Oleg Popov, Russian clown and circus entertainer, Died at 86

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Oleg Konstantinovich Popov was born on July 31, 1930, and died on November 2, 2016.

He was a Soviet and Russian clown and circus artist.

He was called the “Clown Soleil” (“Sunshine clown”) by French journalist Jacqueline Cartier—a nickname that eventually stuck.

During 1955, Oleg performed abroad for the first time, in Warsaw, and the following year, he toured with the Moscow Circus in France, Belgium, and England, and was immediately noticed by the press, which made him a circus star.

The Soviet regime would quickly build onto his success abroad and transform Oleg Popov into a goodwill ambassador for the Soviet Union.

Popov appeared in 1958 at the Brussels World Fair, and in 1957, he was broadcast from Moscow on American television.

Popov toured the United States in 1963 and 1972 with the Moscow Circus.

During 1969, Oleg Popov was honored with the title of People’s Artist of the USSR.

Oleg had toured extensively around the world in subsequent years with the Moscow Circus.

Whilst in Australia, he was named King of Moomba (1971).

He died due to a cardiac arrest while on tour at a hotel in Rostov-on-Don.

Oleg Popov passed away at 86 years old.