Karen Kocharyan Armenian actor, TV presenter, TV director, TV producer, writer, publicist Date of Birth: 19.01.1958 Country: Armenia

Biography of Karen Kocharyan

Karen Kocharyan is an Armenian actor, television presenter, television director, television producer, writer, and journalist. He was born on [date] in [place]. His father, Robert Gareginovich Kocharyan (1930-2005), was a physiologist, and his mother, Julietta Vaagnovna Mxitaryan (1934-1976), was a violinist.

Education and Early Career
In 1965, Karen Kocharyan enrolled in School No. 8 named after A.S. Pushkin in Yerevan, which he graduated from in 1975. From 1975 to 1976, he worked as a laboratory assistant at the L.A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences. In 1976, he entered the acting department of the Theater Faculty of the Yerevan State Institute of Fine Arts and Theater, where he studied under the guidance of Professor A.G. Ovsepyan. He graduated in 1980 with a qualification as an actor for drama theater and film. His diploma work was Anton Chekhov's "The Proposal" in which he played the role of Chubukov.

Career in Theater and Television
Parallel to his studies at the institute, Karen Kocharyan started working as an actor-trainee at the K.S. Stanislavsky Russian Drama Theater in Yerevan in March 1976. After graduating from the institute, he became a permanent member of the theater troupe. From 1980 to 1982, he served in the Soviet Armed Forces in Evpatoria and later in Volgograd as a musician in a brass band. After being discharged, he continued his work at the K.S. Stanislavsky Russian Drama Theater in Yerevan.

In October 1982, Karen Kocharyan participated in a television presenter contest organized by the Armenian SSR State Television and Radio, and as a result, he was hired as a television presenter starting from February 1, 1983. In May-June 1983, he studied at the All-Union State Institute for Advanced Training of Television and Radio Workers in Moscow. Until 1991, he hosted various television programs, including news broadcasts, music shows, and entertainment programs in Russian.

In 1991, he became one of the founders and the first host of one of the first independent television companies, "3rd Channel". The programs of the television company gained high ratings from the very first day. Among them were his own programs, such as "Stars and Destinies", "Yerevan Tales", and "Spotlights". He also wrote the script for the television series "Street" which depicted the history of the streets of Yerevan.

Other Endeavors and Achievements
From 1983 to 1986, Karen Kocharyan taught acting skills at the Yerevan State Choreographic School. From 1994 to 1996, he served as an art producer at the Amadeus Music Center. Since 1999, he has been leading the journalism studio and press center at School No. 8 named after A.S. Pushkin under the aesthetic center "Yerevan". He is the author of numerous articles and the book "Behind the Scenes and Behind the Camera" which chronicles the "golden era". He is currently preparing for the publication of his second book, "Thank You", which is a collection of novellas, satirical stories, and interviews with prominent figures of the 20th century.

Karen Kocharyan has been performing in concerts since 1979. He collaborated with the concert and touring organization "Armconcert" since 1976 and later with the "Philharmonic of the Schoolchild", the Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Department of the Yerevan Municipality, the aesthetic center of Henrikh Igitian, and the Arno Babajanyan Memorial Fund. In recent years, he has been the host of all concerts and festivals organized by the "Unified Nation - Unified Culture" Foundation.

Recognition and Awards
Karen Kocharyan was awarded the laureate of the 12th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow in 1985 for his contribution to the cultural program of the Armenian SSR. In 2008, he was awarded the Diploma and the Gold Medal by the Development Fund of Culture for his contribution to the development of Armenian culture in Moscow during the "Karot" festival. On October 30, 2011, he was awarded the "Gold Medal" of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia for his significant contribution to the development of aesthetic education for the younger generation on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of School No. 8 named after A.S. Pushkin.