Mher Mkrtchyan - more commonly known as "Frunzik"

(Drawing by Beatriz Avdalian @beatriz.avdalian - [Instagram])

Mher Mkrtchyan, also known as Frunzik, was a famous Armenian stage and film actor during the Soviet Union. He was born on July 4, 1930 in Leninakan, Soviet Armenian (Gyumri) and passed away on December 29, 1993 in Yerevan, Armenia. His mother and father, Mushegh and Sanam were both orphaned survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Mher is the eldest of four children; his nickname “Frunzik” was given in honor of the Soviet general Mikhail Frunze. Growing up, he was always interested in the arts and he would put on informal shows for people in the local areas. Later in his life he attended the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Arts; he then became a member of the Sundukyan Academic Theater in 1956 after being discovered by the director, Vardan Ajemian. Throughout his career, he played iconic roles that many remember to this day, such as the film, “Why is the River Noisy” in 1959 and “Kidnapping, Caucasian Style” in 1966. These movies earned him a reputation as a comedic actor, and many up and coming actors look up to him as inspiration and motivation due to his success.