Lists of Armenians
The following is a list of prominent Armenians and people of Armenian descent.
Art
- Ivan Aivazovsky – painter
- Tigran Avakian, photographer
- Minas Avetisyan – painter
- Ronald Dzerigian – painter
- Arshile Gorky – painter
- Ara Güler – photographer
- Arsen Deren Kalashian – painter
- Malak Karsh – landscape photographer
- Yousuf Karsh – portrait photographer
- Rafik Khachatryan – sculptor
- Garegin Khachatryan – ceramic-sculptor, painter
- Zeferino Merdirossian – artist
- Alain Mikli – designer
- Hovsep Pushman – painter
- Toros Roslin – medieval painter
- Sarkis – sculptor
- Martiros Saryan – painter
- Edvard Sasun – painter
- Hussein Chalayan – British designer
- Arto Ter-Arutyunian – writer, painter and coulinarist in England (b. 1940 in Halep, Syria)
- Ruben Ter-Arutyunian – US theater painter; (b. 1920 in Tiflis, Caucasus)
- Michael Vartan–actor
- Yuroz – painter
Business
- Albert A. Boyajian – businessman, philanthropist, political activist
- Calouste Gulbenkian – businessman, philanthropist, oil mogul
- Kirk Kerkorian – businessman, multibillionaire, philanthropist
- Alex Manoogian – businessman, philanthropist
- Serge Tchuruk – businessman, CEO of Alcatel
- John Vartan – businessman
- Zildjian – family-owned manufacturer of renowned Zildjian cymbals since 1623
- Vartivar Sagherian – Chairman of FZ Industries
Entertainment
- Adrienne Barbeau – actress
- Eric Bogosian – film actor
- Christy Canyon – adult film actress
- Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) – entertainer
- Mike Connors – actor
- David Dickinson – British television personality
- Atom Egoyan – filmmaker
- Arlene Francis – actress
- Vilen Galstyan – film actor
- Michael Goorjian – actor
- Robert Guédiguian – filmmaker
- Sid Haig – actor
- David Hedison – actor
- Hughes Brothers – filmmakers
- Armen Jigarkhanyan – actor
- Howard Kazanjian – producer
- Edmond Keosayan – film director
- Arsinee Khanjian – actress
- Dmitry Kharatyan – actor
- Vilen Kolouta – cinematographer
- Rouben Mamoulian – film and theatre director
- Andrea Martin – comedienne
- Frunzik Mkrtchyan – actor
- Sergei Parajanov – filmmaker
- Yevgeny Petrosyan – comedian
- Artavazd Ashoti Peleshyan – film director
- Andy Serkis – film actor
- Karen Shakhnazarov – filmmaker, producer and head of the Mosfilm studios
- Yevgeny Vakhtangov – theatre director
- Mikhail Vartanov – filmmaker
- Henri Verneuil – filmmaker
- Leonid Yengibarov – actor
- Steve Zaillian – filmmaker
- Alexander Akopov– President,RTR (A Russian TV station)
- Michael Vartan–actor
Military
- Hamazasp Babadjanian, Amazasp Khachaturovich Babadzhanian (18.2.1906-1.11.1977) – Soviet Marshal, Chief Marshal of the Armored troops of the USSR
- Ivan Bagramian – Soviet Marshal, Deputy Minister of Defense, during the 1941-1945 World War he became the Commander of Front, liberated the Eastern Preussia and Koenigsberg (now days Kaliningrad) from Nazi troops - thus defeating the 2nd strongest group of the German Wehrmacht after the Berlin Group
- Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov; 1825? - 1888), Russian statesman, General of the Cavalry, Adjutant General of the Svita, son of an Armenian merchant; Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov was born at Tiflis in 1825 or 1826, and educated in St Petersburg, first in the Lazarev School of Oriental Languages, and afterwards in the Guards' Cadet Institute. Minister of Interion in Russian Empyre.
- Bardas Phocas – Vardas Phokas; Late Roman (Byzantine) general (late tenth century)
- Bardas Sklerus – Vardas Skleros; Late Roman (Byzantine) general. Rebelled against sitting emperor in 976-979.
- Gayk Bzhishkyan – Hayk Bzhishkyan; Soviet military commander.
- Vahan Callan – Fleet Commander, Lafayette Expeditionary Forces
- Heinz Guderian, Heinz Wilhelm Guderian, (17 June 1888 - 14 May 1954) was a military theorist and innovative General of the German Army during the Second World War.
- Paul Ignatos – Poghos Ignatosian (born in 1920 in Los Angeles, in the family of Armenian from Kharberd, Western Armenia), 1st US Minister of Armenian origin, 1942-1945 service in US Naval Aviation, 1961 - US Deputy Secretary of Army, 1964 - US Deputy Defense Secretary, 1967 - US Navy Secretary; Projected the F-111; Retired in 1986;
- Ivan S.Isakov, Ivan Stepanovich Isakov – Iovhannes Issakov (22.8.1894-11.10.1967); Soviet Admiral, Chief of the Main headquarters of the Soviet Navy during the 1941-1945 World War
- Akim Khastatov, general, (1756, Astrakhan-1809 St Petersburg), burried in the Armenian Cemetry of St Petersburg
- Lazarev, general Lazaryan,
- Kekaumenos – Late Roman (Byzantine) general and author of "Strategicon", 11th century
- Sergei Khudyakov – Armenak Khanpheryants; Soviet Marshal, Chief Marshal of the Air Forces of the USSR, Armenak Khanpheryants was the commander of the Air Defnese of Moscow during the 1941-1945 World War
- Valerian Madatov, general, Valerian Madatyan,
- St. Vardan Mamikonian – 5th century general and leader of a rebellion of Christian Armenians against Zoroastrian Persians.
- Narses – Nerseh; a brilliant Late Roman (Byzantine) general (478-573)
- Nicephorus II Phocas – a brilliant Late Roman (Byzantine) general and emperor (963-969)
- Philaretos Brachamios – Late Roman (Byzantine) general
- Lazar Serebryakov admiral; Lazaros Artsatpanyan
- Ter-Gukasov, general, Ter-Gukasyan
- John I Tzimisces – Iovhannes Tchimishkik; Late Roman (Byzantine) general and emperor (969-976)
Music
- Anahid Ajemian – violinist
- Maro Ajemian – pianist
- Jacob Armen – drummer and instrumentalist
- Alexander Arutiunian – composer
- Andy (Andranik Madadian) – singer
- George Avakian – jazz producer
- Charles Aznavour – singer, actor
- Arno Babajanian – composer
- 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
- Barbara Chookassian – singer
- Patrick Fiori – French singer
- Djivan Gasparyan – musician, composer
- Gegam Grigoryan – tenor
- Slava Grigoryan – guitar virtuoso
- Richard Hagopian – musician
- Rouben Hakhverdian – musician, songwriter
- John Herald – bluegrass musician
- Alan Hovhaness – composer
- Vatche Hovsepian – musician
- Aram Khachaturian – composer
- Udi Hrant Kenkulian – musician
- Michel Legrand – composer
- Pavel Lisitsian – opera singer
- Tigran Mansurian – composer
- Edward Manukyan – composer
- Sayat Nova – folk songwriter-musician
- Hasmik Papian – soprano
- Leon Redbone – neo-vaudeville singer (unconfirmed)
- Derek Sherinian – keyboardist for KISS
- Gwen Stefani – vocalist, composer for No Doubt
- 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
- Loris Tjeknavorian – composer
- Avet Terterian – composer
- Arto Tunçboyacıyan – percussionist and singer
- Komitas Vardapet – musician
- Michael Vartan – actor
- Sylvie Vartan – singer
Politics
- Abel Aganbegyan – senior economic advisor for Russia under Gorbachev
- Aiven Andrians – founder of Humanistic American Religious Party
- Sarkis Assadourian – Canadian politician
- Bob Avakian – chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA
- Edouard Balladur – French politician, Prime Minister (1993-1995)
- Basil I, the Macedonian – Late Roman (Byzantine) emperor (867-886)
- Bardas Mamikonian – Caesar and regent of the Late Roman (Byzantine) Empire (856-866)
- Arthur Chilingarov – scientist, Hero of the Soviet Union, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma
- Patrick Devedjian – French politician and minister
- Richard Dekmejian–political science professor and Middle East Expert
- George Deukmejian – former governor of California
- Sian Elias – judge
- Anna Eshoo – congresswoman
- Arkady Ghoukasyan – president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
- Heraclius the Elder – Exarch of Africa Province in the Late Roman Empire, late 6th, early 7th century, father of Emperor Heraclius
- Heraclius the Younger – Late Roman (Byzantine) Emperor (610-641)
- Miklos Horthy, 1868-1957, Admiral and Hungarian Leader (1922-1944)
- Howard Kaloogian – California State Assemblyman from 1994-2000
- Rachel Kaprelian–Massachusetts State representative
- Robert Kocharyan – president of Armenia (1998-present)
- Emile Lahoud – president of Lebanon
- Sergei Lavrov – Russian minister of Foreign Affairs
- Leo V, the Armenian – Late Roman (Byzantine) emperor (813-820)
- Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov – Russian general and statesman
- Missak Manouchian – French Resistance hero
- Andranik Markaryan – prime minister of Armenia
- Sergei Martynov – foreign minister of Belarus, ethnic Belarusian born in Armenia
- Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan – Soviet politician and statesman
- Nubar Pasha – Egyptian statesman
- Karim Pakradouni – Lebanese politician
- Philippicus Vartanes, Eastern Roman emperor, (711–713)
- Alexander Raphael–First Armenian member of British Parliament,served as Sheriff of London
- 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
- Tigranes the Great – king of Armenia (95-56 BC), allied with Mithridates Pontus warred against Romans under Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Lucius Licinius Lucullus
- Lois Tarkanian – councilwoman
- Levon Ter-Petrosyan – president of Armenia (1991-1998)
- Larry Zarian–Mayor of Glendale, California
- Zurab Zhvania – Former Prime-Minister of Georgia
Religion
- Saint Nerses I the Great (Nerses Shnorhali) – Catholicos, writer
- Isaac of Armenia – Catholicos
- Abul-Faraj – bishop
- 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
- Abbot Mkhitar of Sebastia–Founder of the Armenian Catholic Order of the Mekhirtarists in Venice and Vienna
- R.J. Rushdoony – Christian Reconstructionist
- 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
- George Adomian – mathematician, engineer
- George Aghajanian–physician,neuropharmacologist and pioneer in serotonin receptor research
- Roger Altounyan–asthma researcher,pharmacologist who pioneered use of cromolyn sodium inhalation therapy for asthma
- Viktor Ambartsumian – astronomer, physicist
- [A.V.Apkarian]]–pioneer in magnetic resonance spectroscopy research of the brain
- Dan Arabian–NASA scientist
- James P. Bagian – NASA astronaut
- Boris Babaian – father of Soviet supercomputer
- Vicken Babikian–cardiovascular researcher
- Aram Chobanian–Dean, Boston University School of Medicine
- Karapet Chobanyan – mechanical engineer, made first discovery in Armenia
- Raymond V. Damadian – inventor of MRI, inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
- J.W.Kebabian–neuroscientist and pioneer in dopamine receptor research
- Jack Kevorkian – pathologist, euthanasia activist
- Carl Khachikyan – Space scientist, in 1958 headed the launching of the US Atlas space rocket;
- Leonid Khachiyan – mathematician
- Edward Khantzian–Harvard psychiatrist who developed the self medication hypothesis of substance abuse
- Zaven Khatchaturian–neuroscientist and Alzheimers disease researcher
- Semyon Kirlian – pioneer of photography
- Ivan Knunyants – chemist
- Artem Mikoyan – designer of MiG aircraft
- Robert Nalbandyan – chemist
- Leon Orbeli – physiologist
- Mikhail Pogosyan – Director General of Sukhoi Aircraft Corporation
- Luther George Simjian – inventor of autofocus camera, ATM, flight simulator, postage meter
- Alex Sevanian–molecular pharmacologist and pioneer in free radical research
- Alexander Thomasian – researcher of Storage Devices
- Michel Ter-Petrossian–inventor of Positron Emission Tomography [PET scanning]
Sports
- Ara Abrahamian – sport wrestler, silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics
- Andre Agassi – tennis player
- Artur Grigoryan – Professional Boxing (WBO) World Champion
- Vladimir Akopian – chess master, ranked 16th in the world
- Levon Aronian – chess master, ranked 5th in the world
- Drew Casen – contract bridge master, 2nd place 1990 World Bridge Championship Geneva
- Steve Bedrosian – baseball player
- Marcelo Djian – soccer player
- Youri Djorkaeff – soccer player
- Alecko Eskandarian – soccer player
- Andranik Eskandarian – soccer player
- Vahan Gevorgyan – soccer player
- Garry Kasparov – world chess champion, ranked 1st in the world
- Henri Grigorian– world famous soccer player
- Zuhrab Boghossian – soccer player, basketball player and tennis champion, ranked 1st in the world - master
- Armen Keteyian – broadcaster
- Tim Kurkjian – baseball analyst on ESPN
- Katerina Maleeva – tennis player
- Magdalena Maleeva – tennis player
- Manuela Maleeva – tennis player
- David Nalbandian – tennis player
- Armen Nazarian – athlete, twice greco-Roman wrestling Olympic champion
- Ara Parseghian – football coach
- Tigran Petrosian – world chess champion
- Hal Haig Prieste – diver, Bronze Olympic medalist
- Alain Prost – Formula One champion
- Sargis Sargsian – tennis player
- Jerry Tarkanian – basketball coach
- Matt Vasgersian – broadcaster
- Garo Yepremian – NFL kicker
Writers
- Khachatur Abovian – writer
- Arthur Adamov – playwright
- Ghazaros Aghayan – poet, historian
- Vardan Aigektsi – poet
- Michael Arlen – novelist
- Adam Bagdasarian – novelist
- Ben Bagdikian – journalist, author
- Ara Baliozian – writer
- Peter Balakian – poet and writer
- David Barsamian – journalist, radio broadcaster
- Eric Bogosian – playwright, performance artist
- Chris Bohjalian – author
- Sergei Dovlatov – writer
- Gevorg Emin – poet
- Hovhannes Erznkatsi – writer
- Mkhitar Gosh – poet
- Avetik Isahakyan – author
- Silva Kaputikyan – poet
- 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
- Amy Ouzoonian – poet
- Raffi – writer
- William Saroyan – writer
- Levon Shant – playwright, novelist, poet
- Vazken Shushanian – writer
- Alexander Shirvanzade – writer
- Vahan Tekeyan – poet
- Henri Troyat – writer
- Hovhannes Tumanyan – writer
Various
- Daron Acemoglu – economist
- Jack Agazarian – WW2 spy
- David Anhaght (David the Invincible) – philosopher
- Yelena Bonner – human rights activist, widow of scientist Andrei Sakharov
- 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)
- Robert Kardashian – attorney for OJ Simpson
- Koryun – historian
- Martin the Armenian–first Armenian colonist in America who lived in the Jamestown settlement
- George Ouzounian (a.k.a. Maddox) – creator of The Best Page in the Universe
- Lili Sahakyan – psychologist
- Anania Shirakatsi – philosopher, mathematician
- Avadis Tevanian – Chief Software Technology Officer, Apple Computer, and a pioneer in creating cross-platform software including Mac OS X
List of ancient Armenians
- List of ancient Armenians
- Tigranes the Great – king of Armenia (95-56 BC), allied with Mithridates Pontus warred against Romans under Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Lucius Licinius Lucullus
- Saint Nerses I the Great (Nerses Shnorhali) – Catholicos, writer
- Isaac of Armenia – Catholicos
- Saint Mesrop Mashtots – creator of the Armenian alphabet
- Vartan Mamikonian – General, Commander-in-Chief of Armenian Army, killed in the battle (26 May, 451) against the Army of Sassanide Empire (Iran) for the Christian faith , saint
- Shushanik – daughter of Vartan Mamikonian, Christianized the part of Georgia, saint
- Koryun – historian
- Moses of Chorene – historian
- David Anhaght (David the Invincible) – philosopher
- Anania Shirakatsi – philosopher, mathematician
- Gregory of Narek – medieval monk, theologian and poet
- Grigor Magistros – writer
- Mkhitar Gosh – poet
- Matthew of Edessa – historian
- Kirakos Gandzaketsi – historian
- Hovhannes Erznkatsi – writer