Georgi Yumatov

Georgi Aleksandrovich Yumatov (; 11 March 1926 – 6 October 1997) was a Soviet and Russian film actor. He appeared in 72 films between 1946 and 1994. He was a People’s Artist of the RSFSR.

Biography Yumatov was born on 11 March 1926 in Moscow into a Russian family. A veteran of the Great Patriotic War. During 1941—1942 he studied at the Naval School. In 1942 he was enrolled as a cabin boy on the torpedo boat "The Brave", and a year later he became its helmsman. He participated in the siege of Budapest. He distinguished himself in the battle for Vienna in the assault on the bridge. During this battle he was awarded the Medal of Ushakov. He was wounded several times and also shell-shocked.

After the war he returned to Moscow and was noticed by Grigori Aleksandrov in a cafe. He invited Yumatov for a small part in his upcoming comedy Spring (1947). After that Aleksandrov took him to Sergei Gerasimov and suggested to try him as a student at VGIK, but Gerasimov answered: «I have nothing to teach him. He has a natural gift». He showed Yumatov to the State Theater of Movie Actors and in a couple of years cast him in the top-grossing film The Young Guard. This launched Yumatov's film career.

Between 1950 and 1970 he performed in many popular war and action films, usually portraying heroic, yet down-to-earth lads with a glimpse of humour. His personal favourite role was Venka Malyshev from the 1959 film Cruelty. In 1971 he played the main part in Officers alongside Vasily Lanovoy. While Yumatov didn't have much regard for this role nor for the film, it quickly turned into a cult classic. Seen by 53.4 million viewers at the time of release, it became his most recognizable film and was given a second birth in 2011 after colorization.

Around the same time Yumatov started drinking heavily. It was speculated that the reason for this was his wife — an actress Muza Krepkogorskaya — who refused to have children. They met at VGIK during the 1940s and lived together up till Yumatov's death. Krepkogorskaya was never as popular as her husband, even though he made sure that she was given at least minor roles in every movie he appeared in. She was afraid that pregnancy might ruin her chance to perform «the role of her life» and kept making abortions. At one point she made an abortion when she was four months pregnant and lost the ability to give birth at all. It became a great shock for Yumatov. He spent two months in prison, but was pardoned on account of his military service following the 1995 amnesty dedicated to 50 years since the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War.

After that he stopped drinking, started visiting church and spent all his time with his wife. Yet the following years saw a quick demise of his health. On 9 May 1997 he made his last appearance on public in a popular TV show Pole Chudes dedicated to the war victory. Soon he was diagnosed with aortic aneurysm. He went through a hard surgery, but it didn't help and on 4 October 1997 he died. He was buried at the Vagankovo Cemetery. In two years his wife Muza Krepkogorskaya also died.

Selected filmography Year English Title Original Title Role 1946 Ivan the Terrible, Part II Иван Грозный. Сказ второй: Боярский заговор monk 1947 Spring Весна make-up artist 1948 The Young Guard Молодая гвардия Anatoly Popov 1950 Zhukovsky Жуковский Kasyanov1953 Admiral Ushakov Адмирал Ушаков Viktor Ermolaev Attack from the Sea Корабли штурмуют бастионы Viktor Ermolaev Hostile Whirlwinds Вихри враждебные Balandin the waif 1954 Heroes of Shipka Герои Шипки Sashko Kozir 1955 Road to Life Педагогическая поэма Sasha Zadorov 1956 They Were the First Они были первыми Stepan Barabash1959 Ballad of a Soldier Баллада о солдате soldier Cruelty Жестокость Venka Malyshev 1962 A Trip Without a Load Порожний рейс Nikolay Khromov 1965 The Cook Стряпуха Seraphim Chaika1967 The Seventh Companion Седьмой спутник Turka Don't Forget... Lugovaya Station Не забудь… станция Луговая Georgy Ryabov 1969 Dangerous Tour Опасные гастроли Maxim 1971 Officers Офицеры Alexey Trofimov 1975 It Can't Be! Не может быть! Man with a bulldog 1977 Destiny Судьба Pekarev the partizan 1979 Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears Москва слезам не верит cameo 1980 Petrovka, 38 Петровка, 38 Aleksey Pavlovich Sadchikov 1984 TASS Is Authorized to Declare... ТАСС уполномочен заявить… Ivan Belyu 1990 Stalin's Funeral Похороны Сталина Stalin's guard 1991 Loaded with Death Заряжённые смертью Savva Ilyich, sea captain

Honours and awards Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class Ushakov Medal Medal "For the Capture of Vienna" Medal "For the Capture of Budapest" Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" Honoured Artist of the RSFSR