Youri Vladimirovitch Nikouline (in Russian, ЮрийВладимировичНикулин; December 18th 1921 – August 21st 1997) was a Clown and a Russian Acteur of reputation, which played in many popular Film S.

Nikouline served in the Red Army during the patriotic Great War and the Guerre with Winter against the Finland. Once the end of the arrived war, it posed its candidature in several schools of actor and theaters but was readjusted for " miss talent artistique". It was then accepted with the Cirque of Moscow on the Boulevard Tsvetnoï and worked over there during more than 50 years, passing from simple clown with Directeur of the circus. Its most known films include comedies such as Brilliantovaya Rouka (in French, " the Diamond Arm "), 12 Stoulyev (" the 12 Chairs "), Stariki-Razboïniki , but it was also acclaimed for its roles in the famous Andrei Roublev of Andreï Tarkovski and in several films treating of the Second world war ( They fought for the fatherland Sergueï Bondartchouk, 20 days without war of Alexeï Guerman…). In Russia, it is also known to have played “Balbes” in popular telefilms putting in scene a small trio of criminals ( Opération Y and Other Adventures of Chourik , and Kidnapper Caucasian Style carried out by Leonid Gaïdaï).

During all its life, Nikouline was an amateur of funny stories, which it started to collect during his service in the army. This leisure was transformed later into a show televised (" the Club of the Parrot Bland ") and in books of jokes.

In 1973, it accepted the title of Artiste of the People of the USSR, then that of Héros of socialist work in 1990. His/her son took his succession as director of the circus. With the front of the circus throne a monument with the effigy of Youri Nikouline, and the circus is called now Cirque Nikouline. Nikouline was buried with the Cimetière of Novodevitchi to Moscow.

External bonds

• Great Russian Clown Yuri Nikulin