How did the fate of the 9 "Odessa gentlemen", who made the USSR laugh 35 years ago?

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The KVN team of Odessa University was one of the most popular and successful in the 1980s. Their philosophical jokes and unique manner of performance won the hearts of the audience, and the participants themselves were allowed to later release the bright and unforgettable "Gentleman Show" on the screens. They were at the top of their popularity, they could be seen in various humorous shows. How did their lives develop after fame?

Oleg Filimonov

One of the brightest members of the team, before joining KVN, taught English at Odessa University, was engaged in business, but failed, but succeeded on television. After the Gentleman Show closed, he hosted TV shows, collaborated with The Masks Show, wrote scripts for humorous programs, and made his wife Larissa come to terms with the fact that he refused to defend his doctoral dissertation for the sake of a showman's career. He currently lives and works in Odessa, he is a co-owner of the Zolotoy Duke cinema and a production agency, and owns several real estate objects that he leases. In 2020, he received the title of People's Artist of Ukraine and took part in the mayoral elections, but lost.

Janislav Levinzon

He was remembered by the audience, first of all, by his number with a mirror and the uttered phrase: “I was thinking here, what is our main strength. And now I see - in beauty! " In the early 1990s, Yan and his family left for Israel, where they still live in the city of Netanya. But he never interrupted his connection with Odessa, often flew to the recording of the "Gentleman Show", became the art director of the Israeli KVN League, founded by the "Odessa-Club" company. True, all this was a little later, and immediately after the move, he was a simple worker at a plant producing solar boilers, then he became a process engineer there, later worked in the tourism business, was a presenter on television. And he never parted with KVN. Today he is the deputy general director for public relations of a large medical center.

Svetoslav Pelishenko

The famous phrase of Svetoslav Pelishenko, uttered by him from the stage of KVN, became the motto of the Faculty of Physics of Odessa University: "If you entered the Faculty of Physics, you did the right thing." And the captain of the KVN team "Odessa Gentlemen" also did the right thing, but when science ceased to provide an opportunity to provide for himself and his family, he began to write scripts. As a screenwriter for the Gorodok TV program, he won the TEFI award, and he also has scripts for several popular TV series. Currently, he is the head of the department of humorous programs on Russian television.

Eduard Nedelko

He opened the first Ukrainian FM radio station, where he was the general producer, author and host of programs, organized tourist cruises, and after moving to Moscow became an organizer of events. On his Instagram page, he calls himself Eddie Nedelko, an artist and Moscow presenter for dollar billionaires with perfect English.

Vladislav Tsarev

He was a co-author and presenters of humorous programs, later became a co-owner of several cinemas and has been distributing films since 1999. He acted as the author of the one-man show "Man in front of the mirror", written especially for Janislav Levinson.

Svetlana Fabrikant

After "Odessa Gentlemen" Svetala Fabrikant took up television journalism, worked in the Odessa television company, hosted programs, was the editor-in-chief, and then the general director. Later she moved to the civil service, worked at the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, in 2012 she was elected a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, and now Svetlana Fabrikant holds the post of First Deputy Chairman of the Odessa Regional State Administration.

Evgeny Khait

He put a lot of his efforts and skills into creating several humorous programs, including "Gentleman Show" and "Laughter Chamber", but now he devotes all his time to his group "Hayit + 5", where he performs surrounded by five beauties accompanying him … True, sometimes it is impossible to listen to his repertoire in front of children. Evgeny Khait is active on social networks and often pleases his subscribers with anecdotes and funny stories that are contraindicated for persons under 18 years of age.

Igor Golovin

Today he is better known as an actor, and not as a participant in "Odessa Gentlemen". He served at the Liteiny Theater, the Baltic House, the Fontanka Youth Theater and the Farsy Theater. The filmography of Igor Golovin has more than 180 works, and he continues to act in films.

Sergey Olekh

He not only played in KVN and subsequently starred in many humorous shows, but also actively revived the legendary Odessa Humorina. He could be seen in films and TV shows, and then Sergey Olekh hosted his own youtube channel. Unfortunately, when doctors diagnosed the showman with an oncological disease, he did not begin treatment, continued to work and kept his condition secret almost until the last day. He died in April 2017.

KVN stars delighted their viewers with sparkling jokes and bright performances. It seemed that their whole life is as easy and fun as a game. but outside the club real tragedies happened in their lives. They lost loved ones, they were given terrible diagnoses, and sometimes the lives of the participants in the game ended tragically.