Igor Kio was a Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n illusionist

Magic (illusion)

Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...

 with the Russian Circus Association. A member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians

International Brotherhood of Magicians

International Brotherhood of Magicians is the world's largest organization for professional and amateur magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St...

, he won numerous awards including People's Artist of the Russian Federation and an Oscar from Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

.

Igor was born into a family of circus performers, to another noted Russian magician Emil Kio

Emil Kio

Emil Teodorovich Kio, born Emil Teodorovich Girshfeld-Renard was Soviet illusionist, People's Artist of the RSFSR.His sons, Igor Kio and Emil Kio, Jr., had become famous Soviet magicians as well.-References:...

. Taught from birth, he began appearing in front of audiences at the age of 5. By the age of 15, he was working professionally as a magician.

In addition to his work with the state circus company, he often performed on television, including an annual New Years Day program in the 1980s.

He was married briefly to Galina Brezhneva

Galina Brezhneva

Galina Leonidovna Brezhneva was the daughter of Soviet politician and longtime General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev and Viktoria Brezhneva.-Life and death:...

, the daughter of Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev  – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...

, a union which lasted only 9 days.