early years
Koklyushkin Viktor Mikhailovich was born on November 27, 1945 in Moscow. While still at school, the future satirist began working in a factory. Then the young man went to the army. Having devoted several years to serving his homeland, Viktor Koklyushkin returned to the capital. The guy entered the publishing and printing college. At the same time, the future artist began to attend theater courses at GITIS. Here the guy learned stagecraft.
Before engaging in public activities, Viktor Koklyushkin changed a wide range of professions. The artist made his living as a mechanic, worked as a newspaper editor, text proofreader, and was a commandant at the military registration and enlistment office.
Victor Koklyushkin - biography
Viktor Mikhailovich was born in 1945 in Moscow. After graduating from school, the young man went to serve in the army, and when he returned, he began to study at a printing college.
Victor considers 1969 to be the beginning of his literary activity. He began to write humorous stories, which were published in many literary newspapers and magazines, and already in 1972, his miniatures began to be performed by Evgeniy Kravinsky, the entertainer of the Mosconcert.
Beginning in 1980, Koklyushkin began writing for the stage, and at the same time he graduated from the Higher Theater Courses at GITIS, receiving a diploma in the specialty “variety playwright”.
Despite the fact that the comedian himself remained behind the scenes for a long time, his monologues increasingly began to be included in the repertoire of such famous comedians as Evgeny Petrosyan, Vladimir Vinokur, Efim Shefrin and Klara Novikova.
Only at the age of 38 did he decide to show himself to the audience, taking part in the program “Around Laughter”, where he presented his story. And, oddly enough, despite his peculiar appearance - bald, with ridiculously large glasses and a nasal voice, the author immediately fell in love with the audience, and his jokes instantly began to spread among the people.
But the real triumph of the author was the monologue he wrote, “Hello, Lucy!”, which was performed by Efim Shefrin.
The success of Koklyushkin’s humorous monologues was not accidental, because their plots were based on his observations and life stories that were understandable and close to ordinary people.
In addition to writing stories and monologues, Viktor Mikhailovich wrote many plays and scripts for various programs, becoming actively involved with television. The most famous were the program “It Was Winter” and the film “Uncle Vanya and Others”, released on Channel One, for which he wrote the scripts.
By the way: Evgeny Petrosyan - biography, family, children
In addition, he constantly took part in such popular programs as “Full House”, “Corrupt Mirror”, “Humor Club” “Smehopanorama” and others, and was also the author and host of the weekly program “Have you called a comedian?”
TV viewers often ask whether it is true that Koklyushkin is Jewish, and is this really his real name? The comedian himself has repeatedly stated in his interviews that he is Russian, and even said that his surname has ancient origins, meaning “to rattle bobbins,” which in the old days was interpreted as “telling funny stories.”
Creative debut
Even while working at the factory, Viktor Koklyushkin devoted his free time to writing satirical stories. The aspiring author decided to send his most successful creation, which was liked by numerous colleagues in the production workshop, to one of the capital’s printed publications. For several weeks, Koklyushkin bought a newspaper, hoping to see his own story on its pages. However, this never happened. Later, the author received an explanatory letter, which said that his humorous story about the adventures of drinking friends was censored and could not be published in a decent publication.
The refusal did not bother Victor at all. After some time, another satirical work came out from his pen. The second story was sent by the author to the editorial office of Literaturnaya Gazeta. Soon, Viktor Koklyushkin finally saw his work on the pages of a printed publication and even more. The satirist received an offer from the newspaper to become a regular author of its humorous column.
For some time, Viktor Koklyushkin actively composed satirical stories for Literaturnaya Gazeta. Then his stories began to enjoy success among a wide audience. The author began to be invited to Moscow radio stations, where he read out his works live. Viktor Koklyushkin decided to leave the backbreaking work at the factory where he worked at that time, because they paid much more for humorous performances.
A difficult biography and the path to success
Yesterday, November 27, Viktor Mikhailovich celebrated his 75th birthday. We know him as a brilliant satirist writer, an artist with his own style, who has shone more than once in Full House and Crooked Mirror. Koklyushkin was glorified by the monologue “Ale, Lyusya,” created for Efim Shifrin.
A native Muscovite, Vitya learned hard work as a child to help his family. He mastered the profession of a mechanic, helped repair machines, but then was drafted into the army, which changed his worldview. It became clear to Victor that the factory machine could do without him, which had a different purpose.
But the path was tortuous and difficult, so Koklyushkin had to work both as a commandant at the military registration and enlistment office and as a proofreader. This was followed by studying at a technical school and taking courses at GITIS. Having received a diploma as a pop playwright, Victor felt more confident in the literary field.
The creativity was appreciated by venerable comedians: Evgeny Petrosyan, Elena Stepanenko, Klara Novikova, Vladimir Vinokur. And in subsequent years, Viktor Mikhailovich actively worked on creating plays, scripts for the film “Uncle Vanya and Others”, and for the program “It Was Winter”. He writes satirist and novels. More than ten books came out from his pen, which were also translated into other languages.
Working on television
In the 70s, Viktor Mikhailovich Koklyushkin acquired the status of a famous satirist. The author's humorous stories appealed to a wide audience. His literary creations became part of the repertoire of many Soviet comedians. Koklyushkin wrote monologues for Efim Shifrin, Evgeny Petrosyan, Klara Novikova, Vladimir Vinokur. Despite the success of his stories, the artist himself always preferred to remain behind the scenes.
Viktor Koklyushkin decided to make a public appearance only at the age of 38. At this time, he was invited to read one of his humorous works on a popular television program called “Around Laughter.” The image of a lanky, balding man with a pronounced nasal timbre of his voice immediately appealed to the audience. The author's sparkling jokes began to spread among the people. The author began to regularly appear on air on a variety of television channels.
Personal life of Viktor Koklyushkin
Viktor Koklyushkin tries not to let strangers into the secrets of his personal life.
However, it is reliably known that for many years now the famous satirist has been faithful to his wife Elga Zlotnik. Elga is also a creative person; she managed to realize herself as a writer, despite the fact that she received her first education at MISS, and her second at the film studies department of VGIK. Victor Koklyushkin has two adult children: daughter Elga Sepp, wife of the famous TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, and son Jan.
In his book “The Humorist,” the satirist Koklyushkin admits that he “loves dogs, cats, horses and different birds too.” It is not surprising that he has a whole menagerie at home, and one day Koklyushkin and his pets were lucky enough to become the heroes of the “In the Animal World” program.
Creativity takes a lot of time and effort, but according to the satirist, the best rest for him is a new job, and a profession associated with a busy touring schedule practically eliminates long-distance travel on vacation.
Author's bibliography
The basis of the satirist’s author’s works has always been his personal observations. Koklyushkin has extensive work experience in a variety of institutions. The author saw the country at certain stages of its formation. According to Victor himself, thanks to his rich life experience and sarcastic view of the events that happened to him earlier, it is not difficult for him to come up with plausible stories filled with sparkling humor.
Currently, the author has the following successful satirical works:
- “It's Good When the Sun Shines” (1988);
- "The Comedian" (1993);
- "Shine" (1999);
- "208 Selected Pages" (1999);
- "Funny Life" (2002);
- “There were happy days” (2004);
- “Anthology of humor and satire of Russia of the XX century” (2007);
- "My Coat" (2007);
- "Tears of a Pterodactyl" (2009);
- “Slaughter Reprise” (2010);
- “Wait, who’s coming?” (2010).
Projects
- 1988 — “It’s good when the sun shines”
- 1993 — “Comedian”
- 1999 - “208 Selected Pages” in the Golden Series of Humor
- 1999 — “Shine”
- 2002 — “Funny Life”
- 2004 - “There were fun days!”
- 2007 — “My Coat”
- 2007 - Volume 52, “Anthology of satire and humor in Russia of the 20th century”
- 2008 — “Tears of a Pterodactyl”
- 2009 - “Hello, Lucy, it’s me!”
- 2010 — “Deadly Reprise”
- 2010 - “Wait, who’s coming?!”
- 2014 - “We’ve arrived!”
Awards and achievements
For his work, Koklyushkin received a number of prestigious awards. In 1972, the satirist was awarded an award at the All-Union Competition of Humorists. This was followed by the Literary Gazette award, to which Victor devoted several decades of his life. In 1999, the satirist was awarded the Golden Calf Prize for his contribution to the development of Russian literature.
Koklyushkin's childhood and youth
The future satirist was born in 1945 in Moscow.
He began his career quite early, but it had nothing to do with creativity, because young Koklyushkin had no desire to become a writer and become famous. At the age of 15, he went to work in a factory, while continuing to study at a school for working youth. After graduating from school, Viktor Koklyushkin paid his debt to his homeland in the ranks of the Soviet Army, and then again work, and again study, only now it was a publishing and printing college and the Higher Theater Courses of GITIS.
Epigram on Viktor Koklyushkin With the gait and face of a Neanderthal, And with a smart appearance to match, He sucked his humor out of his finger, And managed to lose a lot of weight.
On the way to fame, Koklyushkin changed countless professions: mechanic, proofreader, editor, commandant at the city military registration and enlistment office, army sergeant-major. The comedian remembers his work at the factory and military service with warmth, and considers those distant years to be almost the best in his life. And yet, we know Viktor Koklyushkin precisely as a talented satirist writer.
Victor Koklyushkin - family
In the early 60s, the famous satirist began dating an Estonian girl named Lyubov Sepp. The young people got married. A daughter appeared in the family. Soon Victor and Lyubov decided to separate. Despite this, the famous artist did not stop taking an active part in raising his daughter, who later became a famous model.
After his divorce from Lyubov Sapp, the artist married for the second time. His chosen one was the fairly successful writer Elga Zolotnik. The couple has been together for just over 3 decades. The happy couple have a son named Jan.
Victor Koklyushkin - personal life
The comedian had two marriages in his life.
He met his first wife, Estonian Lyubov Sepp, back in the 60s. In this marriage, the couple had a daughter, Elga, in 1972, and a few years later the couple separated.
Many are interested in Viktor Koklyushkin and his daughter Elga. The girl graduated from the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University, worked as a model, acted in videos, and now she is the wife of the famous TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, with whom she gave birth to five children.
The second time Koklyushkin married Olga Zlotnik. His wife, a long-time film critic, then became a writer and publishes under the pseudonym Elga Zlotnik.
In 1984, the couple had a son, Ian, who, after graduating from high school, entered the Moscow Art Theater School, where he studied at the department of theater artist.
Viewers are also interested in where Viktor Koklyushkin is now and what he is doing.
Despite the fact that the comedian is already 72 years old, he does not stop his creative activity. He still appears on television, although rarely, mainly in Yevgeny Petrosyan’s programs, and is also a columnist for the newspaper “Arguments and Facts,” where he writes the column “Koklyushkin’s Diagnosis.”
In 2021, Viktor Mikhailovich appeared on television as a participant in the game “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, and in 2021 he appeared in the programs “Distorted Mirror” and “You Are Allowed to Laugh” with his new story “The Billionaire’s Daughter”, which was happily received by fans his brilliant talent.
By the way: Gennady Vetrov - biography, personal life
Bibliography[ | ]
- 1988 - It’s good when the sun shines (M.: Art. - 50 thousand copies)
- 1993 - Comedian (M.: Children's book. - 100 thousand copies)
- 1999 - 208 selected pages (M.: Vagrius, circulation 30,000 copies - (Golden Series of Humor))
- 1999 - Shine (M.: Agraf)
- 2002 - Funny life (M.: Veche)
- 2004 - There were fun days! (M.: Imperium Press)
- 2007 - My coat (M.: Zebra-E, AST)
- 2007 — An anthology of satire and humor from Russia in the 20th century. T. 52 (M.: Eksmo)
- 2008 - Tears of a pterodactyl (M.: Zebra-E, AST)
- 2009 - Hello, Lucy, it's me! (M.: AST)
- 2010 - Killer reprise (M.: AST)
- 2010 - Wait, who's coming?! (M.: Eksmo)
- 2014 - We've arrived! (M.: Algorithm)
