People’s Artist of the USSR Yury Nikulin (1921-1997), circus performer and screen actor, director of the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard, was born on December 18, 1921. \nIn 1950, Nikulin began his career as a clown at the Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard. He was an assistant, apprentice and then partner of Karandash the Clown. \nFor many years, he worked as a clown with his partner, Mikhail Shuidin, and his wife, Tatyana. Together they wrote many entertaining and funny skits and short comedies, which were inspired by real life. In 1982, Nikulin became director general and artistic director of the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard, staging many programs, including “I Work as a Clown,” “On the Wings of Time,” “Hello, Old Circus,” “The Boulevard of Our Childhood” and “The Fair of Wonder.” \nYury Nikulin starred in over 40 films, beloved by people of all ages. Among them were “The Diamond Hand,” “Kidnapping, Caucasian Style,” “Operation Y,” “Come Here, Mukhtar!”, “Twenty Years Without War,” “When the Trees were Tall,” “The Scarecrow.” \nDuring most his life, Nikulin collected jokes and he published several jokes books known as “Jokes by Nikulin” with the tagline, “For Fun and Joy.” His book “Almost Serious” has been reprinted several times. For many years, Nikulin hosted the TV program “The White Parrot,” where famous people told jokes and funny stories. In 1997, Nikulin established the charity foundation, Circus and Mercy, to help young and retired circus workers. On August 21, 1997, Nikulin’s life ended, but people in Russia will always remember this great actor and clown.
