Mardanov, Mustafa Ashum Ogly

Born Feb. 27 (Mar. 10), 1894, in Marand, Iran; died Dec. 28, 1968, in Baku. Soviet Azerbaijani actor. People’s Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1943). Member of the CPSU (1945).

From 1910 to 1920, Mardanov performed in Azerbaijani theatrical groups in Tbilisi. In 1924, after graduating from the State Institute of Theatrical Art in Moscow, he joined the company of the M. Azizbekov Azerbaijan Theater in Baku. In his acting, Mardanov combined a lively comic spirit with subtle humor and irony. His best roles include the title role in Vezirov’s Gadzhi Gambar, Imamverdy in Dzhabarly’s In 1905, Shvandia in Trenev’s Liubov’ larovaia, Khlestakov in Gogol’s The Inspector-General, Shmaga in Ostrovskii’s Guilty Though Guiltless, and Sganarelle in Moliere’s Don Juan. Mardanov also appeared in films, directed amateur groups, and translated a number of plays into Azerbaijani. He was awarded three orders and a number of medals.