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Ostap StupkaUkrainian actor, People's Artist of Ukraine.
Date of Birth: 02.09.1967
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Biography of Ostap Stupka
Ostap Bogdanovych Stupka is a Ukrainian actor, a People's Artist of Ukraine. He was born in Lviv, Ukraine, into a family of famous artists. His grandfather, Sylvestr Stupka, was an opera singer, and his father, Bogdan Stupka, was a renowned actor known for his roles in "Taras Bulba" and "Heart on the Palm." His mother, Larisa Kornienko, was a ballet dancer in the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre. Growing up, Ostap spent his childhood behind the scenes of various theaters where his parents performed. He often traveled with his mother to film sets to visit his father. At the age of five, he was deeply impressed by a trip to the Carpathian Mountains, where his father was filming "White Bird with a Black Mark." From an early age, Ostap had a passion for acting, particularly for makeup. He would secretly paint himself as Spartacus or other ancient heroes, drawing scars and wrinkles, and then improvise, composing dances and actions on the spot. He made his first appearance on a big stage at a young age when the Lviv Theatre went on tour to Odessa, and Ostap Stupka, along with other children of the actors, portrayed animals in the ballet "The Creation of the World." He also developed a taste for music and learned to play the cello. Although he didn't particularly enjoy the lessons, he obeyed his grandfather, who took him to a music school. When Ostap was 12 years old, his family moved to Kyiv, where he fully committed to pursuing a career in acting and joined a theater group led by Alexey Kuzhelny. The group was even invited to participate in children's television programs. After finishing school, Ostap enrolled at the Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema, and Television, where he studied under Boris Stavitsky until 1988. After graduating, he joined the experimental theater "Kin," but only worked there for two months. A year later, Stupka became an actor at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre in Kyiv, where he performed in 35 plays over the years.
Television
Ostap Stupka also appeared on television. He became a television presenter for the intellectual entertainment program "The First Million" on the Ukrainian channel "1+1," which is an equivalent to the popular show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" He also hosted the program "Beat the Host" on the same channel. On ICTV, he hosted the reality show "The Last Hero" and the documentary program "Famous Criminals." Stupka was also invited to participate as a contestant in the third season of "Dancing with the Stars," where he danced with the dancer Daria Dovgaleva. In 2006, he received the "Teletriumph" award for "Most Popular Television Presenter of the Year."
Film
Ostap Stupka made his film debut in the romantic comedy "Grooms" directed by Stanislav Klimenko. After a promising start, he appeared in over 30 films, but he always prioritized his work in the theater. His filmography includes notable historical dramas such as "Bohdan-Zynoviy Khmelnytsky," where he played Timosha, the son of the famous hetman; "A Prayer for Hetman Mazepa," where he portrayed Philipp Orlik, Mazepa's right-hand man and general secretary; and "Taras Bulba," an epic adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's novel, in which Stupka played the role of the Cossack Vertikhvost. It is interesting to note that his father, Bogdan Stupka, also appeared in all these films. In 2008, Ostap joined the main cast of the series "Kuplyu Druga," where he played Artem, the son of Kim Sychov (Bogdan Stupka). He also appeared in the war drama film "We Are from the Future 2" in 2010, alongside his son Dmitry. In 2011, he starred in the historical drama "Match," based on real events, which tells the story of a "death match" between Soviet football players and a team of Luftwaffe pilots in occupied Kyiv in 1942. In recent years, Ostap Stupka has continued to work in both Ukrainian and international film projects, including Polish thriller "Ether" in 2018 and historical drama "Kruty 1918" in 2019.
Personal Life
Ostap Stupka has been married three times. His first marriage was at the age of 18 when he discovered that his girlfriend Tatyana, who was studying with him at the theater university, was pregnant. The young couple got married, and in 1985, they welcomed their son Dmitry Stupka, who later followed in his parents' footsteps and became an actor. After the theater university, Dmitry joined the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre in Kyiv, and Ostap has a daughter named Bohdana with his wife Polina. However, their marriage ended shortly after the death of Bogdan Stupka, and Ostap filed for divorce. In 2015, Ostap married for the third time to Daria, a theater student who is 20 years his junior.
Current Endeavors
Currently, Ostap Stupka is less frequently seen in Ukrainian projects. He explains that Ukrainian TV series are mainly aimed at Russian audiences, and most roles are given to Russian actors who command higher salaries than local performers. Despite this, Stupka remains in demand in the theater and actively collaborates with European filmmakers, appearing in feature films. In 2018, he participated in the Polish thriller "Ether" and the historical film "Kruty 1918." Stupka's political views have made him somewhat of an outcast in the television industry, as he publicly supports the Ukrainian government and the actions of the Anti-Terrorist Operation forces. He continues to work on his craft and explore new opportunities in both theater and film.
