Background
Mikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev was born on November 9, 1906 in Saint Petersburg City, Russian Federation. His mother died when he was six. He had at least two daughters.
1939
Signature of Karandash
1989 stamp commemorating Karandash
Mikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev was born on November 9, 1906 in Saint Petersburg City, Russian Federation. His mother died when he was six. He had at least two daughters.
Mikhail Nikolaevich graduated from Circus Art College in Moscow (now Circus Arts Institute) (1930; during the holidays he toured in Borisoglebsk city of the Central Chernozem Region under the pseudonym "Red Vasya", summer 1928).
Starting his career in the circus arena as the imitator of Charlie Chaplin, Mikhail Nikolayevich then abandoned it for, or rather, transformed that part into his would-be renowned image of Karandash always accompanied with his hallmark Scottish Terrier named Klyaksa (which means blot).
Mikhail Nikolayevich enjoyed immense popularity with the Soviet audience and often gathered full houses all over the country. He taught his profession to both Oleg Popov and Yuri Nikulin.
During the Second World War, Rumyantsev mimicked German soldiers. In 1960, he toured South America with the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. Altogether Karandash had worked in the circus for 55 years, the last time he appeared in the arena was just two weeks prior to his death.
