Maxim Galkin

Maxim Galkin studied at Gymnasium No. 1543 and Russian State University for the Humanities. The recorded working language is Russian, French and English. The field of work recorded is acting and singing. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are estrada. Employment is recorded with Dancing with the Stars, Two stars and Kto khochet stat' millionerom? Works named in the authority record are The Big Trip. Distinctions recorded are Order of Friendship, Golden Ostap, Silver Play Button and Triumph.

• Name — Maxim Galkin • Birth Name — Maxim Alexandrovich Galkin • Born — 18 June 1976 • Birthplace — Naro-Fominsky District, Soviet Union • Education — Russian State University for the Humanities • Occupation — Humorist, parodist, television presenter • Years Active — 2000–present • Children — 2 • Website — maxgalkin.ru

He first became famous as an impersonator and is known for his talent at parody and his duets with the famous Russian pop singer Alla Pugacheva and Ani Lorak. Galkin was the host of the Russian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? from 2001 to 2008. From March 15, 2009, to April 24, 2016, he was the co-host of the project "Dancing with the Stars", initially paired with Darya Zlatopolskaya. From November 12 to December 18, 2010, he was paired again with Darya Zlatopolskaya, the host of the project "Stilyagi Show". In 2010, Galkin was one of the few comedians performing an impression, albeit 'light-hearted', of President Vladimir Putin, on Russia's Channel One TV channel. On New Year's Eve in 2013, Galkin and the then popular Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy performed together in a traditional New Year's program called “Little Blue Light” on the Russia-1 TV channel. Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, who later became a leading Kremlin propagandist, also appeared on the show as one of the presenters and danced in the audience during Galkin and Zelenskyy's performance. After November 2016, he hosted a children's, talent show on TV "Best of all" and did so at least until mid-2017.

Galkin is Jewish, from his mother's side. Since 2001, Galkin has been romantically involved with Soviet and Russian singer Alla Pugacheva. On 24 December 2011, the couple married, despite the significant age gap. On 18 September 2013 Galkin and Pugacheva became the biological parents of twins via a surrogate mother – Elizaveta and Harry. In 2022, Galkin and Pugacheva fled to Israel. In August 2022, Russian media reports suggested that his wife and children may have returned to Russia, and in September 2022, Russia listed him as a foreign agent. Since then, every post he uploads on Instagram has a 24-word disclaimer stating that he is a foreign agent. Russian media also puts an asterisk to his name stating that he is a foreign agent. In January 2024, Galkin was denied entry to Bali, Indonesia, at the request of the Russian government. Galkin's performances were also canceled in Thailand and Kazakhstan. As of 2024, Pugacheva resided in Cyprus.

Galkin has been openly critical about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He accused the Russian authorities of hypocrisy and lies with respect to war crimes that Russia has committed in firing rockets at the Ukrainian city of Odesa, its siege and destruction of Mariupol and its atrocities in Bucha. He spoke up negatively about the Russian gay propaganda law, comparing it to a 'witch-hunt', which is created only for political PR and public distraction from more important issues. However, he does not deem it necessary to legalize same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption because it can provoke a negative reaction in society.

Born at Naro-Fominsky district in 1976, he pursued his early education at Gymnasium No. 1543 prior to undertaking university studies at the Russian State University for the Humanities. Authority records compiled by Wikidata list his formal occupations as impressionist, comedian, actor, singer, humorist, and television presenter, with recorded working languages in Russian, French, and English. His early training and linguistic skills laid the foundation for a career spanning parodic performance, vocal artistry, and broadcast media. The legal citizenship records associated with Galkin reflect subtle distinctions across documentation institutions. In contrast, narrative accounts from English Wikipedia characterize Galkin as a Russian and Israeli comedian, highlighting his maternal Jewish ancestry and noting his relocation to Israel following political developments in March 2022. The Wikipedia record further indicates that by 2024 his wife resided in Cyprus. Whether Galkin holds independent formal legal citizenship in Cyprus alongside his recorded Russian and Israeli ties remains unconfirmed in the verified materials.

Galkin's broadcast career is documented across multiple prominent television productions and stage performances in Russia. According to structured Wikidata authority records and biographical entries from English Wikipedia, he served as the host of the television quiz programme Kto khochet stat' millionerom?, the Russian adaptation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, from 2001 until 2008. From 15 March 2009 until 24 April 2016, Galkin co-hosted Dancing with the Stars, initially appearing alongside co-host Darya Zlatopolskaya. The two presenters worked together again between 12 November and 18 December 2010 on the project Stilyagi Show. From November 2016 until at least mid-2017, Galkin hosted the children's talent show Best of all. Additional television employment recorded in Wikidata includes the broadcast projects Two stars and One in one!. In addition to his presenter roles, Galkin achieved prominence within the estrada genre as an impressionist and singer. English Wikipedia notes that in 2010 he performed a light-hearted impression of President Vladimir Putin on Russia's Channel One. On New Year's Eve in 2013, Galkin appeared alongside Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the traditional Russia-1 programme Little Blue Light, in a broadcast co-hosted by television presenter Vladimir Solovyov. His creative output includes the work The Big Trip, cited in Wikidata authority records. In recognition of his professional activities, Galkin received national and institutional honours, including the Order of Friendship, the Golden Ostap, the Silver Play Button, and the Triumph award.

Galkin's artistic career features high-profile vocal and comedic partnerships, most notably with pop singer Alla Pugacheva and singer Ani Lorak. According to English Wikipedia, Galkin became romantically involved with Alla Pugacheva in 2001, and the couple married on 24 December 2011. On 18 September 2013, Galkin and Pugacheva became the biological parents of twins, Elizaveta and Harry, born via a surrogate mother. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Galkin left Russia in March 2022, eventually settling in Israel. In September 2022, the Russian government designated Galkin as a foreign agent, prompting media outlets to affix formal disclaimers to his name and social media posts. Russian media reports in August 2022 indicated that his family had briefly returned to Russia before subsequent international relocations. Galkin's public statements concerning Russian state policy generated significant international attention. He also expressed opposition to Russian legislation concerning gay propaganda, characterizing it as a distraction from pressing governance issues, while maintaining that he did not support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage or adoption. Following his political exile, Galkin faced international performance cancellations, including entry denial to Bali, Indonesia, in January 2024 at the request of the Russian government, alongside cancelled appearances in Thailand and Kazakhstan.