Karen Gareginovich Avanesyan is a Soviet, Azerbaijani, and Russian pop artist, film actor, compere, parodist, television host, and comedian. Karen Avanesyan was born in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR. From 1982 to 1985, he was an artist with the Azconcert creative association, but left after completing his studies at the Baku Institute of Arts. In 1986, he moved to Moscow, where he joined the cast of Valery Zhak and Leonid Yakubovich's variety program "Parade of Parodists." In March 1987, he took part in the final VIII All-Union Pop Artists Competition, where he was awarded a diploma. In the 1990s, Avanesyan combined performing as a compere at solo concerts of Russian show business stars with his work in the band of singer Masha Rasputina. In the 2000s, he joined the cast of the comedy television show Crooked Mirror, which brought him wide fame.