Sunny clown Oleg Popov. Biography

Talented Russian clown Oleg Popov at one time was known not only in the countries of the former USSR, but also beyond. This incredibly gifted artist managed to create an uncomplicated, but at the same time very capacious and organic image. The audience called him just a "sunny clown." The popularity of the comedian was incredible. This is mainly due to the fact that the clown Oleg Popov, skilfully owning many genres of circus art, has always been and remains a master of his craft.

Childhood

Surely many are interested in how many years Oleg Popov (clown). Count yourself. The future artist was born on July 31, 1930. Father and mother at that time lived in the Moscow region (Vyrubovo village). In the family, Oleg was the only child. His father worked in a small watch factory, his mother at a photo studio. In 1937 Oleg entered the school. But he does not have time to finish the school. In 1943, suddenly father dies, and the young future artist has to go to work. He is hired by a locksmith's student at the publishing house of the newspaper Pravda. In parallel with the work, Oleg Popov attends evening school.

Youth

In 1944 he began to study in the gymnastic section of the club "Wings of Soviets". Together with the other guys, performing in an acrobatic ensemble, he takes part in various concerts and sporting events. It was then that the future clown Oleg Popov first learned the stage glory. Noting the outstanding abilities of the young acrobat, the teacher Leonov recommended him to try his hand at the children's group of the circus school. A year later he became a student of this institution. In the early years, he is engaged exclusively in acrobatics, and then begins to exercise in walking on the wire.

Sunny Clown

In 1950, Oleg Popov successfully graduated from the circus school. His professional career, he began as a balancer. A little later, in the Saratov circus, he decides to try himself in the image of a chamber clown. It is this new role that made it possible to maximally reveal the versatility of the talent of the great artist. Sunny clown Oleg Popov appeared before the audience in the image of a good-natured, cheerful, cheerful fellow in wide striped trousers, a checkered hat, red socks and a disheveled blond hair. In his speeches he used elements of acrobatics, balancing, juggling, parody. But a special place in his rooms was occupied by the entra. Among his best reprises can be called such scenes as "Cook", "Ray", "Whistle". In 1952 he decided to marry the violinist of the circus orchestra - Alexandra. After a while, their daughter Olga is born.

The flowering of creative activity

In 1956, together with the circus troupe Oleg Konstantinovich toured the countries of Europe. He visits England, Belgium, France. It was thanks to the Moscow Circus that foreign viewers for the first time after World War II saw talented Soviet artists. At home the clown Oleg Popov comes back already world famous. After that, he travels to Warsaw, where he participates in the international festival of circus art. The jury appreciated the work of the Russian artist. He was awarded two gold medals - as an eccentric, acting on the wire, and as a clown on the arena. Almost every year, Oleg Konstantinovich toured foreign countries. And everywhere its numbers pass on "perfectly". During the performance in Belgium, he was awarded a special award, marking the best circus artist - "White Elephant". On the fiftieth anniversary of the Soviet circus, in 1969, he received the high title of People's Artist of the Soviet Union. A little later, in Monte Carlo at the international festival he was awarded one more honorable prize. They became the highest award, whose name is "The Golden Clown". His 50th birthday celebrated in Moscow. He takes part in the festive program of the circus, dedicated to the Olympics. In 1990, Alexander's wife died of the disease.

Abroad

In 1991 he moved to Holland. There, having signed a contract with a well-known impresario, William Smith, he works in the Great Russian Circus. In the same year, September 1, Oleg Konstantinovich is married to a German woman Gabriela Lehman and moves to a permanent place of residence in Germany. Relatives of the young lady first took the news of the wedding in bayonets. And this is not surprising, because Gabriela was younger than her chosen one for thirty-five years. However, soon they resigned and blessed the marriage. Happy Hans is the pseudonym under which Oleg Popov (clown) from this time comes. Biography of the artist is not easy. In Germany, he settles in the Bavarian Alps, where he leads a virtually reclusive life. With his second wife he lived together more than a dozen. Abroad, Oleg Konstantinovich organized his own circus show, where he performs to this day. Not many people know that Popov was also shooting in films. In his filmography appeared such paintings as "Mom", "Two Smiles", "Bunker". For some time in Russia, he also acted as a director of circus performances.