NOTABLE
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Notable Armenians

71 remarkable Armenians and Armenian Americans — actors, artists, scientists, athletes, and leaders — with portraits, short bios, and what each is known for.

Adrienne Barbeau
Actress
Adrienne Barbeau

Broadway's original Rizzo; star of The Fog and Escape from New York.

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Alenush Terian
Astronomer
Alenush Terian

The Mother of Iranian Astronomy; first woman physics professor in Iran.

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Alex Manoogian
Inventor & Philanthropist
Alex Manoogian

Invented the single-handle Delta faucet and gave millions to Armenian causes.

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Alexis Ohanian
Entrepreneur
Alexis Ohanian

Co-founder of Reddit and early-stage tech investor.

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Andranik Ozanian
Military Hero
Andranik Ozanian

Legendary general who led Armenian volunteer forces.

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Andre Agassi
Tennis Champion
Andre Agassi

Eight-time Grand Slam winner and Olympic gold medalist.

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Andrea Martin
Comedian & Actress
Andrea Martin

SCTV legend and two-time Tony Award winner.

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Angela Sarafyan
Actress
Angela Sarafyan

Known for Westworld and The Promise.

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Anna Der-Vartanian
Navy Pioneer
Anna Der-Vartanian

First woman in the U.S. military to reach Master Chief (E-9).

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AL
Engineer
Anna Kazanjian Longobardo

First woman to earn a mechanical engineering degree from Columbia.

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Aram Khachaturian
Composer
Aram Khachaturian

Composer of the Sabre Dance and Spartacus.

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Arlene Francis
TV Pioneer
Arlene Francis

Born Kazanjian; 25 years on What's My Line?

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Arman Tsarukyan
UFC Fighter
Arman Tsarukyan

UFC lightweight title contender.

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Arshile Gorky
Painter
Arshile Gorky

Pioneer of American Abstract Expressionism.

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Atom Egoyan
Filmmaker
Atom Egoyan

Oscar-nominated director of The Sweet Hereafter and Ararat.

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Aurora Mardiganian
Survivor & Actress
Aurora Mardiganian

Genocide survivor who told her story in Auction of Souls.

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Boris Babayan
Supercomputer Pioneer
Boris Babayan

Architect of the Soviet Elbrus supercomputers; first Intel Fellow from Europe.

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Calouste Gulbenkian
Oil Magnate
Calouste Gulbenkian

Known as Mr. Five Percent — one of the richest men of his era.

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Charles Aznavour
Singer
Charles Aznavour

France’s beloved chansonnier — sang in nine languages.

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Cher
Singer & Actress
Cher

Grammy- and Oscar-winning Goddess of Pop.

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Daron Malakian
Musician
Daron Malakian

Guitarist and songwriter of System of a Down.

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David Nalbandian
Tennis Player
David Nalbandian

Former world No. 3 and Wimbledon finalist.

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Diana Apcar
Diplomat & Humanitarian
Diana Apcar

Saved hundreds of genocide survivors; among the first women diplomats.

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Diana Der Hovanessian
Poet
Diana Der Hovanessian

Beloved Armenian-American poet and translator, 25+ books.

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Djivan Gasparyan
Duduk Master
Djivan Gasparyan

Brought the Armenian duduk to the world stage.

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Elina Danielian
Chess Grandmaster
Elina Danielian

Full GM and first board of Armenia's women's team.

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Eric Bogosian
Actor & Playwright
Eric Bogosian

Creator of Talk Radio; seen in Succession and Uncut Gems.

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Garry Kasparov
Chess Grandmaster
Garry Kasparov

World chess champion for 15 years.

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George Deukmejian
Governor
George Deukmejian

Two-term Governor of California.

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Grigor Narekatsi
Saint & Poet
Grigor Narekatsi

Tenth-century mystic poet and Doctor of the Church.

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Hasmik Papian
Opera Soprano
Hasmik Papian

Aida and Norma at the Met and Vienna State Opera.

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Henri Verneuil
Film Director
Henri Verneuil

French cinema great; directed Mayrig.

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Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Footballer
Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Armenia’s greatest footballer — Inter Milan and Arsenal star.

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Ivan Aivazovsky
Painter
Ivan Aivazovsky

Master of the sea — painted 6,000 luminous seascapes.

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Katarine Zalyan-Manukyan
Physician & Parliamentarian
Katarine Zalyan-Manukyan

One of the first three women in Armenia's 1919 parliament.

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Kay Armen
Singer
Kay Armen

Golden-age radio and TV star, born Armenuhi Manoogian.

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Khachatur Abovyan
Author & Intellectual
Khachatur Abovyan

Father of modern Armenian literature; wrote Wounds of Armenia.

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Kim Kardashian
Media Personality
Kim Kardashian

Entrepreneur behind SKIMS and global media icon.

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Kirk Kerkorian
Billionaire
Kirk Kerkorian

Built Las Vegas mega-resorts; gave over $1B to Armenia.

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Komitas
Composer
Komitas

Father of Armenian classical music; saved 3,000 folk songs.

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Larry Gagosian
Art Dealer
Larry Gagosian

Runs the world’s most powerful gallery empire.

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Levon Aronian
Chess Grandmaster
Levon Aronian

Two-time World Cup champion and three-time Olympiad gold medalist.

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Lili Chookasian
Opera Contralto
Lili Chookasian

24 seasons and nearly 300 performances at the Met.

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Lusine Zakaryan
Soprano
Lusine Zakaryan

The heavenly voice of Armenian sacred music and Komitas.

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Mariam Aslamazyan
Painter
Mariam Aslamazyan

The Armenian Frida Kahlo; People's Artist of the USSR.

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Maro Markarian
Poet
Maro Markarian

One of Armenia's most cherished lyric poets.

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Mike Connors
Actor
Mike Connors

Star of the classic detective series Mannix.

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Monte Melkonian
National Hero
Monte Melkonian

American-born commander and hero of Artsakh.

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Nubar Gulbenkian
Diplomat & Socialite
Nubar Gulbenkian

Flamboyant oil heir and philanthropist.

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Patrick Bet-David
Entrepreneur
Patrick Bet-David

Founder of Valuetainment and bestselling author.

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Perchuhi Partizpanyan-Barseghyan
Pioneer Parliamentarian
Perchuhi Partizpanyan-Barseghyan

Writer and one of the first three women in Armenia's 1919 parliament.

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Raymond Damadian
Inventor
Raymond Damadian

Invented the MRI scanner.

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Robert Kardashian
Attorney
Robert Kardashian

Famed defense attorney and businessman.

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Rouben Mamoulian
Director
Rouben Mamoulian

Hollywood pioneer of early sound and Technicolor film.

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Sam Nazarian
Entrepreneur
Sam Nazarian

Founder of the SBE Entertainment hospitality empire.

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Serj Tankian
Musician & Activist
Serj Tankian

System of a Down frontman and human-rights activist.

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Shushanik Kurghinyan
Feminist Poet
Shushanik Kurghinyan

Founding voice of Armenian feminist poetry; wrote I Want to Live.

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Silva Kaputikyan
Poet
Silva Kaputikyan

Armenia's beloved poetess; wrote A Word to My Son.

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Sirusho
Pop Star
Sirusho

Eurovision hero and folk-pop pioneer of PreGomesh.

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Sose Mayrig
Freedom Fighter
Sose Mayrig

Legendary woman fedayi who fought beside Serob Aghbyur.

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Srpouhi Dussap
First Woman Novelist
Srpouhi Dussap

The first Armenian woman novelist; wrote Mayda (1883).

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Tigran Hamasyan
Jazz Pianist
Tigran Hamasyan

Genre-bending pianist fusing jazz with Armenian folk.

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Tigran the Great
King of Armenia
Tigran the Great

King of Kings who built Armenia’s greatest empire.

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Vartan Mamikonian
National Hero
Vartan Mamikonian

Martyr of the Battle of Avarayr, 451 AD.

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Varvara Sahakyan
Pioneer Parliamentarian
Varvara Sahakyan

Educator and one of the first three women in Armenia's 1919 parliament.

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Victor Ambartsumian
Astrophysicist
Victor Ambartsumian

Founder of theoretical astrophysics in the USSR.

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William Saroyan
Author
William Saroyan

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of The Human Comedy.

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Yousuf Karsh
Photographer
Yousuf Karsh

Portraitist of Churchill, Einstein, and the century’s icons.

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Zabel Sibil Asadour
Poet & Educator
Zabel Sibil Asadour

Western Armenian poet, educator, and pioneering philanthropist.

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Zabel Yesayan
Novelist & Witness
Zabel Yesayan

The only woman on the April 24, 1915 arrest list.

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Zaruhi Kavaljian
Physician
Zaruhi Kavaljian

First female physician of the Ottoman Empire.

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