Leonid Yengibarov

Leonid Yengibarov studied at State School of Circus and Variety Arts. The recorded working language is Russian. The field of work recorded is film screenwriting, acting and pantomime. Places of work recorded in the authority are Soviet Union. Employment is recorded with Novosibirsk State Circus and Yerevan state circus. Works named in the authority record are Road to the Stage. Distinctions recorded are People's Artist of the Armenian SSR.

• Name — Leonid Yengibaryan • Born — March 15, 1935 • Birthplace — Moscow, Soviet Union • Died — 25 July 1972 • Place of death — Moscow, Soviet Union • Resting Place — Vagankovo Cemetery, Moscow • Occupation — Clown and actor • Partner — Jarmila Galamkova • Children — 1

Leonid Yengibarov was born in Moscow to an Armenian father and a Russian mother. He started his career as a boxer. In 1955 he joined the State School of Circus Art, Clownship department. He graduated from Circus school with skills in juggling, acrobatics, and hand balancing. After graduation in 1959 he moved to Yerevan and joined the Armenian state circus. • Illustration — Statue of Leonid Yengibaryan in Tsaghkadzor He was one of the first Soviet clowns to create the poetic, intellectual clownery, which made spectators think, not only laugh. Leonid Yengibarov, 'the clown with sad eyes', revolutionized the art of clownery by introducing lyrical tones into traditional buffoonery and grotesque sequences. According to the Spectacle journal, he has shown the direction. He was the innovator. He began to do clown gags that were not funny, but very sad. They ended sadly. He felt that life was not funny anymore. After initial incomprehension, his popularity grew immensely. After that he was invited to work in cinema. His first film, A Path to the Arena, was in fact about himself. By the end of the 1960s he was known as one of the best clowns in the country and in the countries of the Eastern bloc, where he was permitted to travel. His circus career came to a halt in 1971: he left the State Circus when his partner was banned from international touring. He created a Variety Pantomime Theatre (Estradny teatr pantomimy) instead. However officially he was forbidden to call his company “theatre”, only allowed to use the term “troupe” (ансамбль). He managed to stage only a single piece, “Star Rain” before his untimely death from a massive heart attack. He is buried at the Vagankovo cemetery, Moscow. His work continues influencing other artists including Slava Polunin. His friend Vladimir Vysotsky wrote a shrill poem "To memory of the actor; To Yengibarov from the audience". Alla Pugacheva dedicated her song "Arlekino" to Yengibarov: "He was my favourite clown and even died while working. Just think: he died from laughter".

Yengibarov played in 15 films, including: • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1963 — Road to the Stage (Путь на арену) — Leonid (himself) • 1965 — Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (Тени забытых предков) — Myko — directed by Sergei Parajanov • 1966 — Aybolit-66 (Айболит-66) — Cheerful clown # 1 • 1971 — A Necklace for My Beloved — Sugur — Comedy, directed by Tengiz Abuladze, cast in the Georgian SSR, Soviet Union • 1972 — Happy Go Lucky (Stoves-Benches, Печки-лавочки) — clown