List of Armenian Americans
This is a list of notable Armenian-Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
Armenian Americans are people born, raised, or who reside in the United States, with origins in the area known as Armenia, which ranges from the Caucasian mountain range to the Armenian plateau. There has been sporadic emigration from Armenia to the U.S. since the late 19th century, with the biggest influx coming after the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century. The largest community is based in Los Angeles, however other sizeable communities exist in Boston, Detroit and the New York metropolitan area.
During the United States 2000 Census, 385,488 Americans indicated either full or partial Armenian ancestry.[1]
List
Academia
Activism
Actors
- Val Avery, actor
- Brian Bagdasarian, actor
- Richard Bakalyan, actor
- Adrienne Barbeau, actress[3]
- Eric Bogosian, playwright and performance artist[4]
- Cher, entertainer[5]
- Mike Connors, television actor[6]
- Ken Davitian, actor
- Naz Edwards, actress
- Arlene Francis, actress[7]
- Michael A. Goorjian, actor and filmmaker[8]
- Sid Haig, actor[9]
- Alexandra Hedison, actress and director
- David Hedison, actor
- Frankie Kazarian, actor
- Sylva Kelegian, actress
- Marco Khan, actor
- Andrea Martin, comedienne[10]
- Eddie Mekka, actor
- Deran Sarafian, actor
- Angela Sarafyan, actress
- Adam G. Sevani, actor
- Akim Tamiroff, actor[11]
- Michael Vartan, actor
- Dita Von Teese - burlesque artist, model, and actress
Architects
Art
- Edward Avedisian, painter
- Ivan Dmitri, photographer
- Larry Gagosian, art dealer
- Arshile Gorky, painter
- Rabo Karabekian, fictitious painter
- Dikran Kelekian, art collector
- Denis Peterson, painter
- Reuben Nakian, sculptor
- Haig Patigian, sculptor
- Hovsep Pushman, painter
- Sako Shahinian, illustrator
- Arshile Gorky, Painter
Business
- Vahe Aghabegians, entrepreneur
- Garo H. Armen, CEO of Antigenics Inc.
- John Berberian, entrepreneur
- Ian Bremmer, President and founder of Eurasia Group
- Gerard Cafesjian, entrepreneur
- Paul Garmirian, founder of PG cigars
- Arthur T. Gregorian, noted oriental rug merchant and author
- Mark Hoplamazian, CEO and President of Global Hyatt
- Jirair Hovnanian, entrepreneur
- Kevork Hovnanian, founder of Hovnanian Enterprises
- Kirk Kerkorian, entrepreneur
- Alex Manoogian, founder of Masco Corporation
- Charlie Papazian, founded the Association of Brewers
- John Mirak, entrepreneur
- David G. Mugar, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Stephen P. Mugar, founder of Star Market and philanthropist
- Charlie Papazian, founded the Association of Brewers
- Tro Piliguian, Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather
- David Shakarian- Founder of GNC
- Henry D. Sahakian, founder and owner of Uni-Mart
- Alex Seropian, founder of Bungie Studios
- Sam Simon, chairman and CEO
- Ronald Tutor, entrepreneur
- Avedis Zildjian, founder of Zildjian
- Craigie Zildjian, CEO of Zildjian
- Robert Zildjian, founder of Sabian Cymbals
Banking and finance
Entertainment
- Lisa Rose Apramian, screenwriter
- Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., pianist, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and "Alvin and the Chipmunks" creator
- Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist
- Christy Canyon, adult film star
- Steve Dildarian, animator, creator of The Life and Times of Tim
- George Duran, chef and entertainer
- Cyrinda Foxe, model and actress
- Carla Garapedian, filmmaker
- Hughes Brothers, directors
- Kim Kardashian, reality show personality
- Khloe Kardashian, reality show personality
- Kourtney Kardashian, reality show personality
- Robert Kardashian Jr., reality show personality
- Ana Kasparian, radio host
- Howard Kazanjian, producer [12]
- Alek Keshishian, director
- Bob Kevoian, nationally syndicated morning radio talk show host ("The Bob & Tom Show")
- Art Laboe, disc jockey, songwriter, record producer
- Rouben Mamoulian, director [13]
- Haig P. Manoogian, film producer
- Yvette Nelson, actress, singer, model
- Rob Paravonian, stand-up comedian
- Apollo Poetry, filmmaker
- Deran Sarafian, television director
- Katherine Sarafian, assistant film producer
- Tanya Seghatchian, film producer
- Francis Veber – screenwriter
- Alex Yemenidjian, former CEO and Chairman of MGM Studios
- Steven Zaillian, writer and director [14]
Families
Journalism
- Ben Bagdikian, former editor-in-chief of the Washington Post
- Sergey Dovlatov, columnist, contributed to The New Yorker
- John Garabedian, radio personality, host of Open House Party
- David Ignatius, associated editor of the Washington Post
- Armen Keteyian, Chief Investigative Correspondent for CBS News
- Nicolas Kristof, correspondent for The New York Times
- Tim Kurkjian, reporter at ESPN
- Strawberry Saroyan, journalist, The New York Times
- Lara Setrakian, journalist and political analyst, Bloomberg Television and ABC News
- Janet Shamlian, news correspondent for NBC News
- Roger Tatarian, senior VP of United Press International
- Philip Terzian, literary editor of The Weekly Standard
- Scout Tufankjian, photojournalist
- Matt Vasgersian, sportcastercaster and host
- Anita Vogel, news reporter for Fox News Channel
Fashion
- Patricia Field, Emmy-Award winning costume designer and fashion designer.
Law
Military
Music
- Dennis Agajanian, singer
- Anahid Ajemian, violinist
- Maro Ajemian, pianist
- Elijah Blue Allman, musician (son of actress/singer Cher)
- Roupen Altiparmakian, musician
- Lucine Amara- soprano
- Charles Amirkhanian, composer
- Sevan Aydinian, hip hop artist
- George Avakian, Columbia Records executive
- Ara Babajian, drummer
- Aram Bedrosian, bass player/songwriter
- Eve Beglarian, composer
- Ara Berberian, operatic singer
- Cathy Berberian, composer; singer
- John Berberian, oud player and rock/jazz fusion musician
- Armen Chakmakian, recording artist, keyboardist, composer
- Angel Deradoorian, bassist
- Ara Dinkjian, oud player
- Armen Donelian, musician
- Kallen Esperian, singer performed at Metropolitan Opera
- Ivan Galamian, violin teacher
- Richard Hagopian, oud player
- Tonio K, composer
- Tamar Kaprelian, singer
- Kim Kashkashian, violinist
- Ana Lenchantin, musician/actress
- Paz Lenchantin, rock musician
- Edward Manukyan, composer
- Paul Motian, jazz musician
- Bruce Nazarian, musician, songwriter, and record producer
- Michael Omartian, music producer
- Harout Pamboukjian, pop singer
- Hasmik Papian, singer at Metropolitan Opera
- Tony Petrossian, music video director
- Leon Redbone, jazz and blues artist
- Derek Sherinian, keyboardist with Kiss
- V Sevani, original member of NLT
- System of a Down, rock band
- Armand Tokatyan, opera singer
- Arto Tunçboyacıyan, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist
- Sylvie Vartan, singer
Politicians
- Greg Aghazarian, California assemblyman
- Bob Avakian, chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA
- Brad Avakian, Oregon politician; Current Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries; Former State Senator and Secretary of State candidate
- Marvin R. Baxter, associate justice of the Supreme Court of California
- Adam Benjamin, Jr., Democratic Congressman
- Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, United States federal judge
- George Deukmejian, Republican politician, the thirty-fifth Governor of California (1983–1991), and a former California Attorney General (1979–1983).[16]
- Edward Djerejian, former U.S. diplomat
- Steven Derounian, former Congressman from New York
- Anna Eshoo, congresswoman
- Chuck Haytaian, former speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly
- Raffi Hovannisian, former Minster of Foreign Affairs, member the parliament of the Republic of Armenia
- Paul Robert Ignatius, Secretary of the Navy during the Johnson Administration
- Howard Kaloogian, Republican politician
- Peter Koutoujian, Massachusetts State Assemblyman
- Paul Krekorian, California State Assemblyman
- Robert Mardian, former U.S. Assistant Attorney General
- Bill Paparian, Mayor of Pasadena, California
- Charles Pashayan, Republican congressman from Fresno, California
- Charles Poochigian, Republican politician
- Jackie Speier, Democratic politician
- Joe Simitian, California State Senator
- Harry Tutunjian, mayor of Troy, New York
- Larry Zarian, former mayor of Glendale, California
Religion
Sciences
- George Adomian, mathematician
- George Aghajanian - professor of psychiatry, a pioneer in the area of neuropharmacology
- Hagop S Akiskal- psychiatrist, best known for his pioneering research on temperament and bipolar disorder
- Armen Alchian, economist, a pioneer of new institutional economics, among the top 20th-century contributors to economic knowledge
- James P. Bagian, astronaut
- Raymond V. Damadian, inventor of MRI
- John Najarian, transplant surgeon pioneer
- Varaztad Hovhannes Kazanjian, founder of the modern practice of plastic surgery
- Anna Kazanjian Longobardo, author of major contributions to the aerospace engineering field, the first woman to receive the Egleston Medal for Distinguished Engineering achievement
- Albert Kapikian, virologist and pioneer in vaccine development for rotavirus
- Jack Kevorkian, pathologist
- Hampar Kelikian, orthopedic-surgeon pioneer
- Edward Keonjian - the father of microelectronics,[17] designer of the world's first solar-powered, pocket-sized radio transmitter
- Leonid Khachiyan, mathematician
- Edward Khantzian - early pioneer in the psychological understanding of addictions
- Robert Nalbandyan, chemist
- Alex Sevanian, molecular pharmacologist, pioneer in free radical research
- Hrayr Shahinian - a pioneer in microsurgical techniques of the brain [18]
- Luther George Simjian, inventor
- Avadis Tevanian, operating systems researcher
Sports
- Tatev Abrahamyan, chess player[19]
- Fred Agabashian, professional racer
- Trent Edwards, professional football player
- Ben Agajanian, professional football player
- Christopher J.C. Agajanian, motorsports promoter
- Andre Agassi, professional tennis player
- Andy Bakjian, Hall of Fame track and field official and author on the subject
- Steve Bedrosian, 1987 Cy Young Award winner for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Zach Bogosian, professional ice hockey player
- Gokor Chivichyan, judoka
- Vic Darchinyan, professional boxer
- Alecko Eskandarian, professional soccer player[20]
- Andranik Eskandarian, soccer player
- Chuck Essegian, professional baseball player
- Manvel Gamburyan, mixed martial arts fighter
- Brian Goorjian, coach of Sydney Kings
- Frankie Kazarian, professional wrestler
- Tim Kurkjian, sports analyst on ESPN
- Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., former owner of the Boston Celtics and Memphis Rogues
- Pete Mangurian, offensive line coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Vanes Martirosyan, professional boxer
- Gegard Mousasi, mixed martial arts fighter
- David Nalbandian, professional tennis player
- Karo Parisyan, mixed martial arts fighter
- Ara Parseghian, Notre Dame head football coach
- Steve Sarkisian, University of Washington head football coach
- Jerry Tarkanian, college basketball coach most famous for his time at UNLV
- Garo Yepremian, professional football placekicker
Writers
- Michael Arlen, novelist
- Ben Bagdikian, political writer
- Peter Balakian, poet, writer and academic
- David Barsamian, radio broadcaster and writer
- A. I. Bezzerides, novelist
- Chris Bohjalian, novelist
- Gary Braver, fiction writer
- Michael Casey, poet
- Nancy Kricorian, poet and author
- Arthur Nersesian, novelist, playwright, and poet
- Peter Orullian, writer
- George Ouzounian, humorist
- Aram Saroyan, internationally acclaimed novelist
- William Saroyan, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, author
- George Stambolian, a key figure in the early gay literary movement in New York
See also
References
- ^ U.S census Bureau
- ^ Daron Acemoglu: A Turk of Armenian descent
- ^ [1] "I'm Armenian... So truthfully I'm only half Armenian but it's the half I was raised in." [2] "Half French-Canadian and half Armenian, she grew up in California during the 1950s." [3] "Almost every family has suffered persecution at some time. My family's Armenian, we were the first genocide of the [last] century -- even before Hitler..." [4] "The book begins with her as a child, half Armenian..."
- ^ [5] "at home being Armenian was a badge of honor, instilled in the younger generation at large extended family gatherings."
- ^ [6] "To understand why Cher undertook this journey, it helps to remember that behind the leather and lace costumes and the club-scene poses, she is still Cherilyn Sarkisian, the only black-haired member in a family of Southern California blonds.
- ^ [7] "Connors, an Armenian-American born Krekor Ohanian in Fresno, California"
- ^ [8] "Born Arlene Francis Kazanjian on October 20, 1907, in Boston, Massachusetts... Her father was an Armenian immigrant, a refugee from the Turkish massacres of 1905-06, who became a successful painter and photographer, and her mother was the daughter of actor Alfred Davis, who instilled in the young Arlene a love of performing that came to shape her entire life."
- ^ [9] "Illusion has thrust into the spotlight a new and fresh Armenian-American talent, Michael Goorjian"
- ^ [10] "Haig has been a performer for as long as he can remember. Born in 1939 in the heart of Fresno's Armenian community (his birth name is Sid Mosesian; Haig is his father's first name), he was taking dance classes at age 7."
- ^ [11] " was born in Portland, Maine on January 15, 1947 of Armenian heritage. Her grandfather, whose last name was Papazian, emigrated from Ottoman Turkey in the early 1900s, changing his name to Martin when he settled in Maine."
- ^ [12] "Although we think of him in roles as Spanish or Hispanic, he was actually an Armenian. Short and stocky with dark hair, thick eyebrows over intense eyes, often with a black mustache, he was cast in a variety of ethnic roles as both hero and heavy."
- ^ http://www.armeniandrama.org/show.php?w=armenianfilm&a=0 Howard Kazanjian
- ^ http://www.filmsofthegoldenage.com/foga/1999/spring99/mamoulian.shtml "The son of Armenian parents"
- ^ http://www.tribute.ca/bio.asp?id=1830"Zaillian, whose background is Armenian, lives in Los Angeles..."
- ^ The Fifty Families (Part 1) - Boston Magazine
- ^ a b "Official portrait of George Deukmejian as Governor of California". California State Capitol Museum. http://californiagovernors.ca.gov/h/biography/governor_35.html. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
- ^ http://www.engr.arizona.edu/news/story.php?id=59
- ^ http://frankgroffinc.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/surgeon-develops-revolutionary-endoscopic-procedure-for-removal-of-most-difficult-to-access-brain-tumor/
- ^ Abrahamyan - [13] "TATEV ABRAHAMYAN (born January 13, 1988) Armenia (citizen of United States of America)"
- ^ [14] "Eskandarian joined more than 1,000 Armenian-Americans in front of the Turkish Embassy... Eskandarian's soft exterior belies his hard Armenian roots. His father is Andranik Eskandarian, a hellion defender who played in the 1978 World Cup for Iran and for the New York Cosmos from 1979 to 1984... Growing up in the Armenian Christian church, attending an Armenian school from nursery school through eighth grade -- "I had classes in a trailer", he said, "only eight kids were in my grade" -- Eskandarian's Armenian identity was nurtured from birth. Nothing enraptured him more, though, than his grandfather's life story."