Vladimir Kenigson

Vladimir Vladimirovich Kenigson was a Soviet and Russian film and stage actor. People's Artist of the USSR.

Biography and career

Vladimir Kenigson was born in the family of barrister Vladimir Petrovich Kenigson in Simferopol. He graduated from the school at Simferopol Drama Theatre in 1925 and was admitted to the theater group. Then he played at the theater in Kuybyshev, Dnipropetrovsk and other cities. He was noticed on the stage by Alexander Tairov and was invited into their group.
In the years 1940–1949 Kenigson worked in Kamerny Theatre under the direction of Alexander Tairov, where he became a partner Alisa Koonen - in the performances of "Madame Bovary" and "Guilty Without Guilt". After the closure of the Kamerny Theatre in 1949, on the advice of Tairov, he joined the Maly Academic Theatre.
At the same time Vladimir Kenigson starred in the Mikheil Chiaureli's film The Fall of Berlin, where he played the role of the Nazi general Krebs. For this, Kenigson was awarded the Stalin Prize by Joseph Stalin himself, who was delighted with his performance. Therefore, from the very first steps on one of the oldest Russian scenes Kenigson took the leading position in the company.
From 1949–1986 Kenigson was a permanent member of the troupe at Maly Academic Theatre in Moscow. There his stage partners were such stars as Elena Gogoleva, Vera Pashennaya, Elina Bystritskaya, Boris Babochkin, Mikhail Zharov, Nikolay Annenkov, Viktor Pavlov, Yury Solomin and many other notable Soviet and Russian actors. He played over 60 roles on stage and 30 roles in film and on TV. In addition to roles in movies he worked on dubbing of foreign films and cartoons, actors who talk with his voice: Jean Gabin, Louis [de Funès] and Totò.
Vladimir Kenigson is buried at the Vagankovo Cemetery at the 58th site, next to his son-in-law Alexey Eybozhenko.

Personal life

Daughter — Natalia Kenigson.
Son-in-law — actor Alexey Eybozhenko.
Grandson — TV and radio presenter Alexey Eybozhenko Jr.

Selected filmography

The Fall of Berlin as General Hans KrebsThe Unforgettable Year 1919 as Paul DukesCertificate of Maturity as Pyotr Germanovich Strakhov, teacherMiles of Fire as Sergei BeklemishevMajor Whirlwind as TraubPassenger from the "Equator" as Pavel GabushSeventeen Moments of Spring as ex-minister KrauseThe Flight of Mr. McKinley as episodeMoon Rainbow as ''Charles Rogan''

Selected foreign films

Fanfan la Tulipe — Noël Roquevert as Fier-à-BrasThe Snows of Kilimanjaro — Leo G. Carroll as Uncle BillLes Misérables — Bernard Blier as JavertLe Bossu — François Chaumette as Philippe de Gonzague

Inherit the Wind — Fredric March as Matthew Harrison BradyThe Mysteries of Paris — Raymond Pellegrin as Baron de LansignacThe Black Tulip — Robert Manuel as Prince Alexandre de Grassillac de Morvan-Le-BreauLemonade Joe — Miloš Kopecký as Horace Badman, alias "Hogofogo"Fantômas — Louis de Funès as Commissioner JuveThe Saragossa Manuscript — Gustaw Holoubek as Don Pedro VelasquezThe Sucker — Louis de Funès as Léopold SaroyanFantômas se déchaîne — Louis de Funès as Commissioner JuveOld Surehand — Larry Pennell as General Jack O’NeilStrike First Freddy — Martin Hansen as Dr. PaxThe Sons of Great Bear — Jiří Vršťala as Jim Fred ClarkThe Big Restaurant — Louis de Funès as Mr. Septime, boss of a big Parisian restaurantFantômas contre Scotland Yard — Louis de Funès as Commissioner JuveOscar — Louis de Funès as Bertrand BarnierRomeo and Juliet — Antonio Pierfederici as Lord MontagueL'homme orchestre — Louis de Funès as Mr. Edouard, alias Evan EvansLa Horse — Pierre Dux as investigating magistrateThe Married Couple of the Year Two — Pierre Brasseur as GosselinTecumseh — Wolfgang Greese as Governor William HarrisonThe Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe — Bernard Blier as Bernard MilanOklahoma Crude — Jack Palance as HellmanZorro — Stanley Baker as Colonel HuertaThree Days of the Condor — John Houseman as WabashConcorde Affaire '79 — ''Joseph Cotten as Milland''

Selected cartoons

Gena the Crocodile as SalesmanFlying Phantom Ship as Mr. Kuroshio The Blue Bird as Rich manThe Mystery of the Third Planet as ''Robot waiter, robot from planet Shelezyaka''

Awards

Stalin Prize, 1st class – for his portrayal of General Hans Krebs in The Fall of Berlin
Honored Artist of the RSFSR
People's Artist of the RSFSR
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
People's Artist of the USSR