Aleksei Fomkin

Date of Birth: 30th August 1969
Details of Death: 24th February 1996
Country of Birth: Soviet Union

Biography

Born Aleksei Leonidovich Fomkin in Moscow, Aleksei was to make a television appearance in 1982 during a live broadcast of a speech of then-Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, only three days before Brezhnev's death. After the speech, several Young Pioneers recited poems and sang songs, and among them was Aleksei! Aleksei began his career in earnest when he screen-tested for a film; and, although he didn't get the part, his photo was kept in the studio files. This led to his being invited to appear in the children's TV series "Yeralash", in which he became a recurring character (his first episode being No. 36, in which he appeared in the sketch "Auction"). Director Pavel Arsenov then offered him the lead male role in "Guest from the Future". This led to three further films; but after his last acting role in 1987, Aleksei didn't receive any further offers even after some months, and so enlisted in the army. After leaving the army, he got a job at the Gorky Moscow Art Theatre, but was dismissed after three months for systematic absenteeism. Aleksei had persistent problems with drug addiction, and in order to tackle this he left Moscow for the small village of Bezvodnoye where he got a job as a miller and met his future wife Lena. On the 24 February 1996, his life was cut short due to an apartment fire, the smoke from which caused him to suffocate.

Notes

• Aleksei was credited as Alyosha Fomkin in the role for which he is most fondly remembered, as Kolya in the TV miniseries "Guest from the Future".
• Aleksei was a recurring character in the TV series "Yeralash" between 1982 and 1985, appearing in episodes 36, 37, 40, 43, 49 and 50.