Russian satirists

Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky (Russian: Владимир Семёнович Высоцкий, 25 January 1938 – 25 July 1980) was a Soviet singer-songwriter, poet, and actor whose career had an immense and enduring effect on Soviet culture. He became widely known for his unique singing style and for his lyrics, which featured social and political commentary in often humorous street jargon. He was also a prominent stage and screen actor. Though his work was largely ignored by the official Soviet cultural establishment, he achieved remarkable fame during his lifetime, and to this day exerts significant influence on many of Russia's popular musicians and actors years after his death.

Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (Russian: Дми́трий Дми́триевич Шостако́вич, Dmitriy Dmitrievich Shostakovich, 25 September [O.S. 12 September] 1906 – 9 August 1975) was a Soviet and Russian composer and pianist. He is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century, with a unique harmonic language and a historic importance due to his years of work under Stalin.

Irena Ponaroshku (real name – Irina Vladimirovna Filippova; born October 14, 1982 in Moscow) (Russian: Ирена Понарошку) is a Russian media personality, TV host, journalist, blogger, former VJ on MTV Russia, Evening Urgant TV show presenter, Vogue Russia columnist.

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (11 November [O.S. 30 October] 1821 – 9 February [O.S. 28 January] 1881) was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. Numerous literary critics regard him as one of the greatest novelists in all of world literature, as many of his works are considered highly influential masterpieces. Dostoevsky's literary works explore the human condition in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century Russia, and engage with a variety of philosophical and religious themes. His most acclaimed novels include Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), Demons (1872), The Adolescent (1875), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880). His 1864 novella Notes from Underground is considered to be one of the first works of existentialist literature.

Anatoli Dmitrievich Papanov (Russian: Анатолий Дмитриевич Папанов, Anatoliy Dmitriyevich Papanov; 31 October 1922 — 5 August 1987) was a Soviet and Russian actor, voice actor, drama teacher, and theatre director at the Moscow Satire Theatre where he served for almost 40 years. A prominent character actor, Papanov is mostly remembered for his comedy roles in a duo with his friend Andrei Mironov, although he had many dramatic roles as well. As a voice actor he contributed to over hundred cartoons. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1973 and awarded the USSR State Prize posthumously.

Yevgeny Vaganovich Petrosyan (Russian: Евге́ний Вага́нович Петрося́н, Armenian: Եվգենի Վահանի Պետրոսյան (Պետրոսյանց); born on 16 September 1945 in Baku, USSR) is a Soviet/Russian comedian of Armenian and Jewish descents. He was named in 2005 among the most influential figures in contemporary Russia, in a survey conducted by independent polling agency The Levada Centre. Popular since the days of the USSR, Petrosyan was the host of TV variety show Crooked Mirror.

Petr Illarionovich Shelokhonov, (Russian: Пётр Илларио́нович Шелохо́нов, Belarusian: Пятро Ларывонавіч Шэлахонаў, Ukrainian: Петро Іларіонович Шелохонов; in English also spelled Pyotr or Peter; 15 August 1929 – 15 September 1999) was a Russian actor, director, filmmaker and socialite, designated Honorable Actor of Russia (1979). A strong proponent of making High culture accessible to all people, he organized social events for all people in artistic communities of St. Petersburg and Moscow using his position as board member of the Union of Actors.

Eldar Alexandrovich Ryazanov (Russian: Эльдар Александрович Рязанов; 18 November 1927 – 30 November 2015) was a Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter whose popular comedies, satirizing the daily life of the Soviet Union and Russia, are celebrated throughout the former Soviet Union.

Arkady Isaakovich Raikin (Russian: Аркадий Исаакович Райкин; 24 October [O.S. 11 October] 1911 – 17 December 1987) was a Soviet stand-up comedian, theater and film actor, and stage director. He led the school of Soviet and Russian humorists for about half a century.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky (Russian: Влади́мир Влади́мирович Маяко́вский; 19 July [O.S. 7 July] 1893 – 14 April 1930) was a Russian and Soviet poet, playwright, artist, and actor.