Armen Jigarkhanyan marks 76th birthday anniversary

Armen Jigarkhanyan, the renowned actor and director, is marking his 76th birthday anniversary today, Oct. 3.

Armen Jigarkhanyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, on Oct. 3, 1935. After leaving school in 1952, he worked at Armenfilm as assistant to a cameraman.

In 1954, he was admitted to Yerevan Institute of Theater and Arts. His debut was in January 1955, in Viktor Gusev's play Ivan Rybakov, at the Russian Drama in Yerevan.

Armen Jigarkhanyan's debut in cinema was in 1960. But it was Hello, That's Me!, a 1966 Armenian drama film directed by Frunze Dovlatyan, that made him famous.

Armen Jigarkhanyan played about 200 roles thereby becoming one of the Russian actors that have played in the largest number of movies.

In 1991-1996, Armen Jigarkhanyan taught acting technique at the All-Russian State University of Cinematography. In 1996, on the basis of his course, he established Moscow Drama directed by Armen Jigarkhanyan, which ranks high among Moscow's small theaters.

In 2010, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev awarded the renowned actor an Order of Merit for the Fatherland (2nd class).

Armen Jigarkhanyan is in the Guinness Book of Records as the Russian actor that has played the largest number of film roles.