Rafayel Kotanjyan

Born in Tbilisi. In 1946 he moved to Yerevan. In 1964 he graduated from the acting faculty of the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute. In 1964-66 he worked at the A. Shirvanzade Theatre of Zangezur as an actor and director. In 1966-68 he was an actor of the "Arshaluys" ("Dawn") youth theatre. In 1968-70 he studied at the Higher Courses of Television Directing in Moscow. In 1970-93 he worked at the H. Ghaplanyan Yerevan State Drama Theatre as an actor and director. He played in numerous productions and appeared in numerous Armenian and foreign films. From 1994 he took part in various television projects. Since 2008 he has been a full member of the International Academy of Natural and Social Sciences. He was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Armenian SSR in 1980, and in 2003 the title of People's Artist of Armenia, the gold medal of the RA Ministry of Culture and the RA "Movses Khorenatsi" order; in 2009 the Gyumri Order of Honour and Devotion; and in 2017 the RA medal "For Services to the Homeland" (1st degree).