MOSCOW, March 18 Farewell ceremony for the People's Artist of the RSFSR, actor and director Alexander Shirvindt began at the Satire Theater, the correspondent reports.
The coffin with his body was placed on the stage. Nearby there are wreaths, in particular, from President Vladimir Putin and the Ministry of Culture. Colleagues, friends, relatives and admirers of Shirvindt's work bring flowers.
“He was always so imposing, with an amazing sense of humor. He was an amazing person, with amazing purity and good humor, very fond of people and, of course, the theater,” said Evgeniy Gerasimov, chairman of the Moscow City Duma Commission on Culture and Mass Communications, artistic director of the Theater on Malaya Ordynka .
Shortly before the start of the ceremony, a huge line of people wishing to say goodbye to the artist formed at the Satire Theater. Fans lined up from the metro to the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
Alexander Shirvindt died on March 15 at the age of 90. He will be buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery.
The special representative of the Russian President for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, People's Artist of the RSFSR Vladimir Vinokur, People's Artists of Russia Yuri Nazarov and Valery Barinov, Honored Artist of Russia Hmayak Akopyan, artistic directors of the Satyricon theaters Konstantin Raikin and Hermitage theaters Mikhail Levitin also came to say goodbye to the artist , rector of the Moscow Art Theater School Igor Zolotovitsky and many others.
After the farewell ceremony, the artist’s body is cremated. The urn with his ashes will be buried at the capital's Novodevichy cemetery, the date will be chosen by the family.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the artist’s family and friends. The head of state noted that Shirvindt was an outstanding actor and director, a bright, wise and charming person, truly a legend of Russian theater and cinema. Putin added that the artist devoted himself to serving art, worked with full dedication, was open and invariably friendly to colleagues, students, and numerous admirers of his generous, unique talent.
Condolences on the death of Shirvindt were also expressed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, Special Presidential Representative for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, Chairman of the Union of Theater Workers, artistic director of the Tabakov Theater Vladimir Mashkov , Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Oleshko, People's Artist of the RSFSR Natalia Belokhvostikova and many others. They noted that Shirvindt was an era, a legend, a master of the satirical genre, a wise mentor and teacher, a brilliant artist who, by appearing on stage and on screen, transformed the space around him.
Alexander Shirvindt was born on July 19, 1934 in Moscow. After graduating from the Shchukin Theater School in 1956, he was accepted into the troupe of the Lenin Komsomol Theater (now Lenkom Mark Zakharov). Shirvindt has served at the Satire Theater since 1970, from 2000 to 2021 he was the artistic director of the theater, and in 2021 he became its president. In addition, the actor taught at the Shchukin Theater Institute. Shirvindt is widely known for his roles in films, including such films as “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”, “Three in a Boat, Not Counting the Dog,” “Circus Princess” and others.