Leonid Yengibarov

Leonid Georgievich Yengibarov (Armenian: Լեոնիդ Ենգիբարյան; Russian: Леонид Георгиевич Енгибаров; March 15, 1935 – July 25, 1972) was a Soviet clown and actor.

Yengibarov was born in Moscow. His father was Armenian. His mother was Russian. He started his career as a boxer. In 1955 he joined the State School of Circus Art. 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. He was invited to work in cinema. His first film was A Path to the Arena.

In 1960s he was known as one of the best clowns in the USSR and Eastern bloc. He created a pantomime troupe, and managed to stage only a single piece, "Star Rain" before his death in 1972.

Family

Wife: Jarmila Galamkova

Daughter: Barbara Yengibarova (Born in 1965)

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 Abuladze, cast in the Georgian SSR, Soviet Union)
1972: Stoves-Benches, Печки-лавочки

Films about him

Please meet Leonid Yengibarov,
2 Leonid 2, 2 Леонид 2