Moldovan president signs obituary in memory of departed famous actor of Moldova

Chisinau, 30 January /MOLDPRES/ - President Igor Dodon has signed an obituary in the memory of departed actor Ion Ungureanu, the presidential press service has reported.   

The obituary reads:

“MP of the first Moldova’s parliament, culture and cults minister, distinguished man of culture and art Ion Ungureanu died on 28 January 2017.”

The passing away of the great actor and stage manager leaves a huge void in the souls of those who loved him. Trecerea în eternitate a marelui actor și regizor lasă un gol imens în sufletele celor care l-au îndrăgit.

Ion Ungureanu was born in the Opaci village, Causeni district, on 2 August 1935. After finishing the general school, he studied at the Ion Creanga Pedagogical Institute from Chisinau, Philology Faculty (1952-1955). In 1955-1960, Ungureanu studied at the Moscow-based Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute. He took high courses of stage management under the A.V. Lunacharsky Institute of Cinematographic Art from Moscow in 1963-1964.     

Ion Ungureanu started working in the theatrical art field at the Chisinau-based Luceafarul Theatre in 1960, acting as first stage manager in 1964-1971.

Ungureanu began his activity in cinematography in 1958 with a movie „Cînd omul nu-i la locul lui” (When a Man is Not at His/Her Place) – the first feature film made at the studio Moldova-film. Ungureanu played in 25 movies; his best known parts are the ones of Boris Gradinaru from When a Man is Not at His/Her Place (1958) and Saint Peter from „Se caută un paznic” (A Guard is Sought) (1967), as well as of the film „Favoritul” (The Favourite) (1976). He also directed more movies at the Moscow-based central television.       

Ion Ungureanu returned to the Moldovan Soviet Republic in 1989. After the declaration of Moldova’s Independence, Ungureanu acted as culture and cults minister in 1990-1994. He was a member of the Moldovan Writers’ Union. Ungureanu published the volume „Teatrul vieții mele în trei acte și fără antracte”  (The Theatre of My Life in Three Acts and without Intervals).  

For his exceptional merits, Ion Ungureanu received the title of Merited Master of Arts of Russian Federation (1981), People’s Artist of the Moldovan Soviet Republic (1989). He was Knight of the Order of the Republic (2009), Laureate of the National Prize (1990) and of the Intervidenie Prize for a made-for-TV-film Lika (Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1981).   

Ion Ungureanu was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Moldova’s Academy of Sciences for substantial contribution brought to developing the theatrical art, as actor and stage manager, the promotion of the national art abroad.

We express sincere condolences to the family, relatives, friends, fellow artists and all those who knew and valued him.

May he rest in peace.”

(Editor M. Jantovan)