Philipp Yankovsky is more than just a name in the acting community. He is a whole creative dynasty founded by the legend of the Soviet screen Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky. His son, Philipp, did not remain in his father's shadow but grew into a unique artist and director.
In recent years, Philipp's life has been a constant test of strength: a forced life between two homes and a terrible illness that, fortunately, he managed to overcome, writes spleten.net.
"Son of a Great Father"
Philipp grew up in a famous acting family. His father is the legendary Oleg Yankovsky, and his mother is the well-known actress Lyudmila Zorina. As a preschooler, he first appeared on the set of Andrei Tarkovsky's film "Mirror." "I am the only child in the family; my dad and mom loved me very much. Despite his busy schedule, my father was very caring: he always called, asked about my life, and participated in it," Philipp recounted. Choosing a profession and enrolling in VGIK was a logical step for him, but for a long time, he remained the "son of a great father" to many.
Over time, this label began to fade, and Oleg Tabakov helped Philipp with that. "I learned more for my profession from him than from my father. Dad is dad; he certainly helped with some advice, he is also my teacher, but not to the same extent as Oleg Pavlovich," the artist said. In 2009, Philipp experienced a devastating loss — his father, the People's Artist of the USSR Oleg Yankovsky, passed away from cancer. Ten years later, Philipp took a bold step — he decided to produce a documentary film titled "Yankovsky." However, the work, which became a tribute to his father, was incredibly difficult for him.
One and Only Marriage
The most interesting part of Philipp's life began in 1988 when she appeared in his life — Oksana Fandera. The young Ukrainian actress captured his heart from their very first meeting. Their romance developed quickly: within a month, Philipp proposed to his beloved, and in 1990 they got married. Oksana initially worried about how the famous Yankovsky family would accept her. But her fears turned out to be unfounded — Oleg and Lyudmila warmly welcomed their daughter-in-law. The family became even closer with the birth of their children: in 1990, their son Ivan was born, and five years later, their daughter Liza.
Their marriage, like any long union, was not only roses. The first serious test was the birth of their son Ivan — the baby was born prematurely, and the first months of his life were a time of anxiety and hope for the parents. Fortunately, Ivan grew stronger and became healthy. Years later, new challenges came from the press. After the release of the film "Pro Lyuboff" in 2010, rumors began to circulate about Oksana's affair with Fyodor Bondarchuk — their on-screen chemistry was so convincing that viewers were ready to believe in the reality of these feelings.
The couple then jointly denied the gossip. Philipp was not spared similar suspicions either. Back in the early 2000s, while working on the film "In Motion," the media attributed a romance to him with his co-star Elena Perova. But that too turned out to be just rumors.
"I Never Torment Philipp"
The secret to their long marriage is simple — mutual trust and freedom. In an interview with Hello! magazine, Oksana once explained her position: she consciously gives Philipp complete freedom because she wants him to be with her out of desire, not obligation. "I never torment Philipp with jealousy or suspicion. I don’t clarify relationships, I don’t dictate my terms, I don’t set ultimatums, understanding that a creative person must be free," the actress shares. They also have a rule — not to mix personal and work matters. Oksana never takes offense if her husband does not offer her roles in his films. She understands that true talent should prevail in creativity, not family agreements.
"I clearly understand: if the director doesn’t offer — it means he simply doesn’t see me there. And, to be honest, Philipp, with great reluctance, it felt like, took me in his films. It turned out that I was rescuing either him or the actress every time," Fandera said. The parents always rejoiced at seeing their children. Their son, Ivan Yankovsky, has long ceased to be just the "son of famous parents" — he is now spoken of as one of the most interesting actors of his generation. Their daughter Liza has also found her place in cinema. She not only acts in films but also tries her hand at directing.
Stage III Cancer
Oleg Yankovsky died at the age of 65 from pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, the oncological disease did not spare his son either. Back in 2009, the first rumors about Philipp's health problems began to circulate. However, at that time, the actor did not pay much attention to it and postponed a visit to the doctor. The diagnosis was made only in 2014 — follicular lymphoma stage III. This disease affects the lymphatic system, but with timely treatment, it can be managed. Philipp underwent a difficult course of chemotherapy and then rehabilitation in Israel. Fortunately, the treatment worked — the disease retreated.
"Everything is fine. Thank you so much to everyone who worried and cared. Everything is in the past. We live and work," Philipp made this optimistic statement. After Philipp's recovery, fans began to worry about his health again.
In the summer of 2019, Ksenia Sobchak published a photo with the director, and users noticed that he had lost a lot of weight and looked tired. Many speculated that this was a consequence of the illness or even a return of cancer. Neither Sobchak nor Philipp himself commented on these assumptions. The situation was clarified by Oksana Fandera — she began to publish family photos in which Philipp looked healthy and happy.
Life Between Two Countries
In 2022, fans had a new reason to worry — this time about the couple's family well-being. Oksana Fandera moved to Georgia, where she acts in a local theater and helps an animal shelter. Many speculated that the family would fall apart, especially considering that Philipp continued to live and work in Russia with the children. However, the situation turned out to be not so straightforward.
As it turned out, Yankovsky spends all his free time from filming with his wife — and he works, by his own account, about 100 days a year. The fact that Philipp Yankovsky and Oksana Fandera managed to maintain such warm relations even amidst political disagreements speaks of great love.
