Igor Divov

Igor Nikolaevich Divov (March 11, 1921, Vladikavkaz - November 27, 2000, Moscow) - Soviet actor of the puppet and variety theater, People’s Artist of the RSFSR. Igor Nikolaevich Divov was born on March 11, 1921 in Vladikavkaz. In 1939 he entered the Moscow theater studio A. Arbuzov. In 1941 he went to the front, in December 1941 he was wounded in the face. After the hospital in 1943, he ended up in the Central Puppet Theater of S. Obraztsov, who was evacuated to Novosibirsk. In the theater under the guidance of leading masters S. Samodur, E. Speransky, 3. Gerdt studied the profession of a puppeteer. He performed on stage with theater actress Sofia Yakovlevna May and Natalia Stepanova, voiced cartoons. In 1947, together with May, he created musical and parody numbers, making fun of vulgarity, hack-work, theatrical stamps: “Duet of Zupan and Liza”, “Gypsy dance with castanets”, “Song of Pericles”, opera “Silence”. In 1948-1956 he performed in the programs of the Blue Bird Theater. In 1954, the duet Divova and May participated in the performances of the Moscow Variety Theater (the number “Fatal Apparition” in the performance by Z. Gerdt “His Birthday”). In 1955, completely switched to the stage. Since 1960, he performed with his wife Natalia Stepanova. The theme of their verses, chastooshkas, dialogues in verses has expanded. In collaboration with Mikhail Nozhkin, the duo created playable numbers: "Dog's Life" - a duet of dog dolls, "Synthetic sheep" - about the death of the natural environment. In 1962, they performed in the program “To laugh, right, it’s not a sin…” M. Nozhkin (in 2 divisions). In 1981, they created the program “Visiting Uncle Lyosha”, where their puppet “hero” represented young pop artists. Toured in many countries of the world. Igor Divov died on November 27, 2000 in Moscow, at the age of 80. He was buried at the Vagankovsky cemetery of the capital (station number 40).