Oleg Popov

Oleg Popov

Oleg Konstantinovich Popov (Russian: Оле́г Константи́нович Попо́в, born 31 July 1930) is a famous Soviet and Russian clown and circus artist. Popov is also called the "Sunshine clown".

He was born on 31 July 1930 in Moscow, the son of a clock-maker. He studied elements of acrobatics, juggling, and other circus skills in his youth. In 1949, he graduated from the Russian circus school in Moscow and started his career in the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. Six years later, he became the first clown from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to perform in the Western world. In 1969, he was honored with the title of People's Artist of the USSR. Popov's fame extended to Melbourne, Australia, where he was named King of Moomba (1971).

Read more about Oleg Popov:  Career