Alexander Maslyakov Sr.: biography, personal life and family, creativity, photo

Biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr.

According to established family tradition, all men from the Maslyakov family bore the same name - Vasily. That was the name of the father of the future TV star, like all the Maslyakov fathers many generations before. However, his mother, Zinaida Alekseevna Maslyakova, unexpectedly named the boy Alexander, who was born on November 24, 1941. Father, Vasily Vasilyevich Maslyakov, being a rather reserved and serious person, did not interfere in this process. Alexander means Alexander. So, along with the birth of little Sasha, a new tradition appeared in the biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr. - calling boys Alexandra.

The boy was born in the first months of the war in the city of Yekaterinburg, on the way to evacuation. The time was harsh, which left its mark on Sasha’s character, endowing this boy with a charming sunny smile with the strength and inflexibility that later made him a personality famous throughout the country.

His father served in aviation as a pilot and went through the entire Great Patriotic War, after which he continued to serve at the Air Force General Staff.

Mom was a housewife and devoted all her love, warmth and care to her family and raising her beloved son, who grew up very active, capable and artistic.

Education

The first diploma in the biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr. was received quite late, in 1966, after graduating from the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers, when he was already 25 years old.

Our hero did not connect his fate with the profession of an engineer. Alexander was attracted by a completely different life - bright, loud, filled with creativity. And just two years later, Maslyakov Sr. became a graduate of the Higher Courses for Television Workers. Thus began the career of, without a doubt, a great showman.

Filmography[ | ]

"Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful"

Alexander made his debut on television while still a student at the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers, where, along with most of his peers, he actively supported his team of the “Merry and Resourceful Club”.

“The Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful,” or KVN for short, appeared in 1961. The new initiative was quickly taken up by actively developing youth striving for self-expression. The popularity of KVN grew by leaps and bounds, and these steps spread almost throughout the vast country.

This youth program intervened in the biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr. in 1964, when, by the will of fate, he became one of its presenters.

As Alexander Vasilyevich himself claims, this event happened by pure chance. One fine day, his classmate invited Maslyakov to become a member of the KVN team from the institute. Alexander agreed, but did not have time to play in KVN, because at the same time the editors of central television were looking for a suitable candidate for the role of host of this program. Maslyakov was active, cheerful and charismatic from birth. And his smile is still his calling card today. So the editors' choice settled on Alexander.

Who would have thought that this place would be fixed in the biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr. for more than half a century.

At that wonderful time, Alexander hosted KVN in tandem with experienced TV presenter Svetlana Zhiltsova, from whom he learned a lot of knowledge and secrets of stagecraft.

Until 1970, the program was broadcast live. As usual, times were difficult in the country. The jokes heard in the program increasingly ran counter to party policy, as a result of which KVN began to be shown in recordings after strict censorship, including from the State Security Committee. Ultimately, the program was finally taken off the air in 1972.

Ratings and criticism[ | ]

Philosopher, cultural scientist and sociologist P. S. Gurevich believes that[36]:

Alexander Maslyakov has long gained popularity. He hosted a variety of programs - “KVN”, “Jolly Guys”, “Come on, girls!” He behaves freely on camera, is resourceful, and sometimes amazes with a witty remark. Shows tact. At its origins, it seemed to embody the social portrait of a young Soviet man. This is exactly how he seemed to viewers - resourceful, easy-going, sociable. But time passed. The criteria have changed. New requests arose. The presenter's appearance remained unchanged. Maslyakov did not even try to find new facets of his image. Skills grew, professionalism enriched. But in general, today on the screen Alexander is perceived as a slightly outdated Komsomol functionary... No, you cannot forever use an image once found. The image needs to be changed or filled with new content.

Forbes magazine editor Alexandra Zhokhova notes that[37]:

Alexander Maslyakov successfully exploits the KVN brand, the creation of which he was involved in during the Soviet years. The system he created - essentially a pop star factory - is aimed at generating the maximum possible income before its participants reach the level of free floating.

Journalist and TV presenter L. G. Parfyonov speaks of Maslyakov as follows[38]:

This man should be in the Guinness Book of Records. He has been on the television screen for almost 50 years. The club of cheerful and resourceful people is a unique phenomenon in world television, just like Alexander Maslyakov. Joking for half a century is a serious matter, not everyone can do it. Maslyakov can do it. As soon as the KVN people called him behind his back - Master, Guardian, AlVasMas. Loving, of course. For them, he is an unquestioned authority, an absolute monarch. With the light hand of the KVN monarch, the game turned into a real star factory. And today many television celebrities can say: “We all came from KVN.”

Career

After completing his studies at the Higher Courses for Television Workers, Alexander got a job at the main editorial office of programs for youth, and after a short time took up the post of senior editor there. A few years later, Maslyakov Sr. was able to achieve the position of special correspondent, and since 1980 he devoted himself entirely to the profession of a commentator in the Experiment television studio.

Few people know, but the biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr. is also marked by the fact that the first presenter of the then new program “What? Where? When?" in 1975, none other than Alexander Maslyakov became. However, its format was subsequently changed, and the presenter was replaced by a voice-over.

Despite the fact that KVN was closed, its presenters Alexander Maslyakov and Svetlana Zhiltsova remained extremely popular and in demand. Thus, the fame of this duo includes the famous programs of that time: “Come on, girls!”, “Come on, guys!”, “Hello! We are looking for talent! and others.

Also, for a long time, Maslyakov Sr. was the permanent presenter of various international song festivals for youth and students, and hosted various music and entertainment programs on central television.

Height, weight, age. How old is Alexander Maslyakov

Alexander is currently 75 years old. With a height of 170, he weighs 86 kg. He is not interested in any sports and lives like an ordinary average person. He has been the host of comedy programs for 50 years. This success is the envy of all his colleagues.

But he not only hosts programs, but also has a good sense of humor. You can often hear a sparkling joke from him that will delight others. Height, weight, age, how old is Alexander Maslyakov, now this topic is not a secret for fans of the TV presenter.

And again - KVN!

After 14 years, in 1986, on the initiative of the Ostankino youth editors, it was decided to revive KVN. As a symbol of the continuity of the traditions of the “Merry and Resourceful Club”, Alexander Maslyakov and Svetlana Zhiltsova were again invited as hosts. However, due to life and business circumstances, Svetlana refused this offer. So Alexander Vasilyevich began to host this program alone.

When KVN returned to the biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr., he was able to create a real empire out of this television project, one might say, a comedy broadcast industry.

From a permanent presenter, leader and director, Maslyakov Sr. turned into the president of the “International KVN Union”, after which in 1990 he created the television creative association “Alexander Maslyakov and AMiK”), which, in fact, produced the KVN program in the future.

Many stars of modern television went through the school of Maslyakov and the “Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful”, becoming real professionals and the most popular and sought-after television stars.

“Today, more than half of entertainment television is created by guys who played in KVN, by authors who wrote jokes for KVN. But every person has the right to do what he considers necessary and possible: choose amateur performances or feel like an actor. You need to weigh your strengths and understand whether you can do it. If yes, then go..."

Alexander Maslyakov

Alexander Vasilyevich Maslyakov is a well-known and popular Soviet and Russian TV presenter, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (1994), full member (academician) of the Academy of Russian Television Foundation. Alexander Vasilyevich is the founder and owner of the television creative association “AMiK” (“Alexander Maslyakov and Company”). Since 1964, Maslyakov has been the permanent director and host of the KVN television show.

The early years and education of Alexander Maslyakov

Alexander Maslyakov was born on November 24, 1941 in Sverdlovsk.

Father - Vasily Vasilyevich Maslyakov (1904−1996) - comes from the Novgorod region. He was a military pilot and navigator during the war. After the war, he served in the Air Force General Staff, according to the biography of Alexander Maslyakov on Wikipedia.

Mother - Zinaida Alekseevna Maslyakova (1911−1999) - housewife.

At first the family lived in Leningrad. But when Vasily Maslyakov went to the front, his wife was evacuated to Chelyabinsk. And on the way, in Sverdlovsk, her son Alexander was born.

Still, the mother and newborn reached Chelyabinsk, where their relatives lived. Little Sasha spent his early childhood there.

When my father returned after the war, they moved to Baku. Then we lived in Kutaisi for some time, and finally ended up in Moscow. In the capital, Alexander Maslyakov studied at school No. 643.

After school, the future TV presenter entered the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers (MIIT), from which he graduated in 1965. In 1964, while still a fourth-year student at MIIT, Maslyakov began working on television.

But after graduation, the young graduate worked for some time at the Giprosakhar design institute.

Career of Alexander Maslyakov in KVN

During the Khrushchev Thaw, KVN was one of the few youth entertainment programs. And he became incredibly popular.

In 1964, the first KVN presenter Albert Axelrod was forced to leave, but recommended that the director appoint the smiling and charming Sasha Maslyakov in his place. Together with Svetlana Zhiltsova, they hosted the program until its closure in 1971.

Maslyakov received his specialized education at the Higher Courses for Television Workers in 1968.

On Soviet TV, it was customary for a popular program to be hosted by two people - a man and a woman. Svetlana Zhiltsova, a well-known TV presenter with experience, was approved as a partner for Maslyakov.

The couple turned out to be extremely harmonious, complementing each other. They immediately began to be associated with KVN. However, in 1971, KVN was closed by the decision of the chairman of the USSR State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Sergei Lapin .

“I don’t want to offend all the captains who played in the 60s, many are no longer there, their memory is bright. And I don’t want to offend Yulik Gusman . But all this is a little mythologized. Then there was only KVN, and nothing nearby! Then every breath, exhalation, every word, even accidentally spoken, was perceived differently. They say: oh, how they joked then! Yes, they joked differently in the 60s! Both bad and good,” Maslyakov recalled in an interview about KVN of the 60s.

After the first closure of KVN in 1971, Maslyakov continued his career in television. Since the second half of the 1970s, Alexander Vasilyevich hosted youth programs: “Hello, we are looking for talents,” “Come on, girls,” and “Come on, guys,” “Addresses of the young,” “Jolly guys.”

In those years, Maslyakov had reports from the World Festivals of Youth and Students in Sofia, Berlin, Havana, Moscow, and Pyongyang. For several years, Alexander Vasilyevich was a regular host of international song festivals in Sochi, and also hosted the “Song of the Year” program (1976-1979).

Alexander Vasilyevich Maslyakov was the first presenter of the program “What? Where? When?”: in 1976 he hosted the second release of the game (there was no presenter in the first release).

Renaissance of KVN

In 1986, on the initiative of Andrei Menshikov (captain of KVN MISS in the 1960s), the youth editorial staff of Ostankino decided to revive KVN. The same Alexander Maslyakov was invited to host.

Then few people thought that Alexander Vasilyevich would become a symbol of KVN. Maslyakov turned KVN into a real comedian factory. Alexander Vasilyevich Maslyakov first became the permanent presenter, director and director of the popular KVN program, then the president of the International KVN Union and the television creative association AMiK, which produces the program. A real cult of personality has arisen in KVN of its main presenter and president.

With the second coming of Maslyakov, KVN became no less popular than in the 60s; in the 90s, the program was the flagship of humorous broadcasts in Russia, and at the same time performed an important unifying function in the post-Soviet space, because teams from Ukrainian cities came to Moscow and performed well — Kharkov, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, Krivoy Rog, Belarusians and Armenians became champions, Kazakhs showed themselves noticeably.

By the way, in 2006, Maslyakov received the Order of Merit, III degree, in Ukraine - for his significant personal contribution to the development of cultural ties between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and many years of fruitful creative activity. Alexander Vasilyevich led KVN in Kyiv.

Maslyakov and KVN opened the way for many current TV stars: “There are no former KVN players... The guys end their KVN lives and go to other television roles. The process is faster on other channels. There it is important that the face is illuminated and, whatever it says, let it be. And the level of humor in some programs and shows has dropped a little. Everything is more vulgar, they are less picky there. I do not like it. But they are also watched. The channels are happy. The audience is quite satisfied with this level of humor,” says Maslyakov.

On November 24, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded TV presenter Alexander Maslyakov, who was then 75 years old, with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree. The corresponding decree was published on the official Internet portal of legal information.

It was noted that the KVN presenter was awarded “for his outstanding contribution to the development of domestic television and many years of fruitful activity.”

On January 24, 2021, the press service of the head of Chechnya reported that KVN host Alexander Maslyakov was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Chechen Republic.

As reported in the news, the corresponding decree was signed by the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. The document states that Maslyakov made a great contribution to the development of cultural ties between peoples.

The popularity of KVN is so great that witty young people play this game in Germany, Israel, the USA, and even China. As a result, even the NATO Center for Strategic Communications became alarmed, declaring that KVN is an instrument of political strategic communication of the Kremlin. It turns out that thanks to KVN, the Kremlin has access to a specific, strategic audience ready to “serve the regime.”

The experts of the NATO Center are completely serious, and, as Julius Gusman, a member of the KVN jury, film director, TV presenter, head of the National Award of the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts - the Nika Award, said in an interview with Baltkom radio, it is funny for him to discuss a NATO study prepared with such “animal seriousness” .

Alexander Maslyakov still has a place in other shows. So he was the chairman of the jury of the TV show “Minute of Fame”, and in 2014 he became a member of the jury of the TV show “Sense of Humor” together with Yuli Gusman.

Criminal record of Alexander Maslyakov

There were rumors that Maslyakov’s biography included a conviction in the 70s for illegal currency transactions. According to some stories, he was imprisoned in colony YN 83/2 in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region. Other news mentioned that during the investigation he was in the Tula pre-trial detention center. Allegedly, it was because of this that Maslyakov disappeared from television for a while, and the central press published a feuilleton “Sasha Doesn’t Laugh Anymore” about the KVN host.

Alexander Vasilyevich himself, in response to questions about his criminal record, says that he has not been to prison.

Public position of Alexander Maslyakov

In January 2012, Maslyakov became a member of the “People's Headquarters” (in Moscow) of presidential candidate Vladimir Putin.

In January 2021, Alexander Vasilyevich was registered as a proxy of Vladimir Putin in the presidential elections on March 18, 2018.

Corruption scandal with Alexander Maslyakov

On December 1, 2021, it was reported that Alexander Maslyakov was dismissed from the position of director of Planet KVN after an inspection by the Prosecutor's Office due to suspicions of corruption.

According to data from the international anti-corruption organization Transparency International, which has received wide publicity, a number of violations were found in the work of Alexander Maslyakov. According to Transparency employees, Maslyakov allegedly did not comply with the restrictions and prohibitions imposed by law on the heads of state unitary enterprises.

In 2011, Alexander Vasilyevich, being the founder of the private creative association “AMiK”, which owns exclusive rights to products under the KVN brand, became the head of the state unitary enterprise (SUE) “Moscow Youth Center “Planet KVN””, which is financed from the state budget on the initiative of the President Vladimir Putin's Russia was given the reconstructed capital's Havana cinema.

In 2015, according to the anti-corruption organization, Maslyakov became an individual entrepreneur, although according to the law, the heads of state unitary enterprises do not have the right to combine work and business.

A year earlier, Planet KVN and AMiK, whose director is Alexander Maslyakov Jr., created the joint venture House of KVN.

“In this very fact there are obvious signs of a conflict of interest: Maslyakov, as the head of a state-owned enterprise, entered into a deal with a private company owned by himself and his family,” the experts emphasized. — Article 22 of the law “On State and Municipal Unitary Enterprises” requires that such transactions be approved by the owner, i.e., in this case, the Moscow Property Department.

In addition, the director of the State Unitary Enterprise is obliged to provide management with all information about organizations that he and his close relatives manage or own more than 20%. In the House of KVN, AMiK received a 51% share, which allows the director of the new company, Angelina Maslyakova (the wife of the son of a famous TV presenter), to manage the assets of the state unitary enterprise, including the Havana cinema. “The Maslyakovs retained the KVN trademark and took control of the real estate donated to the KVN movement. And they are actively exploiting it commercially,” experts say.

On July 21, 2021, the Moscow government dismissed Maslyakov from the post of director of the MMC Planet KVN. This happened after an investigation by Transparency International, which revealed that he, on behalf of his own creative association “AMiK”, transferred the Havana cinema in Maryina Roshcha in Moscow. Initially, the Moscow prosecutor's office did not identify any violations. However, Transparency International challenged this decision in the Prosecutor General's Office.

On December 1, 2021, the KVN press service denied the dismissal, saying that Maslyakov left of his own free will.

At the same time, his representatives officially stated that this was Maslyakov’s voluntary decision, in no way connected with any corruption scandals.

Personal life of Alexander Maslyakov

Alexander Maslyakov is married. His wife is Svetlana Smirnova. They met in 1966, thanks to KVN: Svetlana worked as an assistant director of KVN. In 1971 they got married.

On April 28, 1980, the couple had a son, Alexander . In 2002, he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and in 2006 he defended his PhD thesis in economics on the topic “Forms and methods of managing subfederal non-residential real estate” at the State University of Management. Then he decided to continue the family tradition - he became the host of the television programs “Planet KVN”, “Outside the Game” and “KVN Premier League”.

Since 2013, Alexander Alexandrovich has been the general director of his father’s company. Maslyakov Jr. is married, his wife’s name is Angelina (nee Nabatnikova), she is a journalist, publicist, director of the KVN House. In 2006, their daughter Taisiya .

Personal life

In the biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr., his wife and children occupy a special place. It is them and his favorite work that he calls his main happiness and success. For him, his wife and son are not just family, but also his closest friends.

Alexander Vasilyevich, as expected, met his future wife, Svetlana Anatolyevna, during the filming of KVN. He immediately liked the girl, and he began to show all sorts of signs of attention. It was impossible to resist the charisma of young Maslyakov.

In 1971 they got married. In 1980, a son was born into the Maslyakov family, who was also named Alexander in honor of his father. Maslyakov Jr., having studied at MGIMO, joined his father’s business, becoming his closest assistant and general director.

Alexander Maslyakov Jr. is married to Angelina Marmeladova, a famous writer and journalist. In 2006, Maslyakov Sr. gave birth to his granddaughter Taisiya, who can be seen in the photo.

The biographies of the wife and children of Alexander Maslyakov Sr. are little known to the public. Photos are also quite rare. However, they are all filled with smiles and some special warmth, light and happiness.

Of course, Alexander Vasilyevich is far from young, but constant communication with young people, careful attention to his own health, proper nutrition and moderation allow him to still remain in good shape, remain cheerful and energetic.

“I was lucky: for more than forty years of my career, all the programs were connected with young people. Therefore, purely psychologically, I cannot allow myself to shrink, cover myself with a blanket and lie down somewhere in the corner of the stage. I don’t have the right to do this..."

Beloved wife

The biography of Alexander Maslyakov Sr.’s wife, Svetlana, began in 1947 in post-war Moscow.

The very active girl was always the ringleader and the inventor of various pranks, which was later reflected in her high organizational abilities. After graduating from Moscow secondary school No. 519, Svetlana entered the All-Union Correspondence Institute of Law, where she had to combine her studies with work as an assistant director of KVN in the Youth Editorial Office of Central Television. Having received her diploma, the future wife of Maslyakov Sr. successfully completed training in directing at the Higher Courses for Creative Television Workers.

In addition to romantic and family relationships, Alexander Vasilyevich and his wife Svetlana were able to carry through their entire lives serving their common cause - the “Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful.” Maslyakov Sr. hosted this TV show, and his Svetlana was its director.

There was always a lot in common between them. Both he and she are cheerful, resourceful and bright people, enthusiastic, responsible people who bring any task they start to completion.

Until the 1990s, Svetlana held the post of director of the Main Propaganda Editorial Office of Central Television, from where she later left for her husband’s company, the AMiK association.

In the Maslyakovs' house, filled with an atmosphere of harmless humor and practical jokes, you can always meet famous artists, stars and other prominent personalities.

Alexander Vasilyevich’s wife became for him not only a loved one, but also his closest friend, assistant and like-minded person.

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