Armen Borisovich Dzhigarkhanyan is a name that is forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of Soviet and Russian art. His unique talent, inimitable voice, charisma and a huge number of roles played made him one of the most beloved and recognizable actors of several generations. His life was dedicated to theater and cinema, and his contribution to the development of these arts is invaluable.
Early years and formation
Armen Borisovich Dzhigarkhanyan was born on March 3, 1935, in Yerevan, Armenian SSR. His father, Boris Akimovich Dzhigarkhanyan, was a theater figure, which probably influenced his son’s choice of profession. His mother, Elena Vasilyevna, was a housewife. His parents divorced shortly after Armen was born, and he was raised by his stepfather.
From early childhood, Armen showed interest in art, especially theater. He often attended performances and read classical literature. After finishing school, he dreamed of entering GITIS (State Institute of Theater Arts) in Moscow, but his first attempt was unsuccessful.
The failure did not break him, and Armen returned to Yerevan, where in 1953 he entered the Yerevan Art and Theatre Institute, the course of Vartan Adjemyan, an outstanding Armenian director. During his studies, he actively participated in student productions, demonstrating his talent and hard work.
Theatre career in Armenia
After graduating from the institute in 1957, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan was accepted into the troupe of the Yerevan Russian Drama Theatre named after K. S. Stanislavsky. He worked on this stage for ten years, playing many bright and memorable roles. His talent was highly appreciated by critics and viewers. He quickly became one of the leading actors of the theatre, demonstrating a wide range of his capabilities – from dramatic to comedy roles.
Moving to Moscow and success
In 1967, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan received an invitation from Anatoly Efros, the chief director of the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theatre (Lenkom). Moving to Moscow became an important stage in his career. On the Lenkom stage, he played in several significant performances, confirming his high professionalism.
In 1969, he moved to the Moscow Academic Theatre named after Vl. Mayakovsky, where he worked until 1996. It was in this theatre, under the direction of Andrei Goncharov, that he created his most outstanding theatrical images. Among his works at the Mayakovsky Theatre are roles in such famous performances as “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “Conversations with Socrates”, “Vanyushin’s Children”, “Victim of the Century” and many others. His acting was distinguished by the depth of psychology, the sharpness of character and unique organicity.
Film career: Actor with a record number of roles
In parallel with his theatrical activities, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan actively acted in films. His film debut took place in 1960 in the film “Collapse”. Since then, he has played more than 250 roles in films and on television, becoming one of the most filmed actors in the history of Soviet and Russian cinema. This fact is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
His film works cover a wide range of genres and characters – from tragic to comedic, from historical figures to contemporary ones. He was able to embody the most diverse characters on screen, each time creating a deep and convincing image. Among his most famous film roles:
- Kudryash in the film “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed” (1979)
- The Innkeeper in the film “Hello, I’m Your Aunt!” (1975)
- Chief of Counterintelligence in the film “Tehran-43” (1981)
- Wolf in the cartoon “Once Upon a Time There Lived a Dog” (voice acting)
- Suleiman in the film “Song of Manshuk” (1969)
- Mikhail Semyonovich KGB officer in the film “Shirley-Myrli” (1995)
- Givi Chvirkhadze (“Gurgen”) , a thief in law, in the TV series “Bandit Petersburg-2: Lawyer” (2000)
And this is only a small part of his extensive filmography. Dzhigarkhanyan had a unique ability to instantly transform, his characters were alive, multifaceted and always evoked strong emotions in the audience.
Own theatre
In 1996, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan founded his own theater – “Moscow Drama Theater under the direction of Armen Dzhigarkhanyan” (now the Moscow Drama Theater of Armen Dzhigarkhanyan). He became its artistic director and chief director. The creation of his own theater was an old dream of the actor, and he put all his energy and talent into it. Under his leadership, the theater became one of the notable theater venues in Moscow, where both classical and modern plays were staged.
Teaching activities
In addition to acting and directing, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan was actively involved in teaching. He taught at VGIK (All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov), sharing his invaluable experience and skills with future generations of actors.
Personal life
Armen Dzhigarkhanyan was married three times. His first wife was Alla Vannovskaya, an actress of the Yerevan Russian Drama Theater. His second wife was actress Tatyana Vlasova, with whom he lived for many years. His third wife was Vitalina Tsymbalyuk-Romanovskaya, a pianist. The actor’s personal life often became a subject of discussion in the media, but he always tried to protect it from unnecessary attention.
Awards and recognition
During his long and fruitful career, Armen Borisovich Dzhigarkhanyan was awarded many high state awards and titles. He was a People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR (1977), People’s Artist of the USSR (1985), and a laureate of the State Prize of the Armenian SSR (1979). He was also awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of various degrees, the Order of Honor, and other awards. His contribution to art was recognized at the highest level.
Recent years
In the last years of his life, Armen Borisovich experienced health problems, but continued to work despite his ailments. He remained faithful to his calling until the end.
Armen Borisovich Dzhigarkhanyan died on November 14, 2020 in Moscow at the age of 86. His death was a great loss for the entire cultural community. The farewell to the actor took place in his theater, and he was buried at the Vagankovskoye Cemetery in Moscow.
Heritage
Armen Dzhigarkhanyan’s legacy is enormous. He left behind hundreds of unforgettable roles in theater and cinema that continue to delight and inspire viewers. His contribution to the development of theater art, cinema and pedagogy is invaluable. He was not just an actor, but a true master, capable of penetrating into the very depths of the human soul. His unique voice, inimitable style of acting and boundless talent will forever remain in the memory of his fans.
Armen Borisovich Dzhigarkhanyan was a man of strong character, devoted to his profession and his people. His life is an example of boundless love for art, hard work and dedication to his work. He will forever remain in the hearts of millions of viewers as one of the greatest actors of his era.
