Ergash Karimov (1934 - August 4, 2009) was an Uzbek comedian and comic actor who was nicknamed the "king of Uzbek comedy" during his career in the Soviet Union.[1]
Karimov's most popular film was Uchrashuv.[1] In Uchrashuv, Karimov portrayed a naive chemistry student who couldn't decipher the chemical formula for water. Karimov's character concludes that there were no atoms in water, because they could be used to create a bomb.[1]
Scenes from some of Karimov's films during the 1970s are considered to be classics within Uzebk and Soviet comedy.[1] Additionally, Karimov had a number of comedic television roles as well.[1]
Karimov had been largely unemployed since the break-up of the Soviet Union and the independence of Uzbekistan in 1991.[1] He lived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with little income during the last few years of his life, according to film director and friend, Ali Khamrayev.[1]
Ergash Karimov died on August 4, 2009, at his home in Tashkent at the age of 75.[1]
Karimov was no relation to Uzbek President Islam Karimov.[1] Uzbekistan's state controlled media, which is heavily censored, did not report on Karimov's death.[1]