Post in memory of Oleg Popov: our beloved sunny clown left us

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

November 2, 2016 did not become a genius clown, a favorite of the public Oleg Popov … The talented artist lived a long and interesting life, and devoted himself entirely to the circus. At 86, he still shone on stage, bathed in applause from grateful spectators. He left in an instant, sat down to watch TV, died of a heart attack. Today we remember how "Sunny clown" found his calling, and what funny things happened to him over a long life.

From locksmiths to circus performers

Childhood and adolescence of Oleg Popov was not easy: in the war years, in order to help the family, as a 13-year-old boy, he got a job at a printing plant in the newspaper "Pravda". He was hired as a locksmith's assistant and was given 550 grams of bread a day as payment for labor. The young man did not think about becoming an artist, but he became interested in acrobatics, began to attend the sports section in his free time, and even took part in demonstration performances several times. It was then that the head of the State Circus School noticed him and offered to enter the university. The argument in favor of the circus was … a "scholarship" of 650 grams of bread. This 100-gram bonus initially captivated the future actor, although when he got to the arena for the first time, he immediately realized that he would not leave the circus.

Career start and branded cap

Like many artists, Popov thought for a long time about how to find his ideal image. At first, he played the role of a juggler and tightrope walker, after that he received an offer to star in a circus film. These shootings turned out to be significant for the actor: while working at Mosfilm, he found and tried on a checkered cap, seeing his reflection, he realized: here he is - a recognizable image! A red head of hair and a cap have forever become his trademark.

Ideas for performances

Many miniatures that Oleg Popov performed on stage went down in the history of clowning. The artist loved to talk about how he came up with ideas for creating a number. So, the reprise "Treatment with laughter" was based on the fact that the clown played the role of a doctor who boils syringes at the reception, but instead takes out sausages from the pan, which he immediately tastes. The idea of the number was born to Oleg Popov when he was being treated at the hospital.

Overseas tours

Oleg Popov was one of the record holders for the number of overseas tours. Interestingly, even the appearance of his stage name "sunny clown", the artist owes a performance in London. After the performance of the number in the English capital, all the morning newspapers were full of headlines that the clown's performance was so warm that it dispersed the eternal smog and rainy clouds. So Popov became bright, warm, sunny.

A lot was connected with abroad in the life of the artist. In the 1990s, he emigrated to Germany, the reason was simple - there he felt in demand, and at home he could barely make ends meet. He lost all his savings, received a penny pension. He bitterly admitted that he simply did not see the opportunity to stay in Russia, although he sincerely loved this country.

Devotion to work

Oleg Popov was a real fan of his work: he rehearsed every day, gave his best on stage 100. There were absolutely desperate cases in his life. For example, once for a performance he was brought directly from the hospital in an ambulance. Popov was then in the hospital with pneumonia, but the circus was sold out, and the audience was eager to see their beloved clown. Another case when the work in the literal sense of the word did not let the artist go was associated with the funeral of his wife. Popov's first wife suffered from oncology, she died when Popov was on tour abroad. He could not go to her funeral: tickets for the next day were sold, the audience wanted a holiday. Popov visited his wife's grave only 25 years later, and all these years he felt guilty.

Dreams Come True

In one of the last interviews, Oleg Popov was frank about his dreams. He said that his cherished desire was to live to the age of 80 and perform in the arena. And also - to live in the middle of the forest, surrounded by nature. And so it happened, at the age of 86, the public's favorite was still shining in the light of the spotlights, and his house in Nuremberg really looked like an island lost among the trees. “The main thing is that a person leaves behind clean footprints, and he has a favorite profession,” said the sunny clown. AND Oleg Popov it truly succeeded.