OLEYNIKOV Ilya

Ilya Lvovich Oleynikov (real name - Klyaver; July 10, 1947, Chisinau - November 11, 2012, St. Petersburg) - soviet and Russian comic actor and television personality, winner of "Taffy" (1996), People's Artist of Russia (2001).

Ilya Lvovich Klyaver was born on July 10, 1947 in Chisinau, in a Jewish family of Lev (Leib) Naftulovich Klyaver (1908 -?) and Clara (Chaya) Borisovna Klyaver (Preseli).
In 1965 he began to study and in in 1969 graduated from GUTSEI - Moscow State Circus and Variety Arts Institute. From 1969 to 1971 Oleynikov served in the Soviet Army. He worked as an artist in Moskontsert and from 1974 to 1990 as a stand-up comedian in Lenkontsert.

He took the stage name Oleynikov (name of his wife Irina Oleinikov), when he started working in a duet called "Kazakov and Oleynikov" with artist Roman Kazakov, who was not only his stage partner, but also his best friend. The duo also worked with Vladimir Vinokur (in particular, in the pop-parody program "Is there extra ticket").

In 1977, together with his partner on stage Roman Kazakov becomes the winner of All-Union competition of performers.

Since 1968, starred in several movies.

Honors
- Order of Honour (2012)
- People's Artist of Russia (2001)
- Laureate Taffy in the "Best Leading entertainment program" (1996).