Phrunzik Mkrchyan Actor Date of Birth: 04.07.1930 Country: Armenia

Biography of Frunzik (Mger) Mkrtchyan

Frunzik Mkrtchyan, whose real name was Mger Mushegovich Mkrtchyan, was born on July 4, 1930, in Leninakan, Armenia. He graduated from the Yerevan Theater and Art Institute in 1956. Since 1947, Mkrtchyan worked at the Mravyan Theater in Leninakan, and in 1956, he joined the troupe of the Sundukyan Academic Theater in Yerevan.

Mkrtchyan began his film career with comedic roles, with his first film being "Looking for the Addressee" in 1955. He was known for his comedic performances in films such as "Thirty Three" by Georgiy Daneliya, "Aybolit-66" by Rolan Bykov, and "Prisoner of the Caucasus" by Leonid Gaidai, where his physical appearance played a major role. However, he also showcased his lyrical talent in many films, and his ability to blend comedy and drama was evident in his roles as Ruben in Daneliya's "Mimino" (1977) and Armenak in Dmitri Keosayan's "Soldier and Elephant" (1977). Some of his other notable comedic films include "Fuss Fuss" (1979) directed by Alla Surikova and "Lonely People are Given a Dormitory" (1983) directed by Samson Samsonov.

Unfortunately, Frunzik Mkrtchyan had a tragic fate. His son and wife, who was well-known for her role as Jabra's wife in "Prisoner of the Caucasus," suffered from serious illnesses, and his daughter passed away. According to his brother, film director Albert Mkrtchyan, Frunzik longed for death, yearning for it and suppressing his own instincts. It was not the passage of time or his addiction to alcohol and tobacco that destroyed him, but his deliberate journey towards his own demise, as he could not bear the immense sorrow of his son and wife's illness.

Frunzik passed away on New Year's Eve, and on the night of December 31, Armenians raised their first glass in silence, without any ringing... It was a time of blockade, with no electricity in the homes, and everyone felt like it was the end of the world.

A journalist from "Novaya Gazeta," who personally knew the actor, wrote: "Armenia smiles to the world with the smile of the saddest Armenian - Frunzik Mkrtchyan." He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1984 and received the State Prize of the USSR in 1978 for his participation in the film "Mimino." He was also awarded the State Prize of the Armenian SSR in 1975 for his role in the film "Triangle."

Frunzik Mkrtchyan appeared in various films throughout his career, including "Twenty-Six Baku Commissars" (1965), "Thirty Three" (1965), "Aybolit-66" (1966), "Prisoner of the Caucasus, or Shurik's New Adventures" (1966), "Adam and Eve" (1969), "We and Our Mountains" (1969), "Don't Grieve!" (1969), "Yesterday, Today, and Forever" (1969), "Explosion After Midnight" (1970), "Khatapala" (1972), "Men" (1972), "Arik (Papa)" (1972), "Monument" (1972), "Mimino" (1977), "Naapet" (1977), "Soldier and Elephant" (1977), "Fuss Fuss" (1978), "Good Half of Life" (1979), "Adventures of Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves" (1979), "Slap (Piece of Sky)" (1980), "Big Win" (1981), "Lonely People are Given a Dormitory" (1983), "Fire" (1983), "Legend of Love" (1984), "Tango of Our Childhood" (1985), and "How's Home, How's Life?" (1987).