Semyon Farada
Encyclopedia
Semyon L'vovich Ferdman, better known by his stage name
Semyon Farada ' onMouseout='HidePop("92096")' href="/topics/Moscow_Oblast">Moscow Oblast
, USSR - died August 20, 2009 in Moscow
) was a Soviet and Russian
stage and film actor.
family of Army officer Lev Ferdman and pharmacist
Ida Shuman. His father died when Semyon was 14. Later he tried to pursue a military career but failed the physical test at the Tank Forces School. He applied to Bauman Moscow State Technical University (then MVTU) and barely passed the exams; after three years in the classes he was drafted into the Baltic Fleet
where he served for four years. The navy noticed Ferdman's artistic talent and assigned him to the garrison theatre in Baltiysk
. There while playing the part of a long-haired anarchist on stage, he was the only Baltic Fleet sailor allowed to wear long hair.
. A studio manager refused to insert a Jewish surname, Ferdman, into film credits, and when Ferdman pressed him to "just invent some charade
" , found nothing better than Sharada Farada
. Farada stuck with the actor.
In 1972, after authorities shut down the Rozovsky theatre, Yury Lyubimov recruited Farada to work at the Taganka Theatre
with whom he remained until his death. Farada played in more than 70 films, notably with directors Mark Zakharov
, Eldar Ryazanov
and Aleksey German.
A stroke
in June 2000 after the funeral of his friend, playwright Grigory Gorin, forced Farada to retire from acting. He was married to actress Maria Politseimako and was father of actor Mikhail Politseimako, who both supported him in his final years.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Semyon Farada ' onMouseout='HidePop("92096")' href="/topics/Moscow_Oblast">Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
, USSR - died August 20, 2009 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was a Soviet and Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
stage and film actor.
Early life
Ferdman was born into the JewishJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
family of Army officer Lev Ferdman and pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
Ida Shuman. His father died when Semyon was 14. Later he tried to pursue a military career but failed the physical test at the Tank Forces School. He applied to Bauman Moscow State Technical University (then MVTU) and barely passed the exams; after three years in the classes he was drafted into the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
where he served for four years. The navy noticed Ferdman's artistic talent and assigned him to the garrison theatre in Baltiysk
Baltiysk
Baltiysk , prior to 1945 known by its German name Pillau , is a seaport town and the administrative center of Baltiysky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, located on the northern part of the Vistula Spit, on the shore of the Strait of Baltiysk separating the Vistula Bay from the Gdańsk Bay. Baltiysk...
. There while playing the part of a long-haired anarchist on stage, he was the only Baltic Fleet sailor allowed to wear long hair.
Career
The navy provided Ferdman with recommendations to Moscow theatre directors, but he obeyed his mother's will and completed his courses at Bauman University, graduating in 1962. He worked as a mechanical engineer until 1969, and played as an amateur with Mark Rozovsky company based at Moscow University. Ferdman first appeared on screen in 1967. His stage name Farada was a nickname that emerged in one of his early filming tours of Central AsiaCentral Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. A studio manager refused to insert a Jewish surname, Ferdman, into film credits, and when Ferdman pressed him to "just invent some charade
Charades
Charades or charade is a word guessing game. In the form most played today, it is an acting game in which one player acts out a word or phrase, often by pantomiming similar-sounding words, and the other players guess the word or phrase. The idea is to use physical rather than verbal language to...
" , found nothing better than Sharada Farada
Reduplication
Reduplication in linguistics is a morphological process in which the root or stem of a word is repeated exactly or with a slight change....
. Farada stuck with the actor.
In 1972, after authorities shut down the Rozovsky theatre, Yury Lyubimov recruited Farada to work at the Taganka Theatre
Taganka Theatre
Taganka Theatre is a theater located in the Art Nouveau building on Taganka Square in Moscow. The theatre was founded in 1964 by Yuri Lyubimov and continued the traditions of his alma mater, the Vakhtangov Theatre, while also exploring the possibilities of Bertolt Brecht's "epic theatre".Under...
with whom he remained until his death. Farada played in more than 70 films, notably with directors Mark Zakharov
Mark Zakharov
Mark Anatolyevich Zakharov is a Soviet and Russian theatrical director and playwright. He was also a professor of the Moscow Theatre Institute ....
, Eldar Ryazanov
Eldar Ryazanov
Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov is a Soviet/Russian film director whose comedies, satirizing the daily life of the country, are very famous throughout the former Soviet Union....
and Aleksey German.
A stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in June 2000 after the funeral of his friend, playwright Grigory Gorin, forced Farada to retire from acting. He was married to actress Maria Politseimako and was father of actor Mikhail Politseimako, who both supported him in his final years.
Filmography
- The Very Same MunchhausenThe Very Same MunchhausenThe Very Same Munchausen is a 1979 Soviet television movie directed by Mark Zakharov, based on a script by Grigoriy Gorin. The film relays the story of the baron's life after the adventures portrayed in the book, particularly his struggle to prove himself sane...
- CharodeyCharodeyCharodei is a 1982 Soviet film directed by Konstantin Bromberg, loosely based on the science fantasy novel Monday Begins on Saturday by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky....
- Adventures of Captain VrungelAdventures of Captain VrungelAdventures of Captain Vrungel is a 1981 Soviet musical adventure animation film by David Cherkassky, Kievnauchfilm, loosely based on the novel with the same name by Andrey Nekrasov...
- Formula of LoveFormula of Love (film)Formula of Love is a 1984 Soviet film directed by Mark Zakharov, from a screenplay by Grigori Gorin loosely based on the story "Count Cagliostro" by Aleksei Tolstoy.- Cast :* Nodar Mgaloblishvili as Count Cagliostro...
- The GarageThe GarageThe Garage may refer to:Places*The Garage , a small shopping center located in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts*The Garage , a large night club located in Glasgow, Scotland...
(film)