Yakov Smirnoff

Yakov Smirnoff, born Yakov Naumovich Pokhis on January 24, 1951, is a Russian-American comedian, actor, and writer. He started his career as a stand-up comedian in the Soviet Union before immigrating to the United States in 1977 to pursue a show business career despite not knowing English. Smirnoff achieved his greatest success in the 1980s, appearing in films such as Moscow on the Hudson, The Money Pit, Heartburn, and Brewster's Millions. He also starred in the TV series What a Country! and made recurring guest appearances on Night Court. Smirnoff's comedic persona revolved around a naive immigrant from the Soviet Union, finding humor in life under communism and American consumerism.