Famous Armenians
Being a very small nation, Armenia gave many Famous people to the World Civilization. Below is a short list of some of them.
Alain Prost-Race Car Driver-Won Formula 1 Race 4 Times
Alan Hovhaness-Composer-The Prayer of St. Gregory, Symphonies, Magnificat
Alex Manoogian-Inventor, Businessman-Invented single handle faucet, founded Masco. Huge philanthropist during his life, with strong ties to the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
Andre Agassi -Tennis- Ranked #1 in the world in 1995. Has won the Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and an Olympic Gold Medal.
Ara Parseghian-Coach-Previous Notre Dame Football Coach, national championships in 1966 and 1973
Aram Khachaturian-Composer -Gayane, Spartacus, The Battle of Stalingrad / Othello, The Sabre Dance
Armenak Khanferiants (Sergei Khudiakov)- Marshal-II World War
Arshile Gorky-Painter-Gorky has been called both the last of the great Surrealists and the first of the Abstract Expressionists. His work was vital to the emergence of a specifically American school of abstract art
Artem Mikoyan-Aircraft Designer-Creator and namesake of "MiG" Fighters of the Soviet Union and Russia.
Atom Egoyan-Director-Won 1997 Cannes Grand Prize & 2 Oscar Nominations for "The Sweet Hereafter". This Cairo-born and Canadian-bred director also produced award winning "The Adjustor", "Exotica", "Ararat" and others.
Calouste Gulbenkian-Oil Baron-"Mr. 5%" Made his fortune in Iraqi oil earlier this century after gaining 5% ownership of BP, and 3 other major companies. Set up a large enduring foundation.
Charles Aznavour-Singer- French Singer and Actor with worldwide popularity. Listen to his Greatest Golden Hits, and his Autobiographie
Cher (Cherylin Sarkissian) - Actress, Singer-Sonny & Cher Show, The Witches of Eastwick, Songs I Got You Babe, Believe. Best Actress Oscar for Moonstruck.
Dennis Agajanian –Singer-One of America's most popular gospel singers. Sings at the "Harvest Crusade".
Dr. Jack Kevorkian-Physician-Proponent of assisted suicide. Helped dozens of terminally ill patients end their lives with his suicide machine. In Michigan jail for his work.
Dr. Raymond Damadian-Inventor-MRI diagnosis machine. Magnetic Resonance Imaging allows the insides of the body to be viewed without actually using surgery.
Dr. Varaztad Kazanjian-Doctor-A Father of Plastic Surgery and Harvard Professor. Pioneer of new techniques to repair damage to WWI soldiers. Known in his day as the "Miracle Man of the Western Front."
Emile Lahoud-President-President of Lebanon, former Lebanese general who united the religious factions of the Lebanese army.
Eric Bogosian-Writer/Actor Known for Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Talk Radio .
Garry Kasparov-Chess-Ranked #1 in world. Serving in Russian Parliament. Was defeated for the first time by a chess computer built by IBM.
George Gurdjieff -Spiritual Leader-Gurdjieff's basic teaching is that human life is lived in waking sleep; transcendence of the sleeping state requires a specific inner work, which is practiced in private quiet conditions, and in the midst of life with others
Hamazasp Babajanian- Marshal-II World War
Howard Kazanjian-Producer-Return of the Jedi and Raiders of the Lost Ark
Ivan Aivazovsky-Painter- Famous for his seascapes. Paintings are featured on numerous
postage stamps around the world.
Ivan Bagramian – Marshal-II World War
Ivan Isakov (Admiral) – Marshal-II World War
Jerry Tarkanian-Coach-Turned the UNLV basketball team, the "Runnin Rebels" into a west coast powerhouse, reaching the finals and winning a few times. Then coached his hometown Fresno State team.
Kevork Hovnanian-Homebuilder-One of top 10 US homebuilders
Kirk Kerkorian- Businessman, Investor-Founded airlines, built worlds largest casinos, owned MGM studios and still owns MGM Grand, plus large share of Diamler-Chrysler. Funds Lincy Foundation.
Luther Simjian-Inventor-Inventor of Medical photography systems, Autofocus camera, Automatic Developing machine, ATM, Military flight simulator, Postage Meter.
Mike Connors (Ohanian)-Actor-Star of "Mannix"
Princess Diana-Princess of Wales-1/64th Armenian! The most widely known living person in the world before the fatal car accident, she was well loved for not being aloof. She made removal of landmines worldwide her cause.
Raffi (Cavoukian) -Songwriter/Singer-Children's Songwriter. Probably the most popular in the world. Albums include Singable Songs for the children, More Singable Songs for the children Raffi's Christmas Album, Baby Beluga, and others.
Ross Bagdasarian-Cartoonist-Creator of "The Chipmunks". Alvin Simon and Theodore, a popular children's cartoon. The "Chipmunks Christmas Album" is a classic.
Rouben Mamoulian-Director-First to use a mobile camera, Technicolor and a multiple channel sound track. Directed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Mark of Zorro, and Silk Stalkings.
Sergei Parajanov-Surrealist Artist/Producer-Soviet Armenian Surrealist Producer. Works include: Fire Horses/The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, The Color of Pomegranates/Sayat Nova, The Legend of the Suram Fortress, Ashik Kerib
Seymour Skinner (Armen Tamzarian) -Principal-Bart and Lisa's Principal on the "Simpson's". On one episode he relates he is not actually Seymour Skinner, but actually Armen Tamzarian. The town decides to never discuss his dark past again.
Steven Zaillian-Screenwriter-Received Oscar for Schindlers List, also screen wrote: Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, Awakenings.
System of a Down-Music Group-Music Group with growing popularity. Performed on one track of the Southpark CD, and Ozzfest. Proud Armenians, as their System of a Down album shows.
Viktor Hambartsumian-Astrophysicist- Developed theories of young star clusters, and computing the mass ejected from nova stars. Headed Byurakan Observatory in Armenia, & International Astrophysicist Organization.
William Saroyan-Novelist, Playwright-Won a Pulitzer Prize for the play "The Time of Your Life" which he turned down. Wrote "The Human Comedy", "My Name is Aram", and directed a prize winning movie.
Zildjian Family-Manufacturers-Worlds Largest Cymbal Manufacturer, by using secret family production technique that produces excellent sound and very strong metal. The two brothers founded the Sabian cymbal factory, in Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada, before an argument led one brother to quit the company and form a rival brand carrying the family name, Zildjian
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