Armen Dzhigarkhanyan established a screen record of over 250 appearances, securing his position as one of the most prolific performers in the history of Soviet and Russian cinema. Born in Yerevan in 1935, he balanced an extensive career across stage and film, transitionally moving from early roles in Armenian theatre to becoming a central figure in Moscow's cultural establishment.
Early Career in Yerevan
Dzhigarkhanyan attended a Russian high school named after Anton Chekhov before working as a camera operator's assistant at the Hayfilm studio between 1953 and 1954. He gained admission to the Sundukyan State Academic Theatre in 1955, studying under Armen Gulakyan. Simultaneously, he performed at the Stanislavski Russian Theatre of Yerevan for over a decade, where he portrayed Vanya Kudryash in The Storm and Sergey in An Irkutsk Story.
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Moving to Moscow in 1967, he initially worked at the Lenkom Theatre under Anatoly Efros. By 1969, he joined the Mayakovsky Theatre, remaining a leading actor there until 1996. During this tenure, his performance as Socrates in the 1975 production of Conversations with Socrates received critical acclaim. He also starred as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Film and Television Presence
His cinematic debut occurred in the 1960 film Landslide. He gained national recognition for his role as Artem Manvelyan in the 1966 film Hello, That's Me! and as Usta Mukuch in Triangle the following year. His filmography expanded through diverse genres, including The New Adventures of the Elusive Avengers, the 1979 miniseries The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed, and the international production Teheran 43.
Pedagogy and Direction
From 1989 to 1997, he taught at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography. In 1996, he established his own institution, now known as the Moscow Drama Theater headed by Armen Dzhigarkhanyan. His directing credits included productions such as Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape and Harold Pinter's The Homecoming. He additionally served as a pedagogue and voice actor throughout his later years.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 October 1935, Yerevan
- Died: 14 November 2020, Moscow
- Major Awards: People's Artist of the USSR (1985)
- Debut Film: Landslide (1960)
- Known for: Over 250 film appearances
- Citizenship: Soviet Union, Russia, Armenia, United States
- Theatre Foundation: Moscow Drama Theater (1996)
Questions readers ask
How many films did Dzhigarkhanyan appear in?
He is credited with more than 250 film and television appearances, holding a record for the highest number of roles among Russian actors.
Did he have a political career?
He participated in municipal elections in Moscow in 2017 representing the United Russia party, but he did not secure a mandate.
Achievements
- Worked as voice actor, theatre director and drama teacher
