Oleg Popov

Born in the village of Vyrubovo Kuntsevo district Moscow oblast RSFSR USSR Famous clown Honored Artist of the RSFSR 1956 Peoples Artist of the RSFSR 1958 Peoples Artist of the USSR 1969 Educated at the State School of Circus Arts graduated in 1950 Began his career as an equilibrist performing with the act Eccentric on a Free Wire In 1951 he debuted as a carpet clown He finally established himself in this role in the Youth Circus Group 19511953 Created the artistic image of the Sunny Clown an indefatigable guy with a shock of blond hair in deliberately wide striped pants and a checkered cap The artist took part in the first tours of the Soviet circus in Western Europe These trips brought him worldwide fame Since 1991 he lived and worked in Germany where he performed under the pseudonym Hans im Glück Happy Hans In June 2015 for the first time after 24 years of living in Germany he visited Russia On June 30 he performed in the arena of the Sochi Circus with two reprises as part of the International Professional Circus Award Master In December 2015 he performed in St Petersburg at the opening of the Ciniselli Circus after restoration He died in RostovonDon where he was on tour