Mher Mkrtchyan

Born in Leninakan (now Gyumri). He studied at the local art and music schools, while also attending an amateur theatre group. In 1945-46 he studied at the studio attached to the Mravyan Theatre, and after graduating, in 1947, he joined the main company of that theatre. In 1951-56 he studied at the acting faculty of the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute, in the workshop of Vagharsh Vagharshyan. In 1956 he worked at the Gabriel Sundukyan National Academic Theatre in Yerevan. In 1988 he founded an Artistic Theatre and a theatre studio in Yerevan, where he was artistic director and director. Since 2004 the theatre has borne his name. He received numerous state awards. He was awarded the Mesrop Mashtots Order of the Republic of Armenia (2001, posthumously). In 1971 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Armenian SSR, and in 1984 that of People's Artist of the USSR. He died in Yerevan and is buried in the Komitas Pantheon.