Yakov Smirnoff
Yakov Smirnoff
Yakov Naumovich Pokhis, better known as Yakov Smirnoff, is a Soviet-born American comedian, actor and writer. After emigrating to the United States in 1977, Smirnoff began performing as a stand-up comic. He eventually gained fame, and he reached his biggest successes in the mid-to-late 1980s, when he also appeared in several films and television shows, including his own 1986–87 sitcom, What a Country!. His comic persona was of a naive immigrant from the Soviet Union who was perpetually confused and...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionComedian
Date of Birth24 January 1951
CityOdessa, Ukraine
CountryRussian Federation
We have a choice - we can both think and feel, using our heads and our hearts.
When you like something, you find time to do it.
People in Tulsa are totally friendly; the crowds are very nice.
I was this non-threatening funny guy who contrasted the image of the Brezhnevs and the Reagans of the world.
I have American in-laws, and I care about the environment. We don't use disposable diapers, which, of course, creates an environmental problem of our own.
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
To my real estate agent, Chernobyl is a fixer-upper.
Falling in love is a chemical reaction. But it wears off in a year. That's why you need a strong line of communication... which includes laughter.
As Americans after 9/11, we're much more united, together as a nation, and we got stronger, better, and more at peace. By peace, I mean the harmony you can feel in our united determination to fight these terrorists and killers.
In America you can always find a party. In Russia the party always finds you.
Russian men have a saying: "Women are like buses..." That's it.
Americans think Soviets are so grim. I want them to see that they can smile.
Comedians are always hitting the topical notes that are on everybody's minds.
I came to America to make it my home, and I did.