Yuriy Nikulin

Yuriy Nikulin

1921-12-18 – 1997-08-21 (age 75) Demidov, Smolenskaya oblast, RSFSR, USSR
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Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin (Russian: Юрий Владимирович Никулин; 18 December 1921 – 21 August 1997) was a well-known Soviet and Russian actor and clown who starred in many popular films. He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1973 andHero of Socialist Labour in 1990. He also received a number of state awards, including the prestigious Order of Lenin, which he received twice in his lifetime.

Nikulin's effortless style and precise delivery, as well as his mastery of timing and his hilarious masks made him an outstanding comedian, arguably the best Russian comedian ever. Nikulin showed his range in a variety of genres from slapstick comedy to romance and war drama. His most popular film partners were Georgiy Vitsin, Yevgeni Morgunov,Natalya Varley, Rolan Bykov, Anatoli Papanov, Sergei Filippov, Mikhail Pugovkin, Aleksandr Demyanenko, Leonid Kuravlyov, Andrey Mironov, Evgeni Evstigneev, Vasili Shukshin, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Sergei Bondarchuk, Nikolay Burlyaev, Viktor Pavlov, Boris Novikov Vladimir Etush, Saveli Kramarov, Nikolai Grinko, and many other notable Russian actors. In the ring, Nikulin presented a phlegmatic temperament, slow and unsmiling, and to many in the West his personality was reminiscent of the great silent film comedian Buster Keaton. Rich in mimicry, doleful of expression, Nikulin was hailed as “a brainy clown” outside Russia. Simple in style and gentle with children, his only vestiges of make-up were a reddened nose and black lines around his eyes, much different from the grotesquely painted faces of Western clowns. Nikulin, affectionately called Uncle Yury by Russian children, relied mainly upon his wits to earn his place in history as one of the best clowns of the 20th century.

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Known For

Andrei Rublev
Andrei Rublev

1966

as Patrikey

Kidnapping, Caucasian Style
The Diamond Arm
The Diamond Arm

1969

as Semyon Semyonovich Gorbunkov

Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures
Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures

1965

as «Balbes» (segment "Operation Y")

When the Trees Were Tall
When the Trees Were Tall

1961

as Kuzma Kuzmich Iordanov

No Fear, No Blame
No Fear, No Blame

1962

as clown

Strictly Business
Strictly Business

1963

as thief (story «Makes the Whole World Kin»)

Old Men: Robbers
Old Men: Robbers

1972

as Николай Мячиков

They Fought for Their Motherland
12 Chairs
12 Chairs

1971

as janitor Tikhon

Dog Barbos and Unusual Cross
Dog Barbos and Unusual Cross

1961

as «Балбес»

Big "Wick"
Big "Wick"

1964

as Петя-Петушок (нлвелла «Влип»)

Young-Green
Young-Green

1962

as Nikolai

Scarecrow
Scarecrow

1983

as Nikolay Bessoltsev - Lena's grandfather

Bootleggers
Bootleggers

1962

as «Балбес»

Give Me a Complaints Book
Give Me a Complaints Book

1964

as продавец

Sovershenno seryozno
Sovershenno seryozno

1961

as «Балбес» (новелла «Пёс Барбос и необычный кросс»)

My Friend, Kolka!
My Friend, Kolka!

1961

as Vasya

Bobik Visiting Barbos
Bobik Visiting Barbos

1977

as Bobik (voice)