Boris Badenov
Encyclopedia
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show is an American animated television series that originally aired from November 19, 1959 to June 28, 1964 on the ABC and NBC television networks...
and The Bullwinkle Show
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show is an American animated television series that originally aired from November 19, 1959 to June 28, 1964 on the ABC and NBC television networks...
, collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle for short. He is voiced by Paul Frees
Paul Frees
Paul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago...
.
Badenov's name is a play on that of the 16th-century Russian Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
("bad enough" vs. "good enough"). His accent and explosive temper are an homage to Hollywood actor Akim Tamiroff
Akim Tamiroff
Akim Mikhailovich Tamiroff was an Armenian actor. He won the first Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.Tamiroff was born in Tiflis, Russian Empire , of Armenian ethnicity. He trained at the Moscow Art Theatre drama school. He arrived in the U.S. in 1923 on a tour with a troupe of actors...
, especially Tamiroff's role in The Great McGinty
The Great McGinty
The Great McGinty is a 1940 political satire comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff and featuring William Demarest and Muriel Angelus. It was Sturges's first film as a director; he sold the story to Paramount Pictures for just $10 on condition...
, a 1940 movie directed by Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
.
Character overview
Boris is a spySPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
for the fictional nation of Pottsylvania
Pottsylvania
Pottsylvania is a fictional country that appeared in the television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle....
, and takes orders from the nation's leader, Fearless Leader
Fearless Leader
Fearless Leader is a fictional character and the principal antagonist in the 1959–1964 animated television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, both shows often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle...
(and occasionally the rarely-seen Mr. Big
Mister Big (Rocky and Bullwinkle)
Mister Big was a villain on the 1960s cartoon series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, both shows often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle. He is voiced by Bill Scott doing an imitation of Peter Lorre.-History:Mr...
). Boris's missions range from trying to steal a secret rocket fuel formula
Formula
In mathematics, a formula is an entity constructed using the symbols and formation rules of a given logical language....
to eliminating all television from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as part of Pottsylvania's various attempts to seize power. Boris, who is thoroughly dedicated to (and takes delight in) all manners of nefarious deeds, would also sometimes engage in his own schemes, such as starting his own organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
gang. Separately from the television series, a commercial for the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show featuring Boris established that he was an active member of Local 12 of the Villains, Thieves, and Scoundrels Union. During this commercial, Boris also claims to be "the world's greatest no-goodnik." Boris is also quite proud of the fact that the nicest thing Fearless Leader ever did for him was sending a picture of himself to Boris inscribed "Drop Dead — Fearless Leader".
According to the Rialto Theater's Moosebill for Downhill: The Musical (the table of contents for Rocky and Bullwinkle & Friends, The Third Season), Boris was educated in the Pottsylvania public schools before taking a scoundrelship to U.S.C. (the University of Safecracking), from which he graduated magna cum louse. He has a cast-iron stomach; and because of it was one of only three survivors of the ruling clique of Pottsylvania, the other two being his superiors Fearless Leader
Fearless Leader
Fearless Leader is a fictional character and the principal antagonist in the 1959–1964 animated television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, both shows often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle...
and Mister Big
Mister Big (Rocky and Bullwinkle)
Mister Big was a villain on the 1960s cartoon series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, both shows often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle. He is voiced by Bill Scott doing an imitation of Peter Lorre.-History:Mr...
.
Boris enjoys light reading; his favorite book is an anthology of fiendish plans called the Fireside Crook Book. He is also a charter member of the Van Gogh Society, a Pottsylvanian club whose members collect human ears.
Early in the series, Boris was taller and had red eyes. After the first episodes, he changed to his normal height, but still retained the red eyes until a few episodes afterwards. Humorously, they changed from red to white after he had woken up from a long slumber, as if the redness was caused by sleep deprivation.
Boris is nearly always accompanied by his fellow spy, Natasha Fatale
Natasha Fatale
Natasha Fatale is a fictional character in the 1960s animated cartoons Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle for short...
. The first time he appeared without her was in the story arc, "Buried Treasure
Buried Treasure (Rocky & Bullwinkle episode)
Buried Treasure is the fifth story arc from the second season of Rocky and His Friends. It was broadcast on ABC during the 1960-1961 television season.-Notes:...
." The first story arc where neither appeared was "The Three Moosketeers
The Three Moosketeers
The Three Moosketeers is the first story arc from the third season of Rocky and Bullwinkle . It was broadcast on NBC during the 1961-1962 television season.-External links:* at Toontracker* at TV.com...
."
Usually, Boris's misdeeds are thwarted by Rocky the Flying Squirrel
Rocky the Flying Squirrel
Rocket J. Squirrel, usually called by the nickname "Rocky", is the name of the flying squirrel protagonist of the 1959-1964 animated television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show , produced by Jay Ward. Rocky's sidekick is the cartoon moose, Bullwinkle...
and Bullwinkle the Moose
Bullwinkle J. Moose
Bullwinkle J. Moose is a fictional character in the 1959–1964 animated television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle, produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott...
. Boris's attempts at killing "moose and squirrel" (as he refers to them) also always end in failure, usually by his own scheme backfiring on him. As Boris expresses his plight in one episode: "I put bomb in squirrel's briefcase and who gets blown up? Me!"
Boris appeared in all but three Rocky and Bullwinkle storylines, The Three Moosketeers
The Three Moosketeers
The Three Moosketeers is the first story arc from the third season of Rocky and Bullwinkle . It was broadcast on NBC during the 1961-1962 television season.-External links:* at Toontracker* at TV.com...
, The Ruby Yacht
The Ruby Yacht
The Ruby Yacht is the fifth story arc from the fifth season of Rocky and Bullwinkle . It was broadcast on NBC during the 1963-1964 television season...
, and Mucho Loma
Mucho Loma
Mucho Loma is the second story arc from the fifth season of Rocky and Bullwinkle . It was broadcast on NBC during the 1963-1964 television season. It was unique, in the sense that this was one of three story arcs where neither Boris Badenov or Natasha Fatale, the usual nemeses of Rocky and...
. Boris often appeared in segments of Bullwinkle's Corner, Mr. Know-it-All, and Rocky and Bullwinkle Fan Club.
Catchphrases
Boris's main catchphrase (spoken when frustrated) is "Raskolnikov!" (a reference to the novel Crime and PunishmentCrime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866. It was later published in a single volume. This is the second of Dostoyevsky's full-length novels following his...
by Dostoevsky), spoken in his Pottsylvanian accent (a mock-Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
accent).
Boris would also say, "Sharrup you mouth!" to Natasha when his schemes failed. However, in the final segment of "Greenpernt Oogle
Greenpernt Oogle
Greenpernt Oogle is the third story arc from the second season of Rocky and His Friends. It was broadcast on ABC during the 1960-1961 television season on Thursdays, concurrently with Upsidaisium on Sundays.-Plot synopsis:...
", when he and Natasha were stuck in their own mine field, he says to her, "Natasha, next time I get fiendish plan, do me big favor? Sharrup my mouth!" She does indeed do this in one episode, saying those very words to Boris as the car they were in dropped over a cliff to the ground in the 8-segmented story arc "The Treasure of Monte Zoom
The Treasure of Monte Zoom
The Treasure of Monte Zoom is the third story arc from the fourth season of Rocky and Bullwinkle . It was broadcast on NBC during the 1962-1963 television season.-Synopsis:...
."
In other media
- In the 1992 Showtimes Network film Boris and NatashaBoris and Natasha: The MovieBoris and Natasha is a 1992 comedy film that was loosely based on the animated television series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. It was shot in New York City. The actors did not attempt to copy the accents of their animated counterparts, and although Rocky and Bullwinkle do not appear in this film,...
, the live-action Boris was played by Dave ThomasDave Thomas (actor)David "Dave" Thomas is a Canadian comedian and actor. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father, John E. Thomas, attended Duke University and earned a PhD in Philosophy. Thomas attended George Watts and Moorehead elementary schools...
. - In the 2000 theatrical film The Adventures of Rocky and BullwinkleThe Adventures of Rocky and BullwinkleThe Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle is a 2000 comedy film based on the television cartoon The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show by Jay Ward. The animated characters Rocky and Bullwinkle shared the screen with live actors portraying Fearless Leader , Boris Badenov , Natasha Fatale , and FBI agent Karen...
, the live-action Boris was played by Jason AlexanderJason AlexanderJay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
.
Disguises
A common thing that comes along during most story arcs are the disguises used by Boris. Below are many examples of his disguises.- Swami Ben Boris (Jet Fuel FormulaJet Fuel FormulaJet Fuel Formula is the first and the longest Rocky and Bullwinkle story arc. It is also noteworthy in that it established most of the characters, themes, running gags, and other elements that would be employed in later stories and that would become so closely identified with the...
) - Sir Thomas Lippen-Boris (Jet Fuel Formula)
- Sir Hilary Pushemoff (Jet Fuel Formula)
- Hemlock Soames (Box Top Robbery)
- Mojave Max, a prospector (UpsidaisiumUpsidaisiumUpsidaisium is a fictional element that appeared in the 1950s and 1960s Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show animated series, in the story arc entitled Upsidaisium...
) - A scientist (Jet Fuel Formula)
- Cerulean Bleu, an art collector (Painting Theft)
- Abou Ben Boris (Upsidasium)
- Gunga Drain (Upsidasium and Bumbling Brothers Circus)
- An "Imposter" five-star general (Upsidasium)
- Rocky
- Ace Ricken-Boris (Jet Fuel Formula)
- "The Big Cheese" (Metal Munching Mice)
- Madman Morris (The Treasure of Monte Zoom)
- Colonial Tomsk Parkoff (Metal Munching Mice) - this is a takeoff of Colonel Tom ParkerColonel Tom Parker"Colonel" Thomas Andrew "Tom" Parker born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, was a Dutch-born entertainment impresario known best as the manager of Elvis Presley...
- Mayor Avaricious J. Wardheeler (Bumbling Brothers Circus)
- Clarence Darrownoff, the lawyer (Jet Fuel Formula)
- Alfred Hitchhike, a movie director (The Last Angry Moose)
- Indian (Jet Fuel Formula)
- D.W. Grifter, a talent scout (The Last Angry Moose)
- Horatio Hornswaggle (Wailing Whale)
- Art gallery guard (Painting Theft)
- "Devil Dan" Hatful (Missouri Mish Mash)
- Egbert Kitchie Itchie (Banana Formula)
- Felonious Floy (Missouri Mish Mash)
- Salesman of Dancer, Prancer, Blitzen, & Fink advertising agency (Moosylvania Saved)
- Ship's doctor (Banana Formula)
- Track walker (Missouri Mish Mash)
- A BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
police officerPolice officerA police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
(Rue Brittania) - Big Chief Skunk-Who-Walks-Like-Man (Bumbling Brothers Circus)
- Doctor/Surgeon (Rue Brittania)
- Little boy (Painting Theft)
- A butler (Rue Britannia)
- Spencer Traceback (The Treasure of Monte Zoom)
- Pete McMoss (Pottsylvania Creeper)
- Hushaboom inventor Bermuda Schwartz's mother (Banana Formula)
- Honeychile Moosemoss (Buried Treasure)
- Little Old Apple "Witch Lady" (Louse On Ninety-Second Street)
- Babyface Braunschweiger, the Minnesota Monster (Buried Treasure)
- Sherlock Ohms (Missouri Mish Mash)
- Hailfellow J. Backslap, Official Washington Greeter (Missouri Mish Mash)
- Black Angus (Lazy J. Ranch)
- "Crazy Legs" Cowpuss, the football player (Wossamotta U)
- Boris Claus (Topsy Turvy World)
- Claude Badley, a Lion tamer (Bumbling Brothers Circus)
- Taxi driver (Jet Fuel Formula and Moosylvania)
- Steamboat captain / card player (The Weather Lady)
- Van N. Storridge, a moving man (Moosylvania Saved)
- Igmar Badenov, director (Rocky and Bullwinkle Fan Club segment)
- The Knave of Hearts (Bullwinkle's Corner segment "The Queen of Hearts")
- Pieman (Bullwinkle's Corner segment "Simple Simon")