Andrei Nikolayevich Nikolayev (russian: Андрей Николаевич Николаев, 27 March 1938 – 14 August 2023) was a Soviet and Russian clown, artistic director and teacher.

Biography

Nikolayev graduated from the State School of Circus in 1958, and from the

Russian Institute of Theatre Arts The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) (russian: Российский институт театрального искусства – ГИТИС) is the largest and oldest independent theatrical arts school in Russia. Located in Moscow, ...

in 1973 with an artistic director degree. During his early career he assisted

Karandash Mikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev (russian: Михаи́л Никола́евич Румя́нцев; 10 December 1901 – 31 March 1983), better known under his stage name Karandash (russian: Каранда́ш which means ''pencil''), was a famou ...

and

Emil Kio Emil Teodorovich Kio (né Emil Teodorovich Girshfeld-Renard) (russian: Эмиль Теодорович Кио, Эмиль Теодорович Гиршфельд-Ренард; 11 April 1894 – 19 December 1965) was Soviet illusionist,

, but since 1960s performed on his own. In 1978 he became head of the group "Komediinyi Tsirk" (Comedy Cricus) and designed the

spectacle In general, spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Derived in Middle English from c. 1340 as "specially prepared or arranged display" it was borrowed from Old French ''spectacle'', itself a reflection of the ...

s ''I Work As a Clown'' (''russian: Я работаю клоуном'', 1978) and ''Topsy-turvy'' (''russian: Шиворот-навыворот'', 1987), where he also played leading roles. In the 1990s he wrote several award-winning compositions for other clowns, including his son Andrei Nikolayev Jr. (1966–2007). Nikolayev was awarded Grock d'or in 1969 and became a

People's Artist of the RSFSR People's Artist of the RSFSR (russian: Народный артист РСФСР, ''Narodnyj artist RSFSR'') was an honorary title granted to Soviet Union artists, including theatre and film directors, choreographers, music performers, and orchest ...

in 1980. From 1976 he lectured at the

. Nikolayev died on 14 August 2023, at the age of 85.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikolayev, Andrei 1938 births 2023 deaths Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the RSFSR Recipients of the Order of Honour (Russia) Russian clowns Soviet clowns