Vasily Livanov – best Sherlock Holmes

Vasily Livanov is a Soviet and Russian film actor, screenwriter, writer, film director, animator. You know, he is Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1981), People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1988). By the way, he became world famous as Sherlock Holmes in TV series directed by Igor Maslennikov, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels. In 2006 Livanov was awarded the Order of the British Empire for the best classic screen image of Sherlock Holmes.
The boy was born on July 19, 1935 in Moscow, USSR. He is a son of actor Boris Livanov and grandson of actor Nikolai Livanov (Izvolsky). His mother, Eugenia Kazimirovna was “one of the most charming women of Moscow”. As a child, Livanov dreamed of being a military man. Then he wanted to become a doctor, tamer or traveler.
In 1954 Livanov graduated from the Moscow Art School and in 1958 from the Shchukin Theater School.
His debut on the screen was successful: the young actor starred in the drama Letter Never Sent by Mikhail Kalatozov. The partners on the set were Innokenty Smoktunovsky, Eugene Urbansky and Tatyana Samoilova.

Besides, in 1961, Vasily played the main role in the film The Blind Musician based on the novel by V.G. Korolenko. It was the only time when he was a partner of his father, great Russian actor Boris Livanov.
In 1963, the actor played Felix Dzerzhinsky in the drama The Blue Notebook.
Later, in 1966, Vasily received the diploma and became a director of the cartoon The Most, which was enjoyed by millions of Soviet children.

From 1966 to 1973 he worked at the Soyuzmultfilm studio. Livanov voiced about 300 cartoon characters, including Carlson, Crocodile Gena and Boa constrictor in 38 parrots. Together with Yuri Entin and Gennady Gladkov he created cartoon Town Musicians of Bremen.
In the 70s Livanov starred in The Gambler based on the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Captivating Star of Happiness, in which he played Emperor Nicholas I.
Then, in 1978, Igor Maslennikov’s film Yaroslavna, Queen of France appeared on the screens, in which Livanov got the role of knight Benedictus.
After the release of the detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson the actor became famous. Vitaly Solomin played the role of Dr. Watson. A brilliant duet of Livanov and Solomin was praised in the USSR and Great Britain.
What is more, Livanov appeared in the image of Don Quixote. He acted as the director and the protagonist of the project.

At the beginning of the new century, the actor played Dr. Stravinsky in the serial film Master and Margarita by Vladimir Bortko.
Livanov is not only an actor, but also an author of novels, short stories, essays.
In 2006, Livanov was awarded the Order of Queen Elizabeth II of England.
A sculptural composition Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson by Russian sculptor Andrey Orlov was opened near the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Moscow on April 27, 2007.
In 2007, a private company New Zealand Mint released a series of four coins with a portrait of Sherlock Holmes (Vasily Livanov).
Later, in April 2016, Vasily visited Yulia Menshova’s program and told many interesting facts. In July of the same year, the actor celebrated his 81st birthday and Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him the Order of Honor.
You know, in St. Petersburg, Vasily was awarded the national prize Figaro named after Andrei Mironov. The actor received it in the nomination Knight of Art.

Personal life
Alina Engelhardt, the daughter of biochemist Engelhardt, was the first wife of the famous actor. In 1963 she gave birth to their daughter Anastasia. They were together for 7 years.
Elena Livanova became his second wife. They have two sons – Boris (born in 1974) and Nikolai (born in 1984), and three grandchildren.
Unofficial site: vasily-livanov.narod.ru

Vasily Livanov – best Sherlock Holmes