Born in the village of Vyrubovo, Kuntsevo district, Moscow oblast, RSFSR, USSR. Famous clown. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1956). People's Artist of the RSFSR (1958). People's 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 (1951-1953). 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...