn at least some money and not "sit on Joan's neck". And yet the hour of victory has struck. Hollywood turned its face to the former Soviet actor. Vidov was invited by director Walter Hillat to shoot the movie Red Heat.
This work marked the beginning of further cooperation and was followed by shooting in "Wild Orchid", "13 days", "American Seagull". True, sometimes Oleg Borisovich thought that his roles were rather one-sided, he played a "typical" Russian. Vidov stopped filming only after 70 years, 3 years before his death.
For many years he fought with the tumor and believes that he lived so much precisely because an operation was performed in a timely manner, which he would not have done in his homeland. In the future, he regularly underwent a course of treatment so that the disease did not progress. The actor did not like to talk about his health.
In addition to filming a movie, entrepreneurial activity brought a good income. I must say that the idea submitted by Vidov's wife after watching old Soviet cartoons brought along with income a lot of trouble. I even had to litigate for 6 years. Although it all started very promising.
The firm of Vidov and his wife signed a contract with Soyuzmultfilm and bought out a number of old Soviet films, which at first had to be restored, then to organize an English-language dubbing, and later in other languages, in 35 languages in total. But as soon as these cartoons appeared at the Disney film studio, they got excited at home.
Officials from the Ministry of Culture of the Soviet Union said that Oleg Vidov had no right to do so. The purchase of cartoons was formalized in 1992, it took more than one year to bring their design to world standards. The actor admitted in an interview that it took a huge amount of money.
After several years of litigation, the case was won by Vidov. Then the Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov proposed another solution to the problem: to buy back these cartoons from Vidov. According to Oleg Borisovich, they were bought out much cheaper than purchased in a terrible state.
As for money, the actor believes that money cannot bring absolute happiness and in America they are earned no less hard than in Russia. In order to have a decent life, in addition to their main professions, the spouses have always preferred to run their own business. That is, to have additional sources of income.
