Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
| Feodor Chaliapin Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Фёдор Фёдорович Шаля́пин (Fëdor Fëdorovich Shalyápin) |
| Born |
October 6, 1905 Moscow |
| Died | September 17, 1992 (aged 86) Rome |
| Cause of death | Natural causes |
| Occupation | Film actor |
| Years active | 1921–1987 |
Feodor Chaliapin Jr. (Russian: Фёдор Фёдорович Шаля́пин; October 6, 1905 – September 17, 1992) was a Russian-born actor who appeared in many American and Italian films.
Chaliapin was the son and namesake of operatic bass Feodor Chaliapin. He was born in Moscow, Russia, and had a distinguished career in acting throughout Europe, mainly in Italy. His mother was Iola Tornagi, a noted ballerina who quit ballet and acting to take care of Feodor and his five siblings. When the Russian Revolution came, the Chaliapins attempted to continue to live in Russia, but things became impossible, especially after the Bolsheviks reputedly confiscated his father's property. Along with many other Russian émigrés, part of the family immigrated to Paris in 1924, via Finland. The senior Chaliapin used this as his world base, like other emigres and members of their families who often ended up living in the United States such as Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff and, for a while, Sergei Prokofiev.
Chaliapin grew up in a family who spoke three languages. He received an excellent education in Moscow and lived there until 1924, when he immigrated to Paris to be with his father, leaving behind his mother and the rest of the family. Chaliapin knew some of the greatest composers and conductors of the 20th century, particularly Rachmaninoff, a personal family friend and teacher of his father. Tired of living in his father's shadow in Paris, Chaliapin struck out on his own, moving to Hollywood to begin his film career — first in silent movies, in which his then-heavy accent would not be heard in the small bit parts he played. In his later years, Chaliapin achieved international stardom in more major roles.
Chaliapin is perhaps most remembered by modern audiences in the classic The Name of the Rose (1986), in which he played the venerable Jorge de Burgos. He had a major role in Inferno (1980). He also had one of his most memorable roles as the perplexed grandfather in Moonstruck (1987) with Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis and Danny Aiello. The producers, in deciding whether to hire him for the role, sought the advice of Sean Connery, who is reputed to have said, "He's great, but he will steal the show." Chaliapin also played the role of Leonides Cox, Robert De Niro's father in Stanley & Iris (1990). His last notable film role was as Professor Bartnev in The Inner Circle (1991), a true story about Soviet Russia under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. However, none of Chaliapin's other films have achieved the glory for him that Moonstruck did.
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