Aleksandr Adabashyan


Aleksandr Artyomovich Adabashyan is Soviet and Russian film writer, artist, director and actor. Honored Artist of the RSFSR. Honored Artist of Russia.

Biography

Born in Moscow into a russified Armenian family of Artyom Adabashyan, an official at the Ministry of Construction Industry, and Valentina Barkhudarova, a teacher of German language. According to Aleksandr, he was raised inside the Russian culture, he doesn't speak Armenian language and he visited Yerevan only twice in his life. In 1962 he enrolled in the Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry, and in 1964 he went to serve in the army. In three years he returned and finished the art courses.
As a student he got acquainted with Nikita Mikhalkov and participated in his diploma film A Quite Day at the End of the War as a decorator. After that he turned into a regular Mikhalkov's collaborator, taking part in the majority of his movies as an art director, artist, screenwriter and actor. He also constantly worked with other film directors such as Georgiy Daneliya, Andrei Konchalovsky, Sergei Solovyov and Dunya Smirnova.
He directed two movies on his own: Mado, poste restante and Azazel mini-series, the first adaptation of Erast Fandorin's adventures. In addition, he made a career as a comedy actor, most famously portraying Barrymore in The Hound of the Baskervilles Soviet adaptation, also alongside Nikita Mikhalkov. Among his other notable roles is Timofeev in Five Evenings and Berlioz in The Master and Margarita.
Between 1997 and 1998 Adabashyan directed two operas: Boris Godunov for the Mariinsky Theatre and Khovanshchina for the La Scala opera house. He also worked as an interior designer in several Moscow restaurants.
Adabashyan has been married twice. His first wife was Marina Lebesheva, the sister of the acclaimed Russian cinematographer Pavel Lebeshev. His second wife is Ekaterina Shadrina, an assistant costume designer who also appeared in a small role in Mikhalkov's At Home Among Strangers. Together they have two daughters.

Awards

YearTitle----
YearTitleRoleScreenwriterArtistDirector
1970A Calm Day at the End of the War
1974At Home Among StrangersBrylov's messenger / nobleman
1975A Slave of Lovefilm director
1977An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano
1978Siberiadedealer
1978Five EveningsTimofeev
1979A Few Days from the Life of I.I. Oblomovepisode
1981Family RelationsSanya the waiter / glazier
1981The Hound of the BaskervillesBarrymore
1982Flights in Dreams and Realitysculpture
1983Without Witness
1986Guard Me, My TalismanMonsieur Dardye
1987Dark Eyesmedical staff
1990Mado, poste restante
1993Nastyaofficial
1994Like Two Crocodiles
2002Azazelepisode
2004Fort Boyard Fouras
2005The Master and MargaritaBerlioz
200712bailiff
2008The GhostAlexandr the editor
2008Plus Onea man by the stall
2008Fathers and Sons
2010Burnt by the Sun 2Igor the official
2013Ku! Kin-dza-dzaAbradox
2013Sherlock Holmeseditor
2013Pyotr Leschenko. Everything That Was...Paul
2014Sunstrokecameraman
2016The Heritage of LoveLev Chizh
2016Once Upon a Time There Were WeDanila