75 years of age, he received a standing ovation. In 2015, he returned for the first time to Russia after 28 years' of living in Germany; it was at the First "Master" gala event (the Russian circus equivalent of the Academy Awards ceremony) at the Sochi State Circus, where he was given a long standing ovation. The Russian Minister of Culture, Vladimir Medinsky read a welcoming message from President Vladimir Putin. In December 2015 he was one of the judges at the final show of "The Blue Bird" contest—a young talent competition on the Russia-1 television channel. Popov appeared in four films, Ring of Daring (1953), Ma-ma (1976), The Blue Bird (1976), and Ritzar bez bronya (Poland, 1966). He published a book of memoirs in 1967, which has been widely translated into numerous languages including English (as "Russian Clown", 1970). From a first marriage with a violinist, Alexandra, Oleg Popov had a daughter, Olga (b. 1953). Popov died on 2 November 2016, aged 86, from a cardiac arrest while on tour, at a hotel in Rostov-on-Don. Awards and honors Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1956) People's Artist of the RSFSR (1958) People's Artist of the USSR (1969) Order of Lenin (1980) Three Orders of the Red Banner of Labour Honorary prize Clown d'or of the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo (1981) Order of Friendship (1994) - for services to the people associated with the development of the Russian statehood, achievements in work, science, culture, arts, strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the peoples Honorary Diploma of the President of the Russian Federation (2010) – for his merits in the development of circus art and many years of creative work Asteroid 278200 Olegpopov, discovered by German amateur astronomer Rolf Apitzsch in 2007, was named in his honor. The official was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 April 2012 (). References External links Article about Popov in Argumenty i Fakty, 25 May 2006 Part I Part II. Oleg Popov dies at age 86 1930 births 2016 deaths 20th-century Russian male actors 21st-century Russian male actors Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Russian emigrants to Germany German clowns Russian clowns Russian directors Russian male film actors Russian mimes Soviet clowns Soviet directors Soviet male film