Arkady Arkanov: biography, personal life, comedian’s work

Viktor Yerofeyev has words that in our time, the intelligentsia “fulfilled its tasks so brilliantly that it self-destructed as unnecessary.” This phrase comes to mind when you watch the many modern comedians who amuse and entertain the audience on all TV channels. I recall another humor: subtle, smart, ironic, intelligent. This high-quality humor was presented to its readers and viewers by the stunning and unforgettable Arkady Mikhailovich Arkanov.

Curriculum Vitae

The biography of Arkady Arkanov is a typical story of a talented boy from a strong Jewish family. Papa Mikhail Iosifovich is a procurement specialist, mom Olga Semenovna is a housewife. Arkady was born on June 7, 1933 in Kiev. He graduated from school with a gold medal, received the profession of a doctor after graduating from the First Moscow Medical Institute. He always loved music and had a literary gift. The Steinbock family (Arkady Arkanov's real name) had to survive the arrest and imprisonment of Mikhail Iosifovich in 1934, the evacuation to Siberia during the war, post-war hunger and cold.

But despite the hardships and difficulties of that time, Arkady Mikhailovich considered his childhood happy, warmly recalling his native Kiev, snowy Krasnoyarsk, his Moscow yard and classmates at the institute. Arkady Arkanov felt his love of literature and art at a medical university. He actively participated in local skits, was a member of the "Medical Theater and Variety Team." Here Arkanov met with Grigory Gorin, a creative union with which turned out to be a lifelong one. Therefore, it is not surprising that, having worked as a doctor three years after graduation, Arkady Arkanov said goodbye to medicine and devoted himself entirely to literary work.

Arkanov - writer and playwright

The creative biography of Arkady Arkanov was developing successfully. The very first collection of short stories “Four under one cover” (1966) brought him fame. In addition to him, the book published stories of Gorin, Kandel and Ouspensky. Arkady Mikhailovich was actively published in the then popular Literary Newspaper, the Youth magazine.

In 1968, the comedian Arkady Arkanov was admitted to the Union of Writers of the USSR, which meant recognition of the official status of a writer. By that time, Arkanov was already quite famous and loved by readers. The writer became even more popular after the publication of the illegal almanac Metropol, in which he took part in the company of the cult Vysotsky, Akhmadulina, Voznesensky. Arkady Arkanov’s books are still relevant and have long been sorted into quotes.

In addition to sparkling humorous stories, sketches and miniatures, Arkady Arkanov, in collaboration with a friend, Grigory Gorin, contributed to the great drama. From the pen of the authors came the plays “Banquet”, “A Wedding for the Whole Europe”, “Little Comedies of a Big House”. The plays were loved by directors, actors and viewers. For example, such stars as Andrei Mironov, Alexander Shirvindt, Tatyana Peltzer played in Little Comedies.

Arcana on the stage

The texts of Arkady Arkanov were read from the stage by many professional pop artists. Viewers of the older generation remember Vladimir Vinokur’s ridiculous solo performance “I Come Out Alone”. Evgeny Petrosyan made a story from the Arkan series “Dreams of Ivan Stepanovich”. The legendary "Red Pashechka" performed by the permanent host of the program "Around the Laughter" by Alexander Ivanov gained immense popularity.

By the way, the program “Around the Laughter” was the first to provide the stage for the authors of humorous works themselves. The experiment was successful. The audience warmly received Gorin, Koklyushkin, Smolin, Zhvanetsky and, of course, Arkanov. Since then, in the biography of Arkady Arkanov, numerous tours have appeared throughout the country with the author's program and creative evenings.

Arkady Mikhailovich is also known as the author of texts of many songs of popular pop singers.

Arcana and television

Arkady Mikhailovich Arkanov has always been a welcome guest on television. He acted as a host of television programs, a guest of various programs. So, Arkanov led “Around the laughter. Non-stop, ”co-hosted the popular White Parrot program with Yuri Nikulin.

He was eagerly invited to the jury of KVN and various copyright programs. Arkanov also played in several films and documentaries. Keeping up with the times, Arkady Mikhailovich even starred in the video with Lolita Milyavskaya for his famous song “Honduras”.

Suitable company

In addition to success in the work of Arkanov was very successful in love and friendship. This was his merit. Friends called Arkady Mikhailovich the last gentleman. He was kind to real male friendship and knew how to make friends. Everyone knows his tender attitude towards Gregory Gorin. They remained faithful to many years of friendship all their lives, right up to the sudden death of Gorin in 2000.

Close relations connected Arkanov with Alexander Shirvindt. Their friendship has overgrown with a lot of funny and witty stories that they themselves gladly told. For example, about how they quarreled, putting on the wrong horse at the hippodrome. Or how they stole a funny sign stating that a bed that was not paid before 12 noon was stolen from a table on duty at the Odessa hotel on duty. Or as the leadership of the hippodrome, having counted the total loss of the two regulars, installed a commemorative plaque with the names of Arkanov and Shirvindt on the newly built stable.

Arkady Arkanov was in close contact with many famous people. This writer Arkady Inin, poet Mikhail Vishnevsky, satirist Semyon Altov, director Julius Gusman, actor Yuri Nikulin. Friends have always noted the brilliant wit and genuine nobility of Arkady Arkanov.

Women Arkady Arkanova

The biography of Arkady Arkanov was always attended by beautiful women. Arkady Mikhailovich loved women, and the ladies reciprocated. Poured out by Marcello Mastroianni, in a suit with a needle, with exquisite manners and the smell of expensive cologne, Arkanov was irresistible. As a real man, the writer never spoke about his victories on the love front. But friends were sure that there were many victories.

All the wives of Arkady Arkanov were beautiful, smart, and loving women.

The first marriage was very romantic, but short-lived. The young doctor Arkanov fell in love at first sight with the beginning singer Maya Kristalinskaya. Maya very quickly turned into one of the most popular singers in the country, and marriage to an ordinary doctor lost her relevance.

The writer called Evgeny Morozov the main woman of his life. The second wife gave Arkanov the son of Basil. But after several years of a happy family life, this marriage fell apart.

Long close relations connected Arkanov and journalist Natalya Smirnova. In this relationship, the second son of Pierre was born.

With his third wife, Natalya Vysotskaya, Arkanov lived in perfect harmony for many years. In 2011, Natalia was gone.

Until the end of his life, his last common-law wife, Oksana, was next to Arkady Mikhailovich.

Hobbies of a gentleman

Arkady Arkanov with external equanimity and phlegmatic nature was passionate and enthusiastic. Everyone knows Arkanov’s love of gambling. He went to the races, played in casinos and slot machines. But the satirical writer was especially passionate about intellectual poker. He was even one of the top ten players in the country. When gambling was banned in Russia, Arkanov, being a law-abiding citizen, began to play abroad. Friends said that Arkanov several times managed to disrupt major wins. But he lost often enough.

Another love writer can be called jazz. As the satirist himself said, music is a constant background of his life.

Arkady Mikhailovich also excitedly supported the Torpedo football team in the capital and played excellent chess.

Strokes to the portrait

People's Artist of the Russian Federation, winner of numerous awards Arkady Arkanov possessed a special charm and style. Elegant and aristocratic, intelligent and ironic Arkanov knew how to captivate people. I wanted to talk endlessly with him, listen to his inimitable quiet voice, just look at this elegant, sophisticated man. Arkanov loved people, communication, the public, but at the same time he reliably protected his sensitive and sentimental personal world from strangers.

The beautiful life of Arkady Arkanov

In 2010, Arkady Mikhailovich was given a terrible diagnosis - lung cancer. From this moment began a long and debilitating struggle with the disease. Arkanov underwent surgery, periodically underwent a course of treatment. He never complained to anyone or talked about his illness. Until his death, Arkady Arkanov was active, fit and cheerful. Therefore, the message about his passing away from life was a complete surprise for friends and fans. “It seemed Arkanov would never die,” said Arkady Inin. An ambulance took Arkanov to the hospital directly from a concert in memory of Grigory Gorin. He did not leave the hospital. March 22, 2015 Arkanov died.

Over the long years of his life, Arkady Arkanov managed to do a lot. He loved and knew life, and life loved him. Gennady Khazanov said very accurately about Arkady Arkanov: “He lived a very beautiful life, lived as he wanted.”