Yakov Smirnoff | WatchedThis

Yakov Smirnoff

Yakov Smirnoff

Acting

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. He occasionally still performs limited dates at his theater in Branson while touring worldwide. Smirnoff earned a master's degree in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and a doctorate in psychology and global leadership from Pepperdine University in 2019. He has also taught a course titled "The Business of Laughter" at Missouri State University and at Drury University.

Filmography Movies

Acting

Poster for The Money Pit
MOVIE

The Money Pit

6.5(1.2K)
The Money Pit
Shatov
Poster for Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
MOVIE

Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special

8.0(0.0K)
Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
himself
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: What A Country!
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: What A Country!

Yakov Smirnoff: What A Country!
Self
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff From Moscow...Idaho
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff From Moscow...Idaho

Yakov Smirnoff From Moscow...Idaho
Self
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks

Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks
Self
Poster for Brewster's Millions
MOVIE

Brewster's Millions

6.6(0.7K)
Brewster's Millions
Vladimir
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: As Long As We Both Shall Laugh
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: As Long As We Both Shall Laugh

10.0(0.0K)
Yakov Smirnoff: As Long As We Both Shall Laugh
himself
Poster for Moscow on the Hudson
MOVIE

Moscow on the Hudson

6.3(0.2K)
Moscow on the Hudson
Lev
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: I Bet You Never Looked At It That Way!
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: I Bet You Never Looked At It That Way!

Yakov Smirnoff: I Bet You Never Looked At It That Way!
Himself
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat

Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat

Production

Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks

Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks
Director
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks

Yakov Smirnoff: Jokes from the Folks
Writer
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat

Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat
Director
Poster for Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat
MOVIE

Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat

Yakov Smirnoff: Just Off the Boat
Writer

Gallery

Yakov Smirnoff portrait