Avetisian, Avet

(true surname, Voskanian). Born Nov. 12 (24), 1897. Soviet Armenian actor; People’s Artist of the USSR in 1962. A member of the CPSU since 1942.

Avetisian began his theatrical work in 1917. He is one of the founders and leading actors of the Sundukian Armenian Theater in Yerevan, where he has worked since 1922. His acting is marked by national character and rich humor. His best roles were Zambakhov and Parsig in Khatabala and Destroyed Hearth by Sundukian, Sagatel in Shirvanzade’s Because of Honor, Amo in Gulakian’s At Dawn, Balabek in Zarian’s Experimental Field, Vram in Borian’s Under One Roof, Kuligin in Ostrovsky’s Storm, and Dostigaev in Gorky’s Dostigaev and Others. He has been in films since 1926; among his roles is Sparapet in Zangezur. Avetisian received the State Prize of the USSR in 1941, the Order of Lenin, three other orders, and various medals.