On the night of November 14, at the age of 85, the theater and film actor, People's Artist of the USSR Armen Dzhigarkhanyan passed away.

According to TASS, the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to kidney disease and edema of the body against the background of other chronic diseases.

The agency also said that the funeral is scheduled for November 17.

The farewell will probably take place at the Moscow Drama Theater.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences on the death of Dzhigarkhanyan.

“I learned with sorrow about the death of Armen Borisovich Dzhigarkhanyan - a great actor, a bright, surprisingly gifted and charming person.

This is a huge loss for national culture, for millions of people in Russia and other countries, for all of us, ”the Kremlin press service quoted Putin's telegram as saying.

People's Artist of Russia Valery Garkalin shared his memories of working with Dzhigarkhanyan.

“Great, wonderful, wonderful actor, friend and partner.

One of the best partners ever in my life.

I'm very sorry, ”Garkalin told RT.

The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova especially noted the universal artistic talent that Armen Dzhigarkhanyan possessed.

“Over the long years of his professional career, he presented the viewer with many brilliant roles and images of wonderful heroes that cannot be forgotten.

Armen Dzhigarkhanyan was distinguished by his versatility and hard work: he was successfully given both dramatic and comedic roles ... His appearance on the screen and stage always evoked delight and genuine joy.

Ironic, sympathetic, kind and at the same time strong as a person, a true professional - this is how people around him will remember him, ”the ministry's press service quotes the minister as saying.

  • © Maxim Bogodvid / RIA Novosti

The first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture, actress Elena Drapeko, also expressed regret over the loss, answering that the audience would remember the artist as optimistic and bright.

“For our theater and cinema, Dzhigarkhanyan is a whole era, he was such a wonderful person who gave a special coloring to everything he played.

Musical, bright, optimistic - I think that this is how our viewers and all of us will remember it for many years, ”she said in an interview with TASS.

Actor and director Alexander Kalyagin in his commentary for the Zvezda TV channel noted the importance of Armen Dzhigarkhanyan for the culture of Armenia and Russia: “Everyone admires him both as a man - a sage, a man who knew a lot, experienced, wise, and as an actor.

A grave loss for all of us.

He is one of the symbols of both the Armenian people and Russian art.

A brilliant actor, "Kalyagin said.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin published a note of condolences on the page on the social network "VKontakte": "A wonderful master has passed away, an era in the history of Russian theater and cinema - Armen Borisovich Dzhigarkhanyan.

Beloved by everyone for his inimitable style of performance, sincerity and charm. "

First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture, director Vladimir Bortko, in an interview with RT, especially noted the artist's talent for reincarnation.

"Very sad.

It was not so much Dzhigarkhanyan who died as a person, but a lot of people whom he played and who became as alive as he was.

I grieve that we will no longer see him on the screen, we will not see how he will brightly embody someone in this life, ”Bortko stressed.

“Armen Dzhigarkhanyan left ... I was lucky, I had the honor and happiness to act together with this amazing, unique actor.

Armen Borisovich jokingly called me "my teacher" on the site!

Now only memories and grandiose roles in cinema and theater.

A blessed memory ", - wrote the actor Alexander Oleshko on Instagram.

Actress Svetlana Nemolyaeva, who worked with Dzhigarkhanyan at the Mayakovsky Theater for more than 20 years, told how important he was in the life of the collective.

“Each time one could learn something new from him - Dzhigarkhanyan was a“ walking school ”for us.

His departure is a great tragedy for the theater and cinema, for his stage partners.

All the actors of the Mayakovsky Theater loved and appreciated him, ”she stressed in a comment for the Zvezda TV channel.

Director Sarik Andreasyan shared his memories of the great artist on his Instagram.

“Too many losses!

Goodbye my hero!

Armen Dzhigarkhanyan!

I spoke to you once in my life in 2006.

We came to the theater, and we were led into Dzhigarkhanyan's office.

A magazine with a picture of Robert De Niro lay on the table.

When Armen Borisovich entered, he immediately said that he was a real actor, because his eyes always play, and the eyes are the most important thing.

Then he asked if I knew Armenian and I replied, “Ba vonts” (of course), and he hugged me.

Bright memory!"

- said the director.

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Armen Dzhigarkhanyan was born on October 3, 1935 in Yerevan.

After graduating from high school, he went to Moscow and tried to enter GITIS, but did not pass the competition.

At home, he got a job as an assistant cameraman at the "Armenfilm" film studio.

In 1954, Dzhigarkhanyan began studying at the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theater Institute.

In his second year, he first appeared on the stage of the Yerevan State Russian Drama Theater named after Stanislavsky.

Here he worked for over ten years and played over 30 roles.

In 1960, the artist made his film debut in the film by Grigory Sarkisov "Collapse".

Dzhigankhanyan became famous thanks to the main role in Frunze Dovlatyan's film "Hello, it's me!", Which was released in 1966.

  • Armen Dzhigarkhanyan as Artyom in Frunze Dovlatyan's film "Hello, it's me"

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In 1967, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan joined the troupe of the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater (now the Moscow State Theater "Lenkom Mark Zakharov").

One of his striking roles was Moliere in the play based on Mikhail Bulgakov's play "Cabal of the holy man".

From 1969 to 1996, the actor served at the Mayakovsky Moscow Academic Theater.

The most significant works of this period of his life include roles in the productions of "Conversations with Socrates", "A Streetcar Named Desire", "Defeat" and "Run".

Later, the artist performed on the stages of "Lenkom" and the Theater-Studio of Oleg Tabakov.

All this time, Dzhigarkhanyan was actively filming.

His extensive filmography includes over 250 works, including feature films, serials and television plays.

Among the most popular films with his participation are "Dog in the Manger", "Hello, I am your aunt!", "Tehran-43", as well as multi-part projects "The meeting place cannot be changed", "Rafferty" and two films about "The Elusive avengers ".

Armen Dzhigarkhanyan often voiced cartoon characters, dubbed and took part in radio performances.

In 1996, the artist founded his own "Theater" D ", which later became the Moscow Drama Theater under the direction of Armen Dzhigarkhanyan.

The troupe consisted primarily of graduates of VGIK - at this university Dzhigarkhanyan taught in the first half of the 1990s.

In recent years, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan experienced health problems, he was repeatedly hospitalized.