Mikhail Mikhaylovich Zhvanetsky (; 6 March 1934 â 6 November 2020) was a Soviet writer, satirist and performer of Jewish origin, best known for his shows targeting different aspects of the Soviet and post-Soviet everyday life.
Zhvanetsky was born in Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. His father, Mane (Emmanuel) Moiseevich Zhvanetsky, was a surgeon; his mother, Raisa Yakovlevna Zhvanetskaya, was a dentist. Afterthe beginning of the Great Patriotic War in 1941, his father was drafted into the army as a medical worker; he received the Order of the Red Star in 1942. The family returned to Odesa from evacuation after the liberation of the city in 1944. Mikhail Zhvanetsky studied at secondary school 118 for boys.
He continued his studies at the Odessa National Maritime University. He began his literary activity by writing plays and monologues for the Odessa amateur theater âÂÂParnas-2âÂÂ, which he founded together with his friend Victor Ilchenko. In 1964 Raikin invited him to join his troupe as head of the literary section. He then began to read his works on stage, first at the Odessa Philharmonic, then at the Hermitage Theatre.
He joined the Union of Soviet Writers in 1978 and wrote several books.
In 1988, he founded the Theater of Miniatures in the Tverskoy district of Moscow, where he worked as artistic director.
In 2001, his writings were published in a four-volume collection.
From 2002 to 2019, he hosted the monthly humorous program âÂÂGuardian of the Countryâ on the TV channel âÂÂRussia 1âÂÂ.
His monologues and sketches were performed by Arkady Raikin, Roman Kartsev and Viktor Ilchenko.
Zhvanetsky died in Moscow at the age of 86, and was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Zhvanetsky was granted the following honorary titles and decorated with the following orders:
Boulevard of the Arts in Odesa was renamed Boulevard Zhvanetsky (5 April 2009).
A minor planet, 5931 Zhvanetskij, discovered on April 1, 1976, is named after him (using different transliteration of the surname).