What does Alexander Druz do? Alexander Druz: short biography, family and television career

Alexander Druz since his appearance on television in 1981 in the game “What? Where? When?" very quickly became popular and recognizable. In an incomprehensible way, restraint coexisted with the passion of a real player. Of course, the intellectual had many fans. But he can confidently be called a monogamous man. He has known his wife for more than half a century, and in September 2018 he will celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary.

School love

They met in first grade. It cannot be said that they instantly became friends, and then school friendship grew into love. They just studied together for 2 years, and then Elena’s family moved to another area. But the girl’s mother believed that Alexander was very good boy, so he needs to be invited to visit. And for a couple of years Sasha Druz regularly went to Elena’s birthday. And he invited her to his name day accordingly.

True, Lenochka did not understand why Druz came to visit. While all the children were joyfully playing and communicating, Sasha picked up a book, sat in a corner and spent the whole time in the company of the book.

Their connection was soon interrupted, but Sasha saved the girl’s home phone number in his notebook. And when a few years later I decided to congratulate all the girls I knew on International Women’s Day, I called Lena. He was curious how much his childhood friend had changed, and he suggested meeting.

Elena later recalled how she couldn’t wait for the date to end. Sasha just told her jokes non-stop. But she still went on a second date. She doesn’t hide it now: at first she simply used Alexander. He helped her do physics, and during their dates around St. Petersburg he talked a lot and interestingly about the sights of his native city.

But somehow, imperceptibly, the relationship grew from friendly to romantic. By the end of school, they both had no doubt: it was love. But they were in no hurry to go to the registry office.

A smart approach to life

Alexander and Elena decided to first get an education and only after that start a family. Alexander did not immediately pass the competition to the institute, but entered the industrial pedagogical technical school and only then graduated from the institute. Elena became a student at the First Medical School. Although she dreamed of teaching, she did not find the strength to resist her mother’s decision.

Surprisingly, Lena’s mother, who treated Sasha so warmly in childhood, suddenly turned out to be almost his ideological enemy. She always adhered to communist views, but for some reason Alexander expressed seditious thoughts, in her opinion. He was an obvious supporter of dissidence.

But as a result, the daughter announced that Druz had proposed to her, and the mother simply had to come to terms with her choice. The future mother-in-law herself did not experience any particular joy about this.

The newlyweds settled with Elena, and here Alexander learned to show miracles of diplomacy. He did not get into arguments or talk about politics. In addition, he tried to control that my mother did not watch those programs that led her to worsen her illnesses. When she fell ill, he looked after her without expressing displeasure.

"What? Where? When?" on television and in life

In 1979, the couple had a daughter, Inna, and in 1982, Marina. For the first time in the program “What? Where? When?" Alexander Druz appeared in 1981. And almost immediately he gained unprecedented popularity. A simple systems engineer suddenly became a real star. However, he did not particularly monitor his rating. He liked to read, he liked to learn new things, and the game allowed him to skillfully use this knowledge.

Over the years of playing at the club, he managed to win all conceivable and unimaginable awards, and also train a worthy replacement for himself. Both daughters of the intellectual began to play “What? Where? When?".

When asked how Alexander Abramovich and his wife developed intellectual abilities daughters, both answer that no one did this on purpose. They simply read books to them from the age of three months, and then sent them to a good mathematics school.

Daughters say that their parents always answered questions. Never in their lives have they been brushed aside or referred to as being busy. Alexander Abramovich also taught girls to look for answers to questions on their own. They had no prohibitions on books; everyone read what they considered useful for themselves.

Surprisingly eldest daughter Inna turned out to be a lover of books about the revolution, but the younger one did not share her sister’s hobbies, preferring pirate romance and books about Robin Hood.
Inna and Marina (each of them has two daughters) are raising their girls the same way they were once raised.

The secret of family happiness

Alexander Abramovich has repeatedly said in his interviews that Elena is his main prize in life. His wife believes that his constancy is due to laziness. There is already a woman who is constantly nearby, comfortable and understandable. There is no need to do anything further, to conquer anyone.

Intellectual game"What where When?" enjoyed enormous popularity. But why was its creator fired from television several times?

September 4 marks the 35th anniversary of the release of the first program “What? Where? When?” This intellectual TV game made famous many residents of Russia and the CIS countries.

Alexander Druz plays "What? Where? When?" since 1981. Trained as a systems engineer, graduated with honors from the Leningrad Institute of Railway Transport Engineers.

Five-time winner of the Crystal Owl prize (1990, 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2006).

In the final game of the 1995 winter series, Alexander Druz was awarded the honorary title of Master of the game "What? Where? When?", awarded the "Big Crystal Owl" and the Order of the Diamond Star as the best player in the entire 20 years of the elite club's existence.

From 1998 to 2001 worked as an executive director at NTV-Kino, and also served as a coordinating producer and chief consultant.

In 2001, he became the general director of New Russian Series LLC. Here, until 2006, he produced such television series as “Streets of Broken Lights,” “Secrets of the Investigation,” “Agent national security", "Children of Arbat", "Taxi Driver", "Cop Wars", "Airport", etc.

From 2006 to the present - General Director of Forward Film LLC, producer and co-producer of the series "Katerina", "Defense of Krasin", "Schedule of Fates", "Special Group", "Cop Wars-3", "Web" , "Cop in Law", "Road Patrol". Member of the Union of Journalists of Russia, member of the Producers Guild of Russia, member of the Academy of Russian Television.

The author of the monument to TV presenter Vladimir Voroshilov at the Vagankovsky cemetery.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Alexander Druz was born and raised in Leningrad. His father and mother were very ordinary Soviet people. From a young age, the boy read a lot, but at the same time he dreamed of becoming a fireman or a sailor. IN primary school 47th Secondary School Sasha took part in various shows and competitions. When he was nine years old, he won the first prize in his life - a book written by Vladimir Maksimov.

Young Friend received it for first place at the end of the evening interesting questions, which took place in one of the holiday homes in Ukraine. After this, Sasha repeatedly became the winner of various competitions in his educational institution. As a tenth-grader, he won the title of laureate of the “You are a Leningrader” quiz, dedicated to Druz’s hometown.

The beginning of star trek

After graduating from school, Alexander became a student at the Leningrad Industrial Pedagogical College. Here he studied as an electrical technician and industrial training master. Second higher education he received from the Leningrad Institute of Railway Transport Engineers.

After receiving a university diploma, the future owner of the “Diamond Owl” entered the position of systems engineer and immediately applied to become a member of the “What? Where? When?". First time in live popular television program Friends was seen in 1981.

According to Alexander, his application lay in the editorial office of the program for about a year. Then he had to go through a selection process and only after that he was accepted as a member of the intellectual club.
It is worth noting that in 1982, for the first time in the history of “What? Where? When?" the expert was removed from the table after prompting from those present in the hall. It turned out to be Druz.

Diamond Master

Alexander has one of the longest careers in popular program. Six times he was recognized as the best expert of the year. In 1995, Druz was the first to be awarded the title of “Master”, and in 2011 he was awarded the “Diamond Owl” as the best player of “What? Where? When?".

Alexander participated not only as an expert on the intellectual casino. He could be seen in other television programs, for example, in “Brain Ring”, where Druz’s team won four times, as well as in “Own Game”. Also, the “Master” often goes on “intellectual business trips” abroad.

For example, he was a repeated participant in Ukrainian, Israeli and Uzbek television projects. Friends' houses are kept numerous awards With different corners peace.

Businessman friend

In addition to success on television, Alexander managed to become a successful businessman. He was the owner of two companies:

1. "Stroy-Agio".
2. "Trans-Agio".

They did business in the building materials market.
Druz sold his business in 2012, after the onset of another crisis in the global economy.

The owner of the Diamond Owl manages a branch of an intellectual casino in St. Petersburg. He is the most titled participant in the famous TV show throughout its existence.

Success in your personal life

Throughout his adult life, the connoisseur lives with his wife Elena. Two daughters grew up in their family:

• Marina;
• Inna.

They followed in their father's footsteps and different time took part in smart casino games. Each of Druz's daughters was awarded a "Crystal Owl". The eldest Inna already has her own children - Alina and Alisa. Grandfather Sasha also takes part in their upbringing.

What do you think about Alexander? We are waiting for your comments.

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Biography

Mind games

In the TV game “What? Where? When? "first appeared in 1981, since then it has performed almost without interruption, which is a game record. In 1982, he became the first expert to be disqualified for giving tips to players. He also holds records for the number of games played - 86 (as of October 24, 2016) and victories - 54.

In 2009, as a foreign player, he competed for the Nikita Mobile TeTe team at the Uzbekistan championships in “Brain Ring” (1st place) and in “What? Where? When?" (2nd place), then at the I Open Cup of Tashkent (1st place in “What? Where? When?” and “Brain Ring”, as well as in the overall standings - 2nd place in erudite quartet) and at Znatokiade 2009 in Eilat (including 2nd place at the Olympic tournament in “What? Where? When?”). In the same year he played for the British team at the Nations Cup in the game “What? Where? When?" in Kirov.

In 2010, he also played several times for the Nikita Mobile TeTe team, which won the VII Championship of Uzbekistan, and then the VIII World Championship in Eilat (Israel). In 2011 and 2012, this team won the national championship without the Master, but at the IX and X World Championships of those years he joined the NMTT team. In Odessa (2011) together with the team he became silver medalist, and in Saransk (2012) - gold (becoming the only three-time world champion in the game “What? Where? When?”).

According to the MAK ChGK website, it is one of 11 players who took part in all ten world championships in sports “What? Where? When?" .

Family

Both daughters studied at Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239, where Alexander Druz still trains youth teams of experts, and also conducts games “What? Where? When?" in a modified format for the entire school.

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Excerpt characterizing Friends, Alexander Abramovich

"What is this? I'm falling? My legs are giving way,” he thought and fell on his back. He opened his eyes, hoping to see how the fight between the French and the artillerymen ended, and wanting to know whether the red-haired artilleryman was killed or not, whether the guns were taken or saved. But he didn't see anything. There was nothing above him anymore except the sky - high sky, not clear, but still immeasurably high, with gray clouds quietly creeping along it. “How quiet, calm and solemn, not at all like how I ran,” thought Prince Andrei, “not like how we ran, shouted and fought; It’s not at all like how the Frenchman and the artilleryman pulled each other’s banners with embittered and frightened faces - not at all like how the clouds crawl across this high endless sky. How come I haven’t seen this high sky before? And how happy I am that I finally recognized him. Yes! everything is empty, everything is deception, except this endless sky. There is nothing, nothing, except him. But even that is not there, there is nothing but silence, calm. And thank God!…"

On Bagration’s right flank at 9 o’clock the business had not yet begun. Not wanting to agree to Dolgorukov’s demand to start the business and wanting to deflect responsibility from himself, Prince Bagration suggested that Dolgorukov be sent to ask the commander-in-chief about this. Bagration knew that, due to the distance of almost 10 versts separating one flank from the other, if the one sent was not killed (which was very likely), and even if he found the commander-in-chief, which was very difficult, the sent one would not have time to return earlier evenings.
Bagration looked around at his retinue with his large, expressionless, sleep-deprived eyes, and Rostov’s childish face, involuntarily frozen with excitement and hope, was the first to catch his eye. He sent it.
- What if I meet His Majesty before the Commander-in-Chief, Your Excellency? - said Rostov, holding his hand to the visor.
“You can hand it over to your Majesty,” Dolgorukov said, hastily interrupting Bagration.
Having been released from the chain, Rostov managed to sleep for several hours before the morning and felt cheerful, courageous, decisive, with that elasticity of movements, confidence in his happiness and in that mood in which everything seems easy, fun and possible.
All his wishes were fulfilled that morning; a general battle was fought, he took part in it; Moreover, he was an orderly under the bravest general; Moreover, he was traveling on an errand to Kutuzov, and perhaps even to the sovereign himself. The morning was clear, the horse under him was good. His soul was joyful and happy. Having received the order, he set off his horse and galloped along the line. At first he rode along the line of Bagration’s troops, which had not yet entered into action and stood motionless; then he entered the space occupied by Uvarov’s cavalry and here he already noticed movements and signs of preparations for the case; Having passed Uvarov's cavalry, he already clearly heard the sounds of cannon and gunfire ahead of him. The shooting intensified.
In the fresh morning air, two, three shots and then one or two shots were heard, not as before at irregular intervals. gun shot, and along the slopes of the mountains, in front of Pratzen, the rolling sounds of gunfire were heard, interrupted by such frequent shots from guns that sometimes several cannon shots were no longer separated from each other, but merged into one common roar.
It was visible how the smoke of the guns seemed to run along the slopes, catching up with each other, and how the smoke of the guns swirled, blurred and merged with one another. Visible, from the shine of the bayonets between the smoke, were the moving masses of infantry and narrow strips of artillery with green boxes.
Rostov stopped his horse on a hill for a minute to examine what was happening; but no matter how hard he strained his attention, he could neither understand nor make out anything of what was happening: some people were moving there in the smoke, some troops were moving in front and behind; but why? Who? Where? it was impossible to understand. This sight and these sounds not only did not arouse in him any dull or timid feeling, but, on the contrary, gave him energy and determination.
“Well, more, give it more!” - he mentally addressed these sounds and again began to gallop along the line, penetrating further and further into the area of ​​​​the troops who had already entered into action.
“I don’t know how it will be there, but everything will be fine!” thought Rostov.
Having passed some Austrian troops, Rostov noticed that the next part of the line (it was the guard) had already entered into action.
"All the better! I’ll take a closer look,” he thought.
He drove almost along the front line. Several horsemen galloped towards him. These were our life lancers, who were returning from the attack in disordered ranks. Rostov passed them, involuntarily noticed one of them covered in blood and galloped on.
“I don’t care about this!” he thought. Before he had ridden a few hundred steps after this, to his left, across the entire length of the field, a huge mass of cavalrymen on black horses, in shiny white uniforms, appeared, trotting straight towards him. Rostov put his horse into full gallop in order to get out of the way of these cavalrymen, and he would have gotten away from them if they had kept the same gait, but they kept speeding up, so that some horses were already galloping. Rostov heard their stomping and the clanking of their weapons more and more clearly, and their horses, figures, and even faces became more visible. These were our cavalry guards, going into an attack on the French cavalry, which was moving towards them.
The cavalry guards galloped, but still holding their horses. Rostov already saw their faces and heard the command: “march, march!” uttered by an officer who unleashed his blood horse at full speed. Rostov, fearing to be crushed or lured into an attack on the French, galloped along the front as fast as his horse could, and still did not manage to get past them.
The last cavalry guard, a huge, pockmarked man, frowned angrily when he saw Rostov in front of him, with whom he would inevitably collide. This cavalry guard would certainly have knocked down Rostov and his Bedouin (Rostov himself seemed so small and weak in comparison with these huge people and horses), if he had not thought of swinging his whip into the eyes of the cavalry guard's horse. The black, heavy, five-inch horse shied away, laying down its ears; but the pockmarked cavalry guard thrust huge spurs into her sides, and the horse, waving its tail and stretching its neck, rushed even faster. As soon as the cavalry guards passed Rostov, he heard them shout: “Hurray!” and looking back he saw that their front ranks were mingling with strangers, probably French, cavalrymen in red epaulets. It was impossible to see anything further, because immediately after that, cannons began firing from somewhere, and everything was covered in smoke.
At that moment, as the cavalry guards, having passed him, disappeared into the smoke, Rostov hesitated whether to gallop after them or go where he needed to go. This was that brilliant attack of the cavalry guards, which surprised the French themselves. Rostov was scared to hear later that out of all this mass of huge handsome people, out of all these brilliant, rich young men on thousands of horses, officers and cadets who galloped past him, after the attack only eighteen people remained.
“Why should I envy, what is mine will not go away, and now, perhaps, I will see the sovereign!” thought Rostov and rode on.
Having caught up with the guards infantry, he noticed that cannonballs were flying through and around them, not so much because he heard the sound of cannonballs, but because he saw concern on the faces of the soldiers and unnatural, warlike solemnity on the faces of the officers.
Driving behind one of the lines of infantry guard regiments, he heard a voice calling him by name.
- Rostov!
- What? – he responded, not recognizing Boris.
- What is it like? hit the first line! Our regiment went on the attack! - said Boris, smiling that happy smile that happens to young people who have been on fire for the first time.
Rostov stopped.
- That's how it is! - he said. - Well?
- They recaptured! - Boris said animatedly, having become talkative. - You can imagine?
And Boris began to tell how the guard, having taken their place and seeing the troops in front of them, mistook them for Austrians and suddenly learned from the cannonballs fired from these troops that they were in the first line, and unexpectedly had to take action. Rostov, without listening to Boris, touched his horse.

Alexander Abramovich Druz (born May 10, 1955) is one of the most famous players of “What? Where? When?" throughout the history of the program. An erudite with a huge number of achievements in various intellectual projects.

Childhood

Alexander was born into an intelligent Leningrad family. From childhood he was surrounded by books. Moreover, this was not pulp fiction, but the creations of the best masters. And the boy began to study them, as soon as he mastered reading skills. He absorbed with equal interest both fiction, and voluminous encyclopedias. Hence the amazing variety of information that the adult Friend uses so masterfully.

Alexander turned the acquisition of knowledge into his main goal life. He always enjoyed studying completely different areas. While still at school, the boy began to take part in all the intellectual competitions that he could find in the Northern capital. He received his first prize when he was barely nine years old. Needless to say, this was a book – the most valuable thing created by man.

Having taken the first step, Alexander could no longer stop. Of course, he did not always win, but he always attracted attention. However, at his school he became the star of every competition. Once he became the best in a citywide quiz dedicated to the history of Leningrad.

When asked why he attended all these competitions with such persistence, Druz invariably answers with a smile that he was never afraid to look stupid. And at the same time, he had to somehow apply the knowledge he had gained, communicate with people like himself.

Takeoff

Having received an engineering diploma, Druz quickly found a job and proved himself to be excellent. However, soon his real passion became the games “What? Where? When?".

It should be noted that in 1980, when Druz applied to participate in the project, hundreds of other applicants did the same. Alexander was among the lucky few who formed the basis of the “newborn” intellectual club. His first game took place in 1981.

Among the many subsequent achievements of Druz, there is one small anti-record. It was he who once became the first person to be removed from the hall for violating the rules of the club. The fact is that Alexander tried to give tips to his colleagues at the round table, for which he paid.

However, after many years, this “achievement” no longer seems something to be ashamed of. On the contrary, it brings a smile and adds sweet human hooligan traits to the portrait of an inveterate intellectual.

If you set a goal, then all the awards received by Druzem in the club can be counted. Suffice it to say that he won 46 fights and was repeatedly recognized as the best player of the year. In 1995, he became the first of all experts to receive the title of Master of Intellectual Casino.

Project “What? Where? When?" Alexander Druz was not the only one who graced with his participation. He competed in “Brain Ring”, “Own Game”, and various foreign games. Repeatedly he himself organized competitions, mainly for children and youth.

Business

For a long time participation in the games of the intellectual club did not bring material income, but soon wealthy sponsors became interested in the successful transfer. As a result, players began to receive very substantial incomes. Naturally, Druz became one of those whose financial well-being became possible precisely thanks to his remarkable mind.

Very soon he realized that it was necessary to organize some kind of business. The companies he founded, Stroy-Azhio and Trans-Azhio, quickly began to generate income and took important places in the construction market. The intellectual had to get rid of them after the crisis broke out in 2012.

However, no crisis could stop Alexander Druz from doing what he loved. He continues to take part in all games of the club, which has become his home. In addition, Druz successfully manages the St. Petersburg representative office of the project.

Personal life

Regular viewers of the program “What? Where? When?" repeatedly asked questions about the personal life of its most famous participant. However, it always remained a secret. Alexander did not like and does not like to talk about his family.

For many years, Druz has been married to a woman named Elena. She is a doctor and does not appear on television. But both of the master’s daughters managed to try their hand at their father’s favorite project. And quite successfully.