Lists of Armenians

The following is a list of prominent Armenians and people of Armenian descent.

Art

• Ivan Aivazovsky, painter
• Tigran Avakian, photographer
• Jean Carzou, painter
• Edgar Chahine, painter
• Ronald Dzerigian, painter
• Arshile Gorky, painter
• Eric Grigorian, photojournalist
• Ara Güler, photographer
• Nonny Hogrogian, children's book illustrator
• Jansem, painter
• Yousuf Karsh, photographer
• Rafik Khachatryan, sculpturer
• Zeferino Merdirossian, artist
• Alain Mikli, designer
• Hovsep Pushman, painter
• Toros Roslin, Medieval painter
• Sarkis, sculptor
• Martiros Saryan, painter
• Vardkes Sureniantz, painter
• Edvard Sasun, painter

Business

• Albert A. Boyajian, businessman, philanthropist
• Mike Daglian, businessman
• Calouste Gulbenkian, businessman, philanthropist
• Kirk Kerkorian, businessman, multibillionaire
• Hrach Khachatryan, businessman
• George Krikorian, owner of Krikorian Premier Theatres
• Alex Manoogian, businessman, philanthropist
• Richard Manoogian, businessman, philanthropist
• Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian, businessmen
• Serge Tchuruk, businessman, CEO of Alcatel
• John Vartan, businessman
• Alex Yemenidjian, CEO of MGM
• Zildjian, family-owned manufacturer of renowned Zildjian cymbals since 1623

Entertainment

• Simon Abkarian, actor
• Aleksandr Adabashyan, actor
• Ray Aghayan, costume designer
• Roman Balayan, filmmaker
• Adrienne Barbeau, actress (Armenian mother)
• Daniel Bilalian, French television personality
• Eric Bogosian, American film actor
• Christy Canyon, adult film actress
• Cher, entertainer
• Mike Connors, actor
• David Dickinson, television personality
• Frunze Dovlatyan, filmmaker
• Atom Egoyan, filmmaker
• Arlene Francis, actress
• Michael Goorjian, actor
• Robert Guediguian, filmmaker
• Sid Haig, actor
• David Hedison, actor
• Hughes Brothers, filmmakers
• Armen Jigarkhanyan, actor
• Howard Kazanjian, producer
• Edmond Keosayan, film director
• Alek Keshishian, filmmaker
• Arsinee Khanjian, actress
• Dmitry Kharatyan, actor
• Kelly Kole, actress
• Vilen Kolouta, cinematographer
• Jason Mahakian, model maker
• Henrik Malyan, filmmaker
• Rouben Mamoulian, film and theatre director
• Andrea Martin, comedienne
• Frunzik Mkrtchyan, actor
• Stas Namin, actor, businessman, filmmaker, music and television producer
• Sergei Parajanov, filmmaker
• Yevgeny Petrosyan, comedian, Russian cultural icon
• Artavazd Ashoti Peleshyan, film director
• Arthur M. Sarkissian, producer
• Karen Shakhnazarov, filmmaker, producer and head of the Mosfilm studios
• Janace Tashjian, producer
• Rouben Ter-Artunian, costume and production designer
• Garine Torossian, filmmaker
• Yevgeny Vakhtangov, theatre director
• Michael Vartan, actor (Armenian paternal grandfather)
• Mikhail Vartanov, filmmaker
• Henri Verneuil, filmmaker
• Leonid Yengibarov, actor
• Steve Zaillian, filmmaker

Music

• Anahid Ajemian, violinist
• Maro Ajemian, pianist
• Lucine Amara, opera singer
• Jacob Armen, drummer and instrumentalist
• Alexander Arutiunian, composer
• Andy (Andranik Madadian), singer
• George Avakian, jazz producer
• Charles Aznavour, singer
• Arno Babajanyan, composer
• Hovhannes Badalian, singer
• Ross Bagdasarian, creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks
• Isabel Bayrakdarian, soprano (and engineer!)
• Ara Berberian, opera singer
• Cathy Berberian, mezzo-soprano singer
• Raffi Cavoukian, children's songwriter, musician and entertainer
• Cher, entertainer
• Loris Chobanian, composer
• Barbara Chookassian, singer
• John Chookassian, musician
• Hayk Dilanyan, saxaphone player
• Zara Dolukhanova, opera singer
• Patrick Fiori, French singer
• Djivan Gasparyan, musician, composer
• Gohar Gasparyan, opera singer
• Slava Grigoryan, guitar virtuoso
• Richard Hagopian, musician
• Rouben Hakhverdian, musician, songwriter
• John Herald, bluegrass musician
• Alan Hovhaness, composer
• Vatche Hovsepian, musician
• Ani Kavafian, violinist
• Aram Khachaturian, composer
• Udi Hrant Kenkulian, musician
• Michel Legrand, composer
• Pavel Lisitsian, opera singer
• Arax Mansuryan, opera singer
• Tigran Mansuryan, composer, 2004 Grammy Award nominee
• George Mgrdichian, oud player
• Sayat Nova, musician
• Bulat Okudzhava, bard
• Constantine Orbelian, Moscow Chamber Orchestra conductor
• Hasmik Papyan, opera singer
• Leon Redbone, neo-vaudeville singer (unconfirmed)
• Hélène Segara, French singer
• Derek Sherinian, keyboardist for KISS
• System of a Down, heavy metal band
  • Serj Tankian, vocals, keyboards
  • Daron Malakian, guitar, vocals
  • Shavo Odadjian, bass
  • John Dolmayan, drums
• Mikael Tariverdiev, composer
• Harry Tavitian, jazz musician
• Avet Terterian, composer
• Barsegh Tumanyan, opera singer
• Arto Tunçboyaciyan, percussionist and singer
• Komitas Vardapet, musician
• Sylvie Vartan, singer
• Berj Zamkochian, organist
• Anahid Kavafian, violinist
• Sergey Khatchaturian, violinist,youngest Sibelius competition winner

Politics

• Abel Aganbegyan, senior economic advisor for Russia under Gorbachev
• Sarkis Assadourian, Canadian politician
• Bob Avakian, Chairman of Revolutionary Communist Party
• Hovhannes Baghramyan, General
• Edouard Balladur, French politician, Prime Minister (1993-1995)
• Boghos Bey Yusufian, Egyptian statesman
• Artur Chilingarov, scientist, Deputy Chairman of the Duma (Russia)
• Patrick Devedjian, French politician and minister
• George Deukmejian, governor of California
• Sian Elias, judge
• Anna Eshoo, congresswoman
• Arkady Ghoukasyan, president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
• George Hawi, Lebanese politician
• Howard Kaloogian, California State Assemblyman from 1994-2000
• Robert Kocharyan, president of Armenia (1998-present)
• Emile Lahoud, president of Lebanon
• Sergei Lavrov, Russian minister of Foreign Affairs
• Andranik Markaryan, prime minister of Armenia
• Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan, Soviet politician and statesman
• Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov, Russian general and statesman
• Sergei Martynov, foreign minister of Belarus, ethnic Belarusian born in Armenia
• Nubar Pasha, Egyptian statesman
• Karim Pakradouni, Lebanese politician
• Serzh Sarkissian, minister of defense of Armenia, president of Armenian Chess Federation
• Armen Sarkissian, prime minister of Armenia (1996-1997)
• Vasgen Sarkissian, prime minister of Armenia (1999)
• Raymond Setlakwe, Canadian politician
• Benon Sevan, UN official
• Georgy Shakhnazarov, Soviet politician
• Stepan Shaumyan, politician, revolutionary
• Lois Tarkanian, councilwoman
• Levon Ter-Petrosyan, president of Armenia (1991-1998)
• Zurab Zhvania, Former Prime-Minister of Georgia

Religion

• Saint Nerses I the Great (Nerses Shnorhali), Catholicos, writer
• Isaac of Armenia, Catholicos
• Abul-Faraj, bishop
• Gregory Peter Agajanian, Catholic cardinal
• Catholicos of Armenia, head bishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church
• Pavel Florensky, theologian & philosopher
• G. I. Gurdjieff, mystic & philosopher
• Benny Hinn, Israeli-born pastor and televangelist
• Haik Hovsepian Mehr, bishop
• R.J. Rushdoony, Christian Reconstructionist
• Demos Shakarian, founder of Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International
• Gregory the Illuminator, Christian saint, founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church
• Patriarch Karekin II Kazanjian of Constantinople, 83rd Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
• Saint Mesrop Mashtots, creator of the Armenian alphabet
• Shushanik, saint

Science

• Hovhannes Abgari Adamian, engineer
• Hrachya Acharyan, linguist
• George Adomian, mathematician, engineer
• Viktor Ambartsumian, astronomer, physicist
• James P. Bagian, NASA astronaut
• Boris Babaian, father of Soviet supercomputer
• Raymond V. Damadian, inventor of MRI, inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
• Viktor Hampartzoumian, astrophysicist, academician
• Yuri Hovhanissian, director of the Russian Nuclear Research Institute
• Varaztad Kazanjian, Harvard professor, plastic surgeon
• Hampar Kelikian, physician
• Jack Kevorkian, pathologist, euthanasia activist
• Semyon Kirlian, pioneer of photography
• Ivan Knunyants, chemist
• Sergei Mergelyan, mathematician
• Artem Mikoyan, designer of MiG aircrafts
• Mikhail Pogosyan, Director General of Sukhoi Aircraft Corporation
• Luther George Simjian, inventor of autofocus camera, ATM, flight simulator, postage meter
• Leon Forrester Tcheupdjian, plastic surgeon
• Rom Varshamov, mathematician, coding theorist

Sports

• Ara Abrahamian, sport wrestler, silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics
• Andre Agassi, tennis player
• J. C. Agajanian, race car owner and motor sports promoter
• Vladimir Akopian, chess master, ranked 16th in the world
• Levon Aronian, chess master, ranked 10th in the world
• Karen Asrian, chess master
• Albert Azaryan, gymnast, three times Olympic champion
• Steve Bedrosian, baseball player
• Alain Boghossian, soccer player
• Elina Danielian, women's world top chess champion
• Marcelo Djian, soccer player
• Youri Djorkaeff, soccer player
• Servard Emirzian, diver, silver medalist at the 1980 Olympics
• Robert Emmiyan, athlete, long-jump European record holder
• Alecko Eskandarian, soccer player
• Andranik Eskandarian, soccer player
• Garry Kasparov, world chess champion, ranked 1st in the world
• Armen Keteyian, broadcaster
• Tim Kurkjian, Baseball analyst on ESPN
• Mkhhitar Manukyan, wrestler
• Lilit Mkrtchian, women's world top chess champion
• Artashes Minasian, 1991 USSR Chess Champion
• David Nalbandian, tennis player
• Armen Nazarian, athlete, twice greco-roman wrestling Olympic champion
• Ara Parseghian, football coach
• Hrachya Petikyan, athlete, Olympic champion
• Tigran Petrosian, world chess champion
• Hal Haig Prieste, diver, Bronze Olympic medalist
• Alain Prost, Formula One champion
• Sargis Sargsian, tennis player
• Saro Sarmazian, karate Champion
• Hrant Shahinian, gymnast, twice Olympic champion
• Alexi Shirov, chess master, ranked 15th in the world
• Talar Tanashian, Syrian chess champion
• Danny Tarkanian, All-American basketball player and coach
• Jerry Tarkanian, basketball coach
• Rafael Vaganian, 1989 USSR chess champion
• Yuri Vardanyan, weightlifter, Olympic champion and records holder
• Matt Vasgersian, broadcaster
• Garo Yepremian, NFL kicker

Writers

• Khachatur Abovyan, poet, writer
• Arthur Adamov, playwright
• Ghazaros Aghayan, poet, historian
• Vardan Aigektsi, poet
• Vakhtang Ananyan, writer
• Michael Arlen, novelist
• Michael Arlen, Jr., author, journalist, critic
• Ben Bagdikian, journalist, author
• Ara Baliozian, writer
• David Barsamian, journalist, radio broadcaster
• Eric Bogosian, playwright, performance artist
• Chris Bohjalian, author
• Yeghishe Charents, poet
• Vahagn Davityan, poet
• Diana Der Hovanessian, poet
• Sergei Dovlatov, writer
• Carol Edgarian, author, editor
• Gevorg Emin, poet
• Hovhannes Erznkatsi, writer
• Mkhitar Gosh, poet
• Leo Hamalian, author, academic, editor, critic
• Avedik Isahagian, author
• Silva Kaputikyan, poet
• Atabek Khnkoyan, children's writer
• Eznik Kokhbatsi, writer
• Nancy Kricorian, author, poet
• Vahan Kurkjian, author, teacher and community leader
• Grigor Magistros, writer
• Nouritza Matossian, writer
• Mikael Nalbandian, writer
• Nar-Dos, writer
• Gregory of Narek, medieval monk, theologian and poet
• Arthur Nersesian, author
• Yervant Odian, writer, satirist
• Raffi (Hakob Melik-Hakobian), writer
• William Saroyan, writer
• Paruyr Sevak, poet
• Ruben Sevak, poet
• Levon Shant, playwright, novelist, poet
• Nerses Shirakatsi, poet, writer
• Shirvanzade, writer
• Vahan Tekeyan, poet
• Henri Troyat, writer
• Hovhannes Tumanyan, writer
• Daniel Varoujan, poet
• Zabel Yessayan, author

Various

• Daron Acemoglu, economist
• Jack Agazarian, WW2 spy
• David Anhaght (David the Invincible), philosopher
• Ivan Bagramian, Soviet Marshal
• Yelena Bonner, human rights activist, widow of scientist Andrei Sakharov
• Pavstos Buzand, historian
• Gayk Bzhishkyan, Soviet military commander
• Moses of Chorene, historian
• Matthew of Edessa, historian
• Vahakn N. Dadrian, historian
• Kirakos Gandzaketsi, historian
• Mark Geragos, celebrity attorney
• Vartan Gregorian, educator, community leader, president of Brown University (1989-1997)
• Harry K. Harutunian, educator, community leader
• Robert Kardashian, attorney for OJ Simpson
• Koryun, historian
• Leo (Arakel Babakhanian), historian
• George Ouzounian, (a.k.a. Maddox) creator of The Best Page in the Universe
• Ghazar Parbetsi, historian
• Lili Sahakyan, psychologist
• Anania Shirakatsi, philosopher
• Avadis Tevanian, Chief Software Technology Officer, Apple Computer, and a pioneer in creating cross-platform software including Mac OS X
• Rafi Haladjian, french Internet pionneer, creator of Nabaztag