I remember this Russian comedian and wondered what happened to him. Well, if you book a Branson vacation package you will be sure to see him there! He has daily shows in Branson.

Smirnoff was born Yakov Naumovich Pokhis on January 24, 1951 in the Ukraine. In Odessa, Ukraine, he was an art teacher. He came to the United States in 1977 where he worked as a bartender in New York. He started acting and comedy routines and has appeared in “Moscow on the Hudson” with Robin Williams, “Brewster’s Millions” with Richard Pryor, “The Money Pit” with Tom Hanks and “Heartburn” with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. On television he appeared in his own series called “What a Country.”

Smirnoff is proud to be an American citizen and continues to paint, often featuring the Statue of Liberty (where is was sworn in as a citizen) in his paintings. After 911, Smirnoff created the painting “America’s Heart.” He did not sign the painting but included this message:

“The human spirit is not measured by the size of the act, but by the size of the heart.”

The mural was included at Ground Zero until wind damaged forced the removal. Parts of the mural can be seen in Branson. Smirnoff said about his American citizenry in his book “America On Six Rubles A Day”:

July 4, 1986, is a date I’ll never forget. It was then that the Statue of Liberty ceremonies were held at Ellis Island and I was sworn in as an American citizen. Now, no matter what date you become a citizen, it will be a thrill like none you’ve ever had before. It was a double thrill for me because I was chosen to represent California at that ceremony. Then came the unveiling of the newly renovated Statue of Liberty. Like a lot of you, I hoped that they hadn’t modernized her too much. But my worries were for nothing. She was as beautiful as ever, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I was oblivious to everything around me; it was like I was in a trance.