Nikolay Grinko

Nikolay Grinko

Ukrainian actor
Date of Birth: 22.05.1920
Country: Ukraine

Content:
  1. Childhood and the Beginning
  2. War Interlude
  3. Post-War Career
  4. Breakthrough and Acclaim
  5. Work at "Mosfilm"
  6. Andrei Tarkovsky's Films
  7. Later Career
  8. Legacy

Childhood and the Beginning

Nikolai Grinko, a Ukrainian actor, was born into a theatrical family in Kherson. His parents performed with the Worker-Peasant Traveling Theater. From a young age, Grinko knew that he too would become an actor.

War Interlude

War intervened with Grinko's theatrical aspirations. He served as a gunner-radio operator on long-range bombers and became a Komsomol organizer for his regiment.

Post-War Career

After the war, Grinko pursued his acting dream. Beginning in 1946, he worked as an assistant director and later as an actor in theaters in Zaporizhia and Uzhgorod. By 1955, he had become the artistic director of the Kiev Estrada Orchestra "Dnipro."

In 1951, Grinko made his film debut in a minor role in Igor Savchenko's "Taras Shevchenko." However, he had limited screen time for the next decade.

Breakthrough and Acclaim

Grinko's breakthrough came in 1961, playing a Soviet soldier in Alexander Alov and Vladimir Naumov's "Peace to the Incoming." When the film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, American critics were stunned by the brilliant performance of the "eccentric American" character. That American was Grinko, whose role adorned the film.

In 1963, Grinko became an actor at the Dovzhenko Film Studio and fully transitioned to cinema from the following year. However, opportunities at his home studio were scarce, with only a few notable roles in films such as "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" and "The Lost Squadron." His screenplay adaptation of Ivan Franko's "Stolen Happiness" languished for six years and was ultimately shelved. He also missed out on playing Don Quixote.

Work at "Mosfilm"

Grinko's most significant work was done at "Mosfilm." He played a diverse range of characters, from partisans and peasants to superiors and subordinates, foreigners, scientists, monks, teachers, and fathers.

Andrei Tarkovsky's Films

Grinko had a unique bond with director Andrei Tarkovsky. He appeared in all of Tarkovsky's "Russian" films, beginning with the role of Gryaznov in "Ivan's Childhood" (1962). He played the pivotal role of Daniil Cherny in "Andrei Rublev" (1966), followed by Father Kris in "Solaris" (1972) and a role in "The Mirror" (1975).

Tarkovsky's films showcased Grinko's ability to portray kind and gentle characters with depth and authenticity. Anatoliy Solonitsyn, who played Rublev, affectionately called Grinko "Father Grinko." Tarkovsky himself considered Grinko his favorite actor.

Perhaps Grinko's most profound performance came in Tarkovsky's "Stalker" (1979). As the Professor, he symbolized science and embarked on a journey with the Writer (Solonitsyn), who represented culture. Their quest into the Zone explored themes of faith, skepticism, and the human condition.

Later Career

In the 1970s, Grinko's comedic talents blossomed. He excelled in children's films, showcasing his physical agility and singing skills. He became iconic as Papa Carlo in "Buratino's Adventures" and played dual roles in the musical comedy "A Car, a Violin, and a Dog named Blot."

Other notable films from this period include "Afonya," "The Lost Expedition," "Twenty Days Without War," "One Hundred Grams for Courage," and "The Adventures of Electronik."

Legacy

Over almost four decades in cinema, Nikolai Grinko graced over a hundred films with his versatile performances. He worked with legendary directors and contributed to the golden treasury of Russian and international cinema.

© BIOGRAPHS