Leonid Yengibarov
Encyclopedia
Leonid Georgievich Yengibarov was a Soviet
clown
and actor
.
Leonid Yengibarov was born in Moscow
to an Armenian
father and a Russian
mother. He started his career as a boxer
. In 1955 he joined the State School of Circus Art, Clownship department. After graduation in 1959 he moved to Yerevan
and joined the Armenian state circus.
He was one of the first Soviet clowns to create the poetic, intellectual clownery, which made spectators think, not only laugh. After initial incomprehension, his popularity grew immensely. After that he was invited to work in cinema. His first film, A Path to the Arena, was in fact about himself.
By the end of 1960s he was known as one of the best clowns in the country and in the countries of the Eastern bloc
, where he was permitted to travel. His circus career came to a halt in 1971: he left the State Circus when his partner was banned from international touring. He created a Pantomime Theatre (эстрадный театр пантомимы) instead. However officially he was forbidden to call his company “theatre”, only allowed to use the term “troupe” (ансамбль). He managed to stage only a single piece, “Star Rain” before his untimely death.
Films about him
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Leonid Yengibarov was born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to an Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
father and a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
mother. He started his career as a boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. In 1955 he joined the State School of Circus Art, Clownship department. After graduation in 1959 he moved to Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
and joined the Armenian state circus.
He was one of the first Soviet clowns to create the poetic, intellectual clownery, which made spectators think, not only laugh. After initial incomprehension, his popularity grew immensely. After that he was invited to work in cinema. His first film, A Path to the Arena, was in fact about himself.
By the end of 1960s he was known as one of the best clowns in the country and in the countries of the Eastern bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
, where he was permitted to travel. His circus career came to a halt in 1971: he left the State Circus when his partner was banned from international touring. He created a Pantomime Theatre (эстрадный театр пантомимы) instead. However officially he was forbidden to call his company “theatre”, only allowed to use the term “troupe” (ансамбль). He managed to stage only a single piece, “Star Rain” before his untimely death.
Filmography
- 1963: A Path to the Arena, Путь на арену
- 1964: Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, Тени забытых предков
- 1966: Aybolit-66, Айболит-66
- 1971: A Necklace for My Beloved, Ожерелье для моей любимой. (Comedy, directed by Tengiz AbuladzeTengiz AbuladzeTengiz Abuladze was a Georgian film director.Abuladze studied theatre direction at the Shota Rustaveli Theatre Institute, Tbilisi, Georgia, and filmmaking at the VGIK in Moscow. He graduated VGIK in 1952 and in 1953 he joined Gruziya-film as a director...
, cast in the Georgian SSR, Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
) - 1972: Stoves-Benches, Печки-лавочки
Films about him
- Please meet Leonid Yengibarov, Знакомьтесь: Леонид Енгибаров
- 2 Leonid 2, 2 Леонид 2