Eugen Pădureanu
Eugen Pădureanu | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Eugen Pădureanu in Reșița, 2008 | |
| Born | Eugen Drăghin Rus April 13, 1972 |
| Nationality |  Romania |
| Other names | Eugen Drăghin Rus (legal name) |
| Education | Ion Luca Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film (Class of Mircea Albulescu) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Director, Playwright |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | Stage performances at Teatrul de Vest Reșița and Teatrul de Artă Deva; role in Sărbătoritul |
| Notable work | Sărbătoritul (2017), Angajare de clovn, Zbor deasupra unui cuib de cuci |
Eugen Pădureanu (Romanian pronunciation: [e.uˈd͡ʒen pəduˈre̯anu]; born Eugen Drăghin Rus on April 13, 1972) is a Romanian stage and film actor from Reșița, Caraș-Severin County.[1][2] He grew up in Reșița and attended the local Liceul de Matematică-Fizică (Mathematics-Physics High School), graduating in 1990.[1] Pursuing his passion for theater, Pădureanu studied acting at the Ion Luca Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film (formerly the Academy of Theatre and Film) in Bucharest from 1991 to 1995.[1] He was part of the class of renowned actor-professor Mircea Albulescu.[3] After obtaining his licentiate degree in dramatic arts, he adopted Eugen Pădureanu as his stage name, though his legal name remains Eugen Drăghin Rus.[3]
Theater and Film Career
Pădureanu began his professional acting career in the mid-1990s, initially taking on small roles in national productions. Notably, he collaborated with acclaimed director Silviu Purcărete at the National Theatre “Marin Sorescu” of Craiova, performing as an Egyptian in Danaidele (The Danaids) during 1995–1997.[1] In 1997 he returned to his hometown to join the ensemble of Reșița’s theater (then known as Teatrul “G.A. Petculescu”, later the Teatrul de Vest). He served the Reșița stage with devotion for over a decade, taking on numerous roles and even directing and writing plays for the local repertoire.[1] During his tenure in Reșița (circa 1997–2013), Pădureanu’s contributions enriched the theater’s repertoire with both classic and original works.[1][3]
In the 2010s, Pădureanu expanded his career through collaborations with other theaters in Romania. From 2015 to 2018 he was a guest actor at the Mihai Eminescu National Theatre in Timișoara, performing in productions such as Căpcăunii sacri, Eminul meu iubit and Boborul.[1] Beginning in 2016, he also became a regular collaborator with the Teatrul de Artă in Deva, where he found a fulfilling artistic home.[2] Over several years in Deva, Pădureanu both acted in and directed multiple shows – by 2024 he had staged at least nine productions there, including children’s plays and classics, in collaboration with director Mihai Panaitescu.[2] He has credited the Deva theater and its public for providing a welcoming environment to practice his craft.[2]
Pădureanu’s stage work has been wide-ranging. In addition to his home stage in Reșița, he took on an actor-director role at the Liviu Rebreanu Theater in Bistrița around 2018, where he directed and performed in the comedy Un bărbat și mai multe femei among other projects.[1] Throughout his career, he has moved fluidly between acting, directing, and playwriting, particularly in regional theaters.
Alongside theater, Eugen Pădureanu has made forays into film. He is best known in cinema for his role in the short film Sărbătoritul (English: The Birthday Boy), released in 2017.[4] In this 14-minute social drama directed by Sabin Dorohoi, Pădureanu portrayed the father of a 12-year-old boy coping with parental absence. Sărbătoritul was filmed in Reșița and explored the plight of children left behind by parents working abroad, resonating with contemporary Romanian social issues.[2]
Notable Roles and Performances
Over the years, Eugen Pădureanu has brought to life a diverse array of characters in both theater and film. In his early career at Teatrul de Vest Reșița, he played lead or significant roles in productions such as Angajare de clovn (“Clown Wanted”), Matei Vișniec’s absurdist comedy; Shakespeare’s Visul unei nopți de vară (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); and Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s Vizita bătrânei doamne (The Visit), among others.[1] He not only acted in these plays but in some cases also took on directing duties – for example, he directed Eugène Ionesco’s Lecția (The Lesson) and an original piece titled Aniversarea (The Anniversary) during his Reșița years.[1]
In collaboration with Teatrul de Artă Deva, Pădureanu continued to earn acclaim for notable performances. He appeared in Zadarnicele chinuri ale dragostei (Love’s Labour’s Lost) by William Shakespeare and Zbor deasupra unui cuib de cuci (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), demonstrating his range from classic Elizabethan comedy to modern American drama.[1] He also took on roles in original family shows like Vestitul Peticilă and Lupul și Oița, reflecting his versatility and interest in theater for young audiences.[1] Pădureanu has frequently worked on children’s theater projects, both as an actor and as a playwright/director, aiming to impart moral lessons through entertaining stories.[2]
On screen, Pădureanu’s most notable performance is in the short film Sărbătoritul (2017). In this film, he portrayed Tatăl (“the Father”), a central figure whose attempt to reunite his family for the holidays highlights the emotional toll of migration on families.[4] Sărbătoritul garnered attention as part of a trilogy of short films on this social theme, and Pădureanu’s performance — alongside a cast of local Banat actors — was well received in the communities where it was shown.[2]
Personal life
In December 2019, just before Christmas, a fire broke out at his family home in Reșița. The blaze, reportedly caused by a malfunctioning electric heating pillow, destroyed the house and the family’s lifetime possessions.[5][6] At the time, Eugen Pădureanu was living there with his elderly parents, and the incident left them without a home in the middle of winter. News of the tragedy prompted an outpouring of community support. Fellow artists from Teatrul de Vest Reșița and Teatrul de Artă Deva reacted immediately, organizing humanitarian aid for Pădureanu’s family.[6]
Local organizations and colleagues launched fundraising appeals, including opening a relief bank account in Pădureanu’s name and spreading messages on social media.[6][5] On 22 December 2019, the Reșița troupe even staged an extra charity performance of a children’s play (A fost odată ca niciodată… în America) in partnership with the local Red Cross chapter, with all ticket proceeds and donations going to support Pădureanu and his parents.[6][3]
Awards and Recognitions
However, his contributions to regional theater have been widely recognized and appreciated. Local media often describe him as one of Reșița’s well-known actors who has been a pillar of the city’s cultural scene.[6] In his work with youth and community theater, Pădureanu has also achieved indirect accolades – for instance, the amateur theater workshops he coordinated in Reșița frequently culminated in performances that won prizes at county and national student festivals.[1]
His career spans over two decades of stage work and a notable film appearance, marking him as an enduring figure in local Romanian theater.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Curriculum Vitae – Eugen Pădureanu". Teatrul de Artă Deva. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Toader, Răzvan (15 December 2017). "Omagiu pentru Reșița – Cetatea de foc! [VIDEO]". Express de Banat (in Romanian). Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "FOTO: Spectacolul „A fost o dată ca niciodată…în America" se joacă în scop caritabil duminică". Radio Reșița (in Romanian). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b Ivașcu, Ionel (12 November 2023). "Premiul publicului pentru Clara". Caon.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Să nu trecem nepăsători pe lângă suferinţa umană: Familia actorului Eugen Pădureanu rămas fără agoniseala de o viaţă". Reper24 (arhiva) (in Romanian). 17 December 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Năfîru, Victor (19 December 2019). "Actorul Eugen Pădureanu are nevoie de ajutorul nostru. Să‑i fim aproape în aceste momente grele!". Argument.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 3 August 2025.