“To me Mher was a “God” in all matters; as a talented actor, as a brother, as a father. He was a man who was born a child and died a child. To him the most powerful thing in the space was love, love to work and create. He was a man who would never offend others and died with homesickness to see his mother land.”

So was Albert Mkrtchyan’s answer when he was asked to speak about the greatest Armenian actor and his brother Mher Mkrthyan during one of the interviews. “Our Frunzik” – this was the nickname of the actor which had a great popularity among the people. “Mher Mkrtchyan was born for the stage, as he had all the abilities and talent for an actor” – Vardan Achemyan. Mher Mkrtchyan was, for sure, one of the extraordinary actors, whose films are of higher interest by both the adults and the children. He was a talent whose art has been acknowledged not only in Armenia but in the whole soviet countries.
Mher Mkrtchyan was born in 1930 in Leninakan, currently Gyumri, Armenia. He studied in Leninakan Art College and Theatre Studio, and then finished at the Acting Department of Yerevan Institute of Fine Arts and Theatre. His cinema career began in 1955. His famous roles in “Aybolit-66”, “Kidnapping, Caucasian Style”, “Mimino” earned him the reputation of one of the leading comedy actors in the Soviet Union. But that reputation sometimes overshadowed his real talent and emotional depth which he put into his roles in such classics of Armenian cinema as “Yerankyuni”, “Menq enq, mer sarere”, “Hayrik”, “Nahapet”, “Hin oreri yerge”, “Mer mankutyan tangon”.
Even though Mher Mkrtchyan was known as a comedic actor, his personal life was filled with tragedy. Mher Mkrtchyan died in 1993, this year we’re going to celebrate the 80th anniversary of his birthday. A number of events are going to be held around the whole year. Moreover, “Golden Apricot” 7th International Film Festival will also touch upon the event, being held on 11-18 July.