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- Donatas Banionis was a popular Lithuanian actor known for Nobody Wanted to Die (1965), Myortvyy sezon (1968), and Solaris (1972).
He was born Donatas Juozas Banionis on April 28, 1924, in Kaunas, Lithuania. His mother, Blazhaitite-Banionene Ona, was a homemaker. His father, Juozas Banionis, was a tailor who took part in the Russian Revolution of 1917, was wounded in the Russian Civil War, then became a political prisoner, and briefly emigrated to Brasil during the 1920s. Young Banionis was raised with his elder sister during the years of Lithuanian independence before WWII.
In 1941 Donatas Banionis was hired by the famous Lithuanian theatrical director Juozas Miltinis and became an actor at the newly formed Panevezys Drama Theatre. He studied acting under Juozas Miltinis and graduated from the Panevezys Acting Studio in 1945. In 1947 Banionis made his film debut: he appeared in a cameo role in 'Marite' (1947). His first major film work was the role of adventurer Daus in 'Adomas nori buti zmogumi' (Adam Wants to Be a Man 1959) by director Vytautas Zalakevicius.
Long before becoming an acclaimed actor Banionis tried to escape from the Soviet Union at the end of the Second World War; but he failed to join his Lithuanian compatriots when they fled the Soviets. Soon the Iron curtain became impenetrable from either side. However, in 1970, as a member of an official Soviet delegation, he made his first visit to the Lithuanian community in Chicago. Then Banionis, being already a famous actor, came to realize that his former compatriots earned their good living and nice homes by working very hard from very poor beginnings. At that time, Banionis enjoyed a highly privileged life as a top film-star in the Soviet Union. He was awarded the State Prize in 1975, and was received by such Soviet leaders as Leonid Brezhnev and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Banionis earned critical acclaim for his role of Vaitkus in 'Niekas nenorejo mirti' (Nobody Wanted to Die, 1966) by director Vytautas Zalakevicius. A powerful film, it was even dubbed the "Lithuanian Seven Samurai." Banionis' tragical character Vaitkus is the undecided one among the Lithuanian "brothers in the woods", who are fighting against the Soviets after the end of the Second World War. Banionis demonstrated his range as a comedian in the comic role of a priest in 'Beregis avtomobilya' (Watch Out for the Automobile, 1966) by director Eldar Ryazanov. Banionis' sweet character blends well with the stellar ensemble of actors, such as Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Oleg Efremov, Andrey Mironov, Anatoliy Papanov, Evgeniy Evstigneev, Georgi Zhzhyonov, and other Russian film stars.
Donatas Banionis is a refined intellectual actor with effortless style. His mastery of timing, his powerful silence, and his reserved energy shines in his major film-works; such as in 'King Lear' (1969) by Grigoriy Kozintsev, in 'Solaris' (1972) by Andrei Tarkovsky, in 'Goya - oder Der arge Weg der Erkenntnis' (1971) by director Konrad Wolf, in 'Begstvo mistera Mak-Kinli' by director Mikhail Shvejtser, in 'Beethoven - Days in a Life' (1976) by director Horst Seemann, and in other films.
One of his memorable film-works is the character of a Russian spy 'Ladeinikov' in 'Myortvy Sezon' (The Dead Season, 1968) by director Savva Kulish. That film role provided Banionis with an auspicious connection. In 2004, the actor had a meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin confirmed that he made up his mind to become an intelligence officer after seeing Banionis in the role of a Russian spy.
In his later works Donatas Banionis constitutes the link between cinema of the past and contemporary Lithuanian film. He showed reserved and convincing work in the role of 'The old man' in 'Kiemas' (Courtyard, 1999), a reflective film about a Lithuanian father and his family's depressing fate in the 1970's Soviet Union. He worked with director Aleksandr Buravskiy in 'Attack on Leningrad' (2006), a film about the historic siege during the Second World War; where his acting partners are Gabriel Byrne, Mira Sorvino, Aleksandr Abdulov, Kirill Lavrov, Mikhail Efremov and others.
During his acting career spanning over sixty five years, Donatas Banionis played over 50 roles in film and on television. He also played over 100 stage roles, mainly at the Panevezys Juozas Miltinis' Drama Theatre. Banionis was designated People's Actor of the USSR (1974), and People's actor of the Lithuanian Republic (1973). He is Chevalier of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.
Donatas Banionis lived in the city of Panevezys, Lithuania. He was Honorable Citizen of Panevezys (1999). Actor died of heart related problems on 4th of September 2014 in Panevezys, Lithuania. He was ninety years old. - Ina Marija Bartaité was born on 2 May 1996. She was an actress, known for Peace to Us in Our Dreams (2015), Walden (2020) and Visions of Europe (2004). She died on 7 April 2021 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Regimantas Adomaitis was born on 31 January, 1937, in Siauliai (Lithuania). After learning in the actor's department of Lithuanian conservatory he made a debut in the theater, and spent several years in the cinema. For his career he played in the theaters Vilnius, Kaunas, Kapsukas. Worked at the motion picture studios of Lithuania, Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Latvia, Armenia, and also in Germany. Married to singer Eugenia Baerite.
- Director
- Writer
- Production Designer
Arunas Zebriunas was born on 8 August 1931 in Kaunas, Lithuania. He was a director and writer, known for The Girl and the Echo (1964), Devil's Bride (1974) and Chas polnoluniya (1988). He was married to Giedre Kaukaite. He died on 9 September 2013 in Vilnius, Lithuania.- Vytautas Sapranauskas (April 19, 1958 - April 18, 2013), was a Lithuanian comedian. comedy and drama actor of theater and cinema, and a TV host and presenter. He was one of the most talented and well known Lithuanian actors and TV faces. Vitautas graduated form the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1980. Until 1990 he was affiliated with the Russian Drama Theatre. Since 1990 he was with the Vilnius Small Theatre. And then - with Domino theater in Vilnius. He acted in a number of films and theater plays, both during the Soviet times and in independent Lithuania. Apart from that he was also touring with his standing comedy project ''Humor Club'' (''Humoro klubas''), dubbed lots of animated movies to Lithuanian language, such as ''Ratatouille (2007), ''Ice Age III'', ''Garfield'', ''Racing Stripes''(2005) and many others. He was also the face of men's fashion brand Pierre Cardin in Lithuania. He committed suicide just before his 55th birthday, leaving all the country in shock as no one ever expected such a step from a man known as one of the most successful and respected actors and comedians.
- Sound Department
Léo Banderet was born on 25 July 1990 in Les Lilas, Seine-Saint-Denis, France. Léo is known for The Blue Room (2014), Eastern Boys (2013) and The Innocents (2016). Léo died on 22 May 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania.- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Vytautas Zalakevicius was a notable Lithuanian director, best known for his film Nobody Wanted to Die (1965).
He was born Vytautas Prano Zalakevicius on April 14, 1930, in Kaunas, Lithuania. From 1948-1950 he studied to become an engineer at the Kaunas State University. He then went to Moscow and studied directing at the Soviet State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). His teachers were Mikheil Chiaureli and Grigoriy Aleksandrov. Zalakevivius was able to develop his own highly original style during the political changes in the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. At that time many intellectuals expressed their new ideas, because Nikita Khrushchev initiated the policy of openness and de-Stalinization known as the Khrushchev's Thaw. Zalakevicius graduated from VGIK in 1956 as director, making his first short film 'Skenduolis' (Drowned 1956) as his graduation work.
His first independent full-length feature film was 'Adomas nori buti zmogumi' (Adam Wants to Be a Man 1959). It immediately became a sensation. Zalakevicius demonstrated his experimental approach as a writer-director and achieved an uncommon result. His work with such actors, as Donatas Banionis and Juozas Miltinis brought him his first big success. His best known film was 'Niekas nenorejo mirti' (Nobody Wanted to Die 1965) starring Donatas Banionis, Regimantas Adomaitis, Vija Artmane, Juozas Budraitis, Algimantas Masiulis and other Lithuanian actors. Zalakevicius made a powerful film, it was even dubbed the "Lithuanian Seven Samurai." It shows dramatic events in a small Lithuanian farming community, where people are split between the Soviets and the "brothers in the woods", who are fighting to defend their land from the Soviets after the end of the Second World War.
Zalakevicius was the winner of the 1973 Gold Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival for 'Eto sladkoe slovo: Svoboda!' (That Sweet Word: Liberty! 1973). But the film caused a mixed reaction, being just a mere political propaganda of the Chilean revolution. From 1974-1980, Zalakevicius worked at the Mosfilm Studios in Moscow. His Moscow period was less productive and he eventually returned to Lithuania. During the 1980s and 1990s, Zalakevicius was up to the challenges of the unstable and turbulent years during and after the collapse of the Soviet Union. His later career was devoted to establishing of the newly independent Lithuanian film industry. His last work was a screenplay for 'Elze's Life' (2000), a period film about the history of Lithuanian and German relationship, directed by his student, Algimantas Puipa. It was an artistic effort of reconciliation with the national identity, and partition from the Soviet past. Zalakevicius was one of the most provocative and controversial figures in the Lithuanian film. He usually wrote the screenplays for most of his films. He occasionally did television work as well.
Vytautas Zalakevicius was honored with titles of People's Artist of the Lithuanian Republic (1981) and People's Artist of Russia (1980). He was artistic Director of Lithuanian Film Studio, and Vice-Chairman of the Lithuanian State Committee for Cinematography. He also taught film directing in Moscow and in Vilnius, and several of his students became established filmmakers. Vytautas Zalakevicius was married to Russian actress Irina Miroshnichenko. He died of natural causes on November 12, 1996, in Vilnius, and was laid to rest in Vilnius, Luthuania.- Actor
- Writer
- Stunts
Talgat Nigmatulin was born on 5 March 1949 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. He was an actor and writer, known for Pirates of the 20th Century (1980), Odin i bez oruzhiya (1984) and Vstrechi i rasstavaniya (1973). He was married to Larissa Kandalova, Halima Hasanova and Venera Nigmatulina. He died on 11 February 1985 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR [now Lithuania].- Vitautas Tomkus was borne on 29 June, 1940, in Radviliskis (Lithuania). After learning in the actor's department of Lithuanian conservatory he makes a debut in the theater, and then in the cinema. For his career he played in the theaters Vilnius, Kaunas, Shyaulyay. In the cinema the first extensive work took place in the film "Nikto ne khotel umirat" (1966). Besides Lithuania he worked at the motion picture studios of Russia, Belorussia, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Armenia. Among the roles: Mertvyi sezon (1968); Povorot (1969); Byt lishnim (1976); Eralashnyi reis (1977); Sumka inkassatora (1977); Rally (1979); Ranenaya tishina (1979); Tri dnya na razmyshlenie (1980, TV); Belyi tanets (1981); Ynost geniya (1982); Vorobei na ldu (1983); Gonka veka (1986); Gosudarstvennaya granitsa, film seventh (1988, TV); S.E.R. (1989); Putniki zemli (1992).
- Arunas Storpirstis was born on 2 September 1950 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR [now Vilnius, Lithuania]. He was an actor, known for Mieganciu drugeliu tvirtove (2012), The Dead Ships Island (1987) and Deystvuy po obstanovke! (1985). He was married to Dalia Storyk. He died on 6 November 2018 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Algirdas Paulavicius was born on 27 October 1943 in Kedainiai, Litovskaya SSR, USSR. He was an actor, known for The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2013), Nerami rudens diena (1975) and Ekskursante (2013). He died on 23 November 2020 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Raimondas Vabalas was born on 5 March 1937 in Paris, France. He was a director and writer, known for June, the Beginning of Summer (1969), Miskais ateina ruduo (1989) and Akmuo ant akmens (1971). He died on 25 December 2001 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Ferdinandas Jaksys was an actor, known for War & Peace (2016), Endhauzo paslaptis (1981) and Elze Is Gilijos (2000). He was married to Marija Rose Jaksiene. He died on 15 September 2022 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Gediminas Girdvainis was born on 19 January 1944 in Kretinga, Litovskaya SSR, USSR. He was an actor, known for Defiance (2008), Gimines. Po dvidesimties metu (2011) and Moon Rainbow (1983). He was married to Kristina Andrejauskaite. He died on 3 June 2020 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Jakub Zaklukiewicz was born on 25 September 1949 in Trzebinia, Malopolskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Stan wewnetrzny (1989), Na klopoty... Bednarski (1986) and Wkrótce nadejda bracia (1986). He died on 17 November 1998 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Rokas Zilinskas was born on 20 July 1972 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR. He died on 6 June 2017 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Romualdas Granauskas was born on 18 May 1939 in Mazeikiai, Lithuania. He was a writer, known for Vasara baigiasi rudeni (1981), Gyvenimas po klevu (1988) and Sodybu tustejimo metas (1976). He died on 28 October 2014 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Juozas Kiselius is a Soviet and Lithuanian theater and film actor.
Juozas was born in the small Lithuanian town of Ionishkis into a family of employees. During his school years, he participated in amateur performances, in 1967 he entered the Vilnius Conservatory at the acting department. Upon completion of the course, starting in 1972, he worked at the State Academic Drama Theater of the Lithuanian SSR.
In 1974, Kiselius made his film debut, starring in the film Zvangutis (1974). Then there were Sodybu tustejimo metas (1976) and Virto azuolai (1976). In 1977, he was invited to play the lead role in the film Surma hinda küsi surnutelt (1977). Great popularity came after the film Dolgaya doroga v dyunakh (1982) directed by Aloizs Brencs. - Laimonas Noreika was born on 27 September 1926 in Joniskis, Lithuania. He was an actor, known for Treasure Island (1972), War and Peace (2007) and Eksperiment doktora Absta (1969). He died on 31 May 2007 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Zula Pogorzelska was born in 1896 in Yevpatoria, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire [now Crimea, Ukraine]. She was an actress, known for Sto metrów milosci (1932), Niebezpieczny romans (1930) and Zabawka (1933). She was married to Konrad Tom. She died on 10 February 1936 in Wilno, Wilenskie, Poland [now Vilnius, Lithuania].
- Rimgaudas Karvelis was born on 8 July 1933 in Kaunas, Lithuania. He was an actor, known for Defiance (2008), The Keeper of Time (2004) and Zingsniai nakti (1962). He died on 19 August 2019 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Romualdas Juknevicius was born on 18 March 1906 in Sankt Peterburg, Russian Empire. He was an actor, known for Julius Janonis (1959). He was married to Ona Knapkyte. He died on 13 April 1963 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR.
- Dalius Mertinas was born on 21 December 1961 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR [now Lithuania]. He was an actor, known for Defiance (2008), Gangstery v okeane (1991) and Miskais ateina ruduo (1989). He died on 4 May 2017 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Vilius Petrauskas was born on 20 January 1938 in Lithuania. He was an actor, known for The Invisible Man (1985), Tadas Blinda (1972) and Gyvenimas po klevu (1988). He died on 11 April 2013 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Algimantas Masiulis was born on 10 July 1931 in Surdegis, Anyksciu, Lithuania. He was an actor, known for Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat (1975), The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe (1983) and Treasure Island (1972). He died on 19 August 2008 in Vilnius, Lithuania.