Baghashvili Spartak

Spartak Baghashvili (7 August 1914, Tbilisi—1 February 1977, Tbilisi) was a Georgian actor. He was named People's Artist of Georgia in 1963 and won the Stalin Prize in 1941.

He graduated from the Tbilisi Forestry Institute in 1937 and the Acting School at the Tbilisi Film Studio in 1944. He was invited to the cinema by director M. Chiaureli to play the role of the national hero Arsen Odzelashvili in the film “Arsena” (1937). Following his successful debut, he portrayed heroic-romantic characters in the same director's films: Didi Gantiadi [Great Dawn] (as Giorgi Ghudushauri in 1938; won the Stalin Prize in 1941) and Giorgi Saakadze (as Luarsab II, 1942-43). During this period, he also appeared in K. Pipinashvili's films Kajana (as Vano, the village teacher, 1941) and The Poet’s Cradle (playing three roles: Vazha-Pshavela, a miller, and a foster father, 1947). After a long break, he returned to the screen with a leading role in the film White Caravan (directed by T. Meliava and E. Shengelaia, 1963), where he portrayed a shepherd, Martia. In the following years, he played notable characters such as the Khevisberi (“Khevisberi Gocha,” directed by N. Sanishvili, 1964), Yuri Malfari (The Ghosts of Forgotten Ancestors, directed by S. Parajanov, 1964, Ukraine), Mindia and Ghvtisia (Vedreba, directed by T. Abuladze, 1967), the poet's father (“The Color of Pomegranate,” directed by S. Parajanov, 1968, Armenia), Lukaia (“I See the Sun,” directed by L. Ghoghoberidze, 1965), Kalundauri (“The Right Hand of the Great Master,” directed by V. Tablishvili, D. Abashidze, 1970), and others. He also appeared in the following films: “The Torches of Colchis” (directed by D. Rondeli, 1940), “The Flood” (directed by T. Goshadze, 1970), “The Refection” (directed by O. Abesadze, 1974), and others.

As an actor, he had a remarkable ability for transformation. The characters portrayed by Baghashvili were distinguished by sincerity and emotional depth. He was known for his excellent diction.

He received numerous state awards and was buried at the Didube Pantheon of Public Figures in Tbilisi.

Literature: Р о н д е л и Л., Спартак Багашвили, М. 1966.

M. Kereselidze