Yakov Smirnoff

Biography

Yakov Naumovich Pokhis (Russian: Яков Наумович Похис; born 24 January 1951), better known as Yakov Smirnoff (Russian: Яков Смирнов; /ˈsmɪərnɒf/), is a Ukrainian-American comedian, actor and writer of Jewish origin. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in Ukraine, then immigrated to the United States in 1977 in order to pursue an American show business career, not yet knowing any English. He reached his biggest success in the mid-to-late 1980s, appearing in several films and the television sitcom vehicle What a Country!. His comic persona was of a naive immigrant from the Soviet Union who was perpetually confused and delighted by life in the United States. His humor combined a mockery of life under communism and of consumerism in the United States, as well as word play caused by misunderstanding of American phrases and culture, all punctuated by the catchphrase, "And I thought, 'What a country!'" The collapse of communism starting in 1989, and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, brought an end to Smirnoff's widespread popularity, although he continued to perform. In 1993, he began performing year round at his own theater in Branson, Missouri, where he remained until 2015. H…

Movies & TV Shows

1. The Money Pit (1986) — Shatov
2. King of the Hill (1997) — Yakov Smirnoff (voice)
3. Brewster's Millions (1985) — Vladimir
4. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) — National Security Advisor
5. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) — Self
6. Moscow on the Hudson (1984) — Lev
7. Heartburn (1986) — Contractor Laszlo
8. Night Court (1984) — Yakov Korolenko
9. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) — Self
10. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)
11. Awful Nice (2013) — Himself
12. Major Dad (1989)
13. @midnight with Chris Hardwick (2013) — Self
14. Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special (1985) — himself
15. Toon In with Me (2021) — Self
16. What a Country! (1986) — Nikolai Rostapovich
17. Gotham Comedy Live (2012) — Self - Host
18. Yakov Smirnoff: As Long As We Both Shall Laugh (2004) — himself
19. Yakov Smirnoff: What A Country! (1994) — Self
20. Yakov Smirnoff From Moscow...Idaho (1991) — Self
21. Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks (2004) — Self
22. Yakov Smirnoff: I Bet You Never Looked At It That Way! (1994) — Himself
23. Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat (1994)
24. Yakov: Live From Branson! (2012) — Himself
25. George Burns: His Wit and Wisdom (1989) — Self - Burns Russian Fan (uncredited)
26. Weekend Warriors

Directed

1. Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks (2004) — Director
2. Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat (1994) — Director