Ivan Urgant

Ivan Urgant was born in Leningrad into a family of actors, the son of Andrei Urgant and Valeriya Kiseleva. His paternal grandparents were actors Nina Urgant and Lev Milinder. His Estonian surname Urgant comes from Nina's father, Nikolai Andreyevich Urgant, a NKVD Major from Luga and a son of Räpina-born Hindrik Urgand.[3][4] About a year after Ivan's birth the family separated. After his parents broke up, he lived with his mother and stepfather - Leningrad actor Dmitri Ladygin.[5]

Ivan studied at the Leningrad Children's Music School No. 18, at the Gymnasium at the State Russian Museum. He graduated from Saint Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy.[6] After receiving his acting education, Ivan did not engage in theater as the main profession. He worked as a waiter, bartender, and then as a host in nightly shows in clubs. In 2018, it was reported he had taken Israeli citizenship.[7]

Urgant in Tbilisi, Georgia during the Tbilisi Russian Movie Festival in 2010

In 1999, Urgant managed to get a job at the St. Petersburg radio stations. In addition, he appeared on television, was the host of the program Petersburg Courier on Channel 5. Later, he was moved to Moscow and continued his career on the radio - first on Russian Radio, and then on "Hit-FM."

In May 2001, Ivan first appeared on Moscow television, on the television channel MTV Russia.[8] He received an invitation to a casting at a time when Olga Shelest and Anton Komolov were looking for a couple of hosts to team up with on the show Cheerful Morning.[8] Since 2002, after the departure of the original team of VJs of "MTV Russia", he began to host the programs Total Show[9] and Expresso.[10]

From 2003 to 2005 he was involved in a number of TV projects on the Russia-1: he was the host of TV show People's Artist and Pyramid.[2] He has been working on Channel One since 2005.[10][11] At the moment, Ivan is a TV presenter in the programs Gusto, Evening Urgant and Prozhektorperiskhilton.[12] Also he often conducts award ceremonies.

Starting from 2006, Urgant has appeared with Vladimir Posner in the travel documentary series titled Travels of Pozner and Urgant.[13]

In 2007, 2009, 2010 (2), 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Urgant was awarded TEFI.[14]

On 16 May 2009, he presented the finale of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest with former Russian Eurovision participant Alsou.[15] In December 2017, Urgant was one of the hosts of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Team Draw Show, with Gary Lineker and Maria Komandnaya.[16]

From 2011, Urgant owns a restaurant The Sad (Russian: Сад; "Garden") together with Alexander Tsekalo in Moscow.[17] He has been a board member and co-owner of the elite real estate agency "W1Evans" since 2016.[17][18]

• Yolki, 2010
• Lucky Trouble, 2011
• Vysotsky. Thank You For Being Alive, 2011
• Yolki 2, 2011
• Yolki 3, 2013
• Yolki 1914, 2014
• Yolki 5, 2016
• Yolki 6, 2017

Urgant has hosted various TV shows, including:

• Petersburg Courier (Petersburg - Channel 5, 1999)
• Big Movie (MTV Russia, 2001)
• Cheerful Morning (MTV Russia, 2001–2002)
• Total Show (MTV Russia, 2002)
• Expresso (MTV Russia, 2002–2004)
• People's Artist (Russia-1, 2003–2004)
• Pyramid (Russia-1, 2004)
• Great Premiere (Channel One, 2005)
• Spring with Ivan Urgant (Channel One, 2006)
• Gusto (Channel One; 2006–2018)
• Circus With Stars (Channel One, 2007–2008)
• Stenka na stenku (Showdown) (Channel One, 2007–2008)
• The Magic World of Walt Disney (Channel One, 2007–2011)
• Big Difference (Channel One, 2008–2012)
• One-Storied America (Channel One, 2008)
• Prozhektorperiskhilton (Channel One, 2008–2012, 2017–present)
• Tour de France (Channel One, 2011)
• Evening Urgant (Channel One; 2012–present)
• Their Italia (Channel One; 2012)
• The German Puzzle (Channel One; 2013)
• England in general and particular (Channel One; 2014)
• Jewish Happiness (Channel One; 2016)
• Podmoskovnie vechera (Channel One; 2016–present). Producer.
• In search of Don Quixote (Channel One; 2017)