List of Armenians

This is a list of famous people from the Republic of Armenia, ethnic Armenians, or both.

Art

• Jansem, painter
• Yousuf Karsh, photographer
• Jean Carzou, painter
• Edgar Chahine, painter
• Ronald Dzerigian, painter
• Arshile Gorky, painter
• Ara Güler, photographer
• Nonny Hogrogian, children's book illustrator (someone who makes drawings for books)
• Rafik Khachatryan, sculptor (someone who makes sculptures.)
• Hovsep Pushman, painter
• Toros Roslin, Medieval painter
• Martiros Saryan, painter
• Arthur Sarkissian, painter
• Ararat Sarkissian, painter
• Vardkes Sureniantz, painter

Entertainment - Film

• Aram Avakian, filmmaker
• Mike Artenian, filmmaker who also dated Kim Kardashian
• Henri Verneuil, filmmaker
• Sergei Parajanov, movie director
• Hamo Beknazarian, movie director
• Eric Bogosian, American movie actor
• Frunze Dovlatyan, filmmaker
• Atom Egoyan, filmmaker
• Steve Zaillian, filmmaker
• Ara Vahuni, movie director
• Ruben Gevorgyanc, movie director
• Howard Kazanjian, producer
• Edmond Keosayan, movie director
• Alek Keshishian, filmmaker
• Dmitry Kharatyan, actor
• Henrik Malyan, filmmaker
• Rouben Mamoulian, movie and theatre director
• Andrea Martin, comedienne
• Frunzik Mkrtchyan, actor
• Stas Namin, actor, businessman, filmmaker, music and television producer
• Yevgeny Petrosyan, comedian, Russian cultural icon
• Artavazd Peleshyan, movie director
• Levon Mkrtchyan, movie director
• Yevgeny Vakhtangov, theatre director
• Cher, entertainer
• Aleksandr Adabashyan,filmmaker
• Roman Balayan, filmmaker
• Mike Connors, actor
• David Dickinson, television personality
• Arlene Francis, actress
• Michael Goorjian, actor
• Robert Guediguian, filmmaker
• Hughes Brothers, filmmakers
• Shakhnazarov, filmmaker, producer, Mosfilm
• Armen Jigarkhanyan, actor
• Kelly Kole, actress
• Vilen Kolouta, cinematographer (someone who makes movies)
• Arthur M. Sarkissian, producer
• Mikhail Vartanov, filmmaker
• Adrienne Barbeau, actress
• Daniel Bilalian, French television personality
• Christy Canyon, adult movie actress

Music

• Komitas Vardapet, musician
• Mike Artenian, Rapper and R&B Singer
• Charles Aznavour, singer
• Lucine Amara, opera singer
• Mikael Tariverdiev, composer
• Avet Terterian, composer
• Barsegh Tumanyan, opera singer
• Arto Tunçboyaciyan, percussionist and singer
• Sylvie Vartan, singer
• Jacob Armen, drummer and musician
• Alexander Arutiunian, composer (someone who composes music)
• George Avakian, jazz producer
• Helen Avakian, singer, classical guitarist
• Arno Babajanyan, composer
• Hovhannes Badalian, singer
• Ross Bagdasarian, creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks
• Isabel Bayrakdarian, soprano (and engineer!)
• Ara Berberian, opera singer
• Cathy Berberian, mezzo-soprano singer
• Raffi Cavoukian, children's songwriter, musician and entertainer
• Cher, entertainer
• Loris Chobanian, composer
• Barbara Chookassian, singer
• John Chookassian, musician
• Hayk Dilanyan, saxophone player
• Zara Dolukhanova, opera singer
• Patrick Fiori, singer
• Djivan Gasparyan, musician, composer
• Gohar Gasparyan, opera singer
• Slava Grigoryan, guitarist
• Richard Hagopian, musician
• Rouben Hakhverdian, musician, songwriter
• John Herald, bluegrass musician
• Edward Hosharian, composer
• Greg Hosharian, composer, pianist
• Alan Hovhaness, composer
• Vatche Hovsepian, musician
• Alexander Kaloian, composer
• Ani Kavafian, violinist
• Aram Khachaturian, composer
• Udi Hrant Kenkulian, musician
• Michel Legrand, composer
• Pavel Lisitsian, opera singer
• Arax Mansuryan, opera singer
• Tigran Mansuryan, composer, 2004 Grammy Award nominee
• George Mgrdichian, oud player
• Sayat Nova, musician
• Bulat Okudzhava, bard
• Constantine Orbelian, Moscow Chamber Orchestra conductor
• Hasmik Papyan, opera singer
• Leon Redbone, neo-vaudeville singer (unconfirmed)
• Hélène Segara, French singer
• Derek Sherinian, keyboardist for KISS
• System of a Down, heavy metal band
  • Serj Tankian, vocals, keyboards
  • Daron Malakian, guitar, vocals
  • Shavo Odadjian, bass
  • John Dolmayan, drums
• Harry Tavitian, jazz musician
• Berj Zamkochian, organist
• Anahid Kavafian, violinist
• Sergey Khatchaturian, violinist,youngest Sibelius competition winner
• Alain Altinoglu, conductor (someone who conducts an orchestra)
• Anahid Ajemian, violinist (someone who plays a violin)
• Maro Ajemian, pianist (someone who plays the piano)
• Nvart Andreassian, conductor
• Andy (Andranik Madadian), singer
• Aram Tajirian, violinist

Politics

• Abel Aganbegyan, senior economic advisor for Russia under Gorbachev
• Sarkis Assadourian, Canadian politician
• Bob Avakian, Chairman of Revolutionary Communist Party
• Hovhannes Baghramyan, General
• Edouard Balladur, French politician, Prime Minister (1993-1995)
• Boghos Bey Yusufian, Egyptian statesman
• Artur Chilingarov, scientist, Deputy Chairman of the Duma (Russia)
• Patrick Devedjian, French politician and minister
• George Deukmejian, governor (leader) of California
• Sian Elias, judge
• Anna Eshoo, congresswoman
• Arkady Ghoukasyan, president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
• George Hawi, Lebanese politician
• Howard Kaloogian, California State Assemblyman from 1994-2000
• Robert Kocharyan, president of Armenia (1998-present)
• Emile Lahoud, president of Lebanon
• Sergei Lavrov, Russian minister of Foreign Affairs
• Andranik Markaryan, prime minister of Armenia
• Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan, Soviet politician and statesman
• Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov, Russian general and statesman
• Nubar Pasha, Egyptian statesman
• Karim Pakradouni, Lebanese politician
• Serzh Sarkissian, minister of defense of Armenia, president of Armenian Chess Federation
• Armen Sarkissian, prime minister of Armenia (1996-1997)
• Vasgen Sarkissian, prime minister of Armenia (1999)
• Raymond Setlakwe, Canadian politician
• Benon Sevan, UN official
• Georgy Shakhnazarov, Soviet politician
• Stepan Shaumyan, politician, revolutionary
• Lois Tarkanian, councilwoman
• Levon Ter-Petrosyan, president of Armenia (1991-1998)
• Zurab Zhvania, Former Prime-Minister of Georgia

Business

• Albert A. Boyajian, businessman, philanthropist (someone who gives money to charity)
• Calouste Gulbenkian, businessman, philanthropist
• Kirk Kerkorian, businessman, billionaire (someone who has more than a billion dollars)
• Hrach Khachatryan, businessman
• George Krikorian, businessman, owner of Krikorian Premier Theatres
• Alex Manoogian, businessman, philanthropist
• Richard Manoogian, businessman, philanthropist
• Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian, businessmen
• Serge Tchuruk, businessman, CEO of Alcatel
• John Vartan, businessman
• Alex Yemenidjian, CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Myers

Religion

• Saint Nerses I the Great, Catholicos
• Isaac of Armenia, Catholicos
• Abul-Faraj, bishop
• Gregory Peter Agajanian, Catholic cardinal
• Catholicos of Armenia, head bishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church
• Pavel Florensky, theologian & philosopher
• G. I. Gurdjieff, mystic & philosopher
• Haik Hovsepian Mehr, bishop
• R.J. Rushdoony, Christian Reconstructionist
• Demos Shakarian, founder of Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International
• Gregory the Illuminator, Christian saint, founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church
• Patriarch Karekin II Kazanjian of Constantinople, 83rd Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
• Saint Mesrop Mashtots, creator of the Armenian alphabet
• Shushanik, Christian saint

Science

• Hovhannes Abgari Adamian, engineer
• George Adomian, mathematician, engineer
• Viktor Ambartsumian, astronomer, physicist
• James P. Bagian, NASA astronaut
• Boris Babaian, father of Soviet supercomputer
• Ashot Chilingarian, cosmic ray physicist
• Raymond V. Damadian, inventor of MRI, inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
• Viktor Hampartzoumian, astrophysicist, academician (see also Viktor Ambartsumian)
• Arsen Hajian, astronomer
• Yuri Hovhanissian, director of the Russian Nuclear Research Institute
• Varaztad Kazanjian, Harvard professor, plastic surgeon
• Hampar Kelikian, physician
• Jack Kevorkian, pathologist, euthanasia activist
• Semyon Kirlian, pioneer of photography
• Ivan Knunyants, chemist
• Sergei Mergelyan, mathematician
• Artem Mikoyan, designer of MiG aircraft
• Vahe Petrosian, astronomer
• Mikhail Pogosyan, Director General of Sukhoi Aircraft Corporation
• Luther George Simjian, inventor of autofocus camera, ATM, flight simulator, postage meter
• Leon Forrester Tcheupdjian, plastic surgeon
• Yervant Terzian, astronomer
• Rom Varshamov, mathematician, coding theorist
• Anahid Yeremian, physicist

Sports

• Grigor Mikhayelyan, founder and the president of Armenian karate federation
• Ara Abrahamian, sport wrestler, silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics
• Andre Agassi, tennis player
• J. C. Agajanian, race car owner and motor sports promoter
• Vladimir Akopian, chess master, ranked 16th in the world
• Levon Aronian, chess master, ranked 10th in the world
• Karen Asrian, chess master
• George Avakian, Soccer Coach
• Albert Azaryan, gymnast, three times Olympic champion
• Steve Bedrosian, baseball player
• Alain Boghossian, soccer player
• Elina Danielian, women's world top chess champion
• Marcelo Djian, soccer player
• Youri Djorkaeff, soccer player
• Servard Emirzian, diver, silver medalist at the 1980 Olympics
• Robert Emmiyan, athlete, long-jump European record holder
• Alecko Eskandarian, soccer player
• Andranik Eskandarian, soccer player
• Garry Kasparov, world chess champion, ranked 1st in the world
• Armen Keteyian, broadcaster
• Tim Kurkjian, Baseball analyst on ESPN
• Mkhhitar Manukyan, wrestler
• Lilit Mkrtchian, women's world top chess champion
• Artashes Minasian, 1991 USSR Chess Champion
• David Nalbandian, tennis player
• Armen Nazarian, athlete, twice greco-Roman wrestling Olympic champion
• Ara Parseghian, football coach
• Hrachya Petikyan, athlete, Olympic champion
• Tigran Petrosian, world chess champion
• Hal Haig Prieste, diver, Bronze Olympic medalist
• Alain Prost, Formula One champion
• Sargis Sargsian, tennis player
• Saro Sarmazian, tennis player
• Hrant Shahinian, gymnast, twice Olympic champion
• Alexi Shirov, chess master, ranked 15th in the world
• Talar Tanashian, Syrian chess champion
• Danny Tarkanian, All-American basketball player and coach
• Jerry Tarkanian, basketball coach
• Rafael Vaganian, 1989 USSR chess champion
• Yuri Vardanyan, weightlifter, Olympic champion and records holder
• Matt Vasgersian, broadcaster
• Garo Yepremian, NFL kicker
• Vladimir Bagirov, Chess grandmaster, World Chess Senior Champion 1998

Writers

• Khachatur Abovyan, poet, writer
• Arthur Adamov, playwright
• Ghazaros Aghayan, poet, historian
• Vakhtang Ananyan, writer
• Mark Arax, journalist, author
• Michael Arlen, novelist
• Michael Arlen, Jr., author, journalist, critic
• Zabelle Asadour, playwright, writer, feminist
• Arlene Voski Avakian, writer, educator, feminist
• Leslie Ayvazian, playwright, actor
• Ben Bagdikian, journalist, author
• Peter Balakian, writer, poet, educator, activist
• Ara Baliozian, writer
• David Barsamian, journalist, radio broadcaster
• Eric Bogosian, playwright, performance artist
• Chris Bohjalian, author
• Yeghishe Charents, poet
• Vahagn Davityan, poet
• Diana Der Hovanessian, poet
• Serpouhi Diusap, writer, feminist
• Sergei Dovlatov, writer
• Carol Edgarian, author, editor
• Gevorg Emin, poet
• Leo Hamalian, author, academic, editor, critic
• Hovhannes Hovhannisian, great poet, teacher
• Avedik Isahagian, author
• Silva Kaputikyan, poet
• Atabek Khnkoyan, children's writer
• Nancy Kricorian, author, poet
• Vahan Kurkjian, author, teacher and community leader
• Maro Markarian, poet
• Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy, writer, educator
• Nouritza Matossian, writer
• Hakob Melik-Hakobian, writer
• Mikael Nalbandian, writer
• Nar-Dos, writer
• Gregory of Narek, medieval monk, theologian and poet
• Arthur Nersesian, author
• Yervant Odian, writer, satirist
• Leah Ryan, playwright, writer
• William Saroyan, writer
• Paruyr Sevak, poet
• Ruben Sevak, poet
• Levon Shant, playwright, novelist, poet
• Nerses Shirakatsi, poet, writer
• Shirvanzade, writer
• Vahan Tekeyan, poet
• Henri Troyat, writer
• Hovhannes Tumanyan, writer
• Varand, poet, playwright, lyricist, author, journalist, editor, educator, translator, painter, professor in literature
• Daniel Varoujan, poet
• Zabel Yessayan, author

Generals

• Andranik Ozanian, Armenian national hero

Various

• Raffy Kranian, Mush
• Daron Acemoglu, economist
• Jack Agazarian, WW2 spy for Great Britain
• Emik Avakian, inventor
• Ivan Bagramian, Soviet Marshal
• Yelena Bonner, human rights activist, widow of scientist Andrei Sakharov
• Gayk Bzhishkyan, Soviet military commander
• Moses of Chorene, historian
• Matthew of Edessa, historian
• Vahakn N. Dadrian, historian
• Mark Geragos, celebrity attorney
• Vartan Gregorian, educator, community leader, president of Brown University (1989-1997)
• Harry K. Harutunian, educator, community leader
• Robert Kardashian, attorney for OJ Simpson
• Arpena Mesrobian, director of Syracuse University Press, writer, community leader
• Carolann Najarian, doctor, humanitarian
• Judy Norsigian, women's health activist, editor of Our Bodies, Ourselves
• George Ouzounian, (a.k.a. Maddox) creator of The Best Page in the Universe
• Lili Sahakyan, psychologist
• Avadis Tevanian, Chief Software Technology Officer, Apple Computer, and a pioneer in creating cross-platform software including Mac OS X
• Ruth Thomasian, photo archivist, founder of Project SAVE
• Virginia Valian, psychologist
• Rafi Haladjian, French Internet pioneer, creator of Nabaztag