On December 12, at the age of 86 in Moscow, an actor and writer, People's Artist of the RSFSR Valentin Gaft died.
According to REN TV, citing the actor's widow Olga Ostroumova, the cause of death was the consequences of a stroke that Gaft suffered in 2019.
The artistic director of the Sovremennik theater, Viktor Ryzhakov, told TASS that the actor would be buried at the Troekurovsky cemetery.
The director of Sovremennik Igor Popov said that the farewell and funeral would take place on December 15th.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolences to Olga Ostroumova.
The text was published on the Kremlin website.
“A great artist, a bright and unusually talented person, a poet with a unique sense of the word has passed away.
And on the stage of his native Sovremennik, and in the whole constellation of films, Valentin Gaft played brilliantly, masterfully, captivating the audience with his inimitable acting temperament and charm, "the head of state noted.
Elena Drapeko, First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on Culture, expressed condolences to the actor's widow.
“She gave a lot of energy, time, love to Gaft, and for her, of course, this is a terrible loss.
But this is also a loss for all of us, ”RIA Novosti quotes her as saying.
Drapeko called Gaft the brightest star in the theatrical and cinematic sky.
“He had many talents, he was a wonderful actor, but we all know his works, epigrams, which he poured and awarded, his poems,” said the actress and politician.
RIA News
© Ekaterina Chesnokova
The actress, People's Artist of the RSFSR Svetlana Nemolyaeva, in an interview with RT, told about a close acquaintance with Gaft: “He was a very important partner in the cinema for me ... We were familiar with him from our youth, we had wonderful, warm, amazing relations.
I have always appreciated Valya as an actor, I saw him a lot both in the cinema and in the theater. "
“For me he is an outstanding person.
Not only because he is both an actor and a poet in one person, but simply as the smartest person and the most original.
He was a very interesting, very extraordinary person.
Communication with him has always been some kind of event, ”Nemolyaeva added.
She also stressed that Valentin Gaft supported her in difficult life situations.
Theater and film actor, People's Artist of Russia Emmanuel Vitogran reacted to the news.
“What is it ..?!
Valya, and you ..?!
Impossible ... ", - says the caption to the photo posted on the artist's Instagram page.
“Valentin Iosifovich Gaft ... Wise, subtle, ironic ... Artist, poet, person!
So close.
As if part of the soul was cut off - such a feeling.
Goodbye master.
Thanks for everything! ”, - wrote on Instagram musician and actor Oleg Gazmanov.
Actor and film director Nikolai Burlyaev, in an interview with RT, shared his memories of friendship with Gaft, which lasted more than 60 years.
“We met when I was a young man and a beginning artist, and he was already a professional artist.
Since then, all these six decades, Valentin has been unchanged in his childish openness, insecurity and unbending inner core, ”said Burlyaev.
RIA News
© Vladimir Vyatkin
Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi expressed the opinion that Gaft was an intelligent and subtle artist.
“Valentin Iosifovich was an extraordinary individuality, sometimes he did not fit into the usual understanding of the troupe.
He was very bright, very visible, very individual, demanding attention as an actor, and he had the right to do so.
The directors understood that it was very difficult to deal with such an obstinate artist.
There are very few such artists in today's theater, ”TASS quotes him.
The rector of the Moscow Art Theater School, Igor Zolotovitsky, shared with RT his memories of Gaft as a representative of a generation of bright, talented artists.
“Valentin Iosifovich Gaft is a brilliant graduate of the Moscow Art Theater School, the famous course on which Tabakov and Evstigneev studied ... In general, during these years some incredibly talented courses were issued, and this generation, of course, Valentin Iosifovich belongs to him in the forefront ...
And I, as a rector, am proud that such wonderful actors have emerged from the walls of the Studio School, ”the Honored Artist of Russia emphasized.
Condolences in connection with the death of the artist were expressed in the football club "Spartak".
Gaft was a fan of the team and at one time dedicated an epigram to the club, which is quoted in the recording.
Two "Spartaks" - one in the Bolshoi, the
other in the Big football,
But I would not go to the theater,
When Spartak is on the field.
The great actor and devoted fan of our club Valentin Gaft passed away.
We bring our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Valentin Iosifovich.
pic.twitter.com/wiPPf4aEwz
- FC Spartak-Moscow (@fcsm_official) December 12, 2020
The message about the death of Valentin Gaft was commented on by the actress Anastasia Vertinskaya.
In an interview with RT, she called Gaft "an incredibly noble person."
“This is, of course, a terrible grief for the entire acting community, because he was a star of theater and cinema ... He was incredibly choosy, very responsible, highly professional actor.
Of course, for many in my generation, he was a kind of beacon.
You could see how this actor plays, and it was impossible, standing next to him in the frame, to be worse or weaker.
He involuntarily appealed to any actor to a high level of professionalism, ”said the People's Artist of the RSFSR.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin expressed his condolences to the artist's relatives.
“The Big Actor is gone.
Valentin Iosifovich Gaft.
Brilliant roles in the cinema and on theatrical stages, an extraordinary sense of humor and literary talent have always sounded sparkling in his poetry.
So bitter, ”he wrote on his official Instagram page.
Actor and director Nikita Mikhalkov paid special attention to the human qualities of Valentin Gaft.
“I have never understood how, living in the world of bohemia, acting environment, long tours, behind-the-scenes intrigues, difficult relationships, during a long life you can maintain such incredible purity, naivety, great talent of a person - in every sense of the word.
How is it possible, with such a quickness of mind, a merciless sharp tongue and uncompromising attitude, not to lose heart, not to become an all-knowing cynic, not to lose a sincere, open and even defenseless outlook on life and on people, "Mikhalkov shared his memories.
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Director Yuri Kara, who has worked with Gaft several times, also noted the actor's sincerity.
“I loved him very much and will always love him.
It is very painful and a pity that a great poet, a great artist, a great citizen has left.
I would even say that Russia's last conscience is gone.
His childish naivety, purity, and she allowed him to speak in a way that adults would never allow themselves, and he, in his purity, said many things very frankly, ”Kara TASS quotes.
Condolences on the death of Gaft were expressed by the director of the Guild of Cinema Actors of Russia, Honored Worker of Culture Valeria Gushchina.
“This is an absolutely incommensurable loss.
Because he was an infinitely talented person, he was an infinitely charismatic and handsome man ... And even his epigrams, even if they sometimes stabbed someone more painfully, but they were so witty, just as talented as himself.
Today we say goodbye to the great actor, "she said in a comment for RT.
Comedian Vladimir Vinokur, in an interview with REN TV, recalled Gaft's poetic heritage.
“Valentin Gaft is not only a theater and film actor, but also a genius poet and citizen of both the Soviet Union and Russia.
He is a man who was loved not only by fans of theater and cinema, but also by people who loved his epigrams.
This is a huge loss for art - not only theatrical, but also the art of living, ”said the artist.
Valentin Gaft was born in 1935 in Moscow.
He studied acting at the Moscow Art Theater School.
After graduation, he changed several theaters, including the Mossovet Theater, Satire Theater and Lenkom.
Since 1969 Gaft has been the leading actor of the Moscow Sovremennik.
On this stage, he was involved in more than two dozen productions, from "The Ordinary Story" and "The Cherry Orchard" to "Pygmalion" and "The Game of Gin".
Back in his student years, Gaft starred in films - in the film by Mikhail Romm "Murder on Dante Street".
Among the most popular films with the participation of the actor - "Garage", "Say a word about the poor hussar", "Wizards".
He also appeared in such multi-part projects as "Seventeen Moments of Spring", "The Master and Margarita" and "Nine Unknowns".
Also Valentin Gaft was known as a poet.
Especially popular were the artist's epigrams to colleagues, famous personalities and himself.