List of Armenian Americans

This is a list of notable Armenian-Americans.

Armenian Americans are people who are born, raised or live in the United States who are of Armenian origin. There has been sporadic emigration from Armenia to the US since the late 19th century, with the biggest influx coming after the Armenian Genocide. The majority are based in Los Angeles, other major cities include Boston, New York, Detroit and New Jersey. During the United States 2000 Census, 385,488 Americans indicated either full or partial Armenian ancestry [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_QTP13&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-_sse=on U.S census Bureau ] ] .

List

Academia

*Prof. Nzhde Agazaryan - UCLA School of Medicine, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Biomedical Physics
*Gagik Melikyan - Professor of Chemistry at California State University Northridge
*Daron Acemoglu- economist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology [ [http://www.economicprincipals.com/issues/05.04.24.html Daron Acemoglu: A Turk of Armenian decent] ]
*John Anlyan - Yale's Anlyan Center for Medical Research and Education
*Viken Babikian- professor at Boston University School of Medicine
*Vahe Petrosian- physics professor at Stanford University
*John Bedrosian - USC Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance
*Harry K. Daghlian, Jr., Los Alamos scientist
*Richard Dekmejian - professor at University of Southern California
*Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York
*Vlasios Georgian, Associate Professor of Chemistry - Emeritus, Tufts University
*Richard G. Hovannisian, professor of Armenian History at UCLA
*Joseph Albert Kechichian - Author
*Kevork "Kirk" Manoogian- Noted professor in literature and philosophy. Regarded as the highest authority on the Odyssey.
*Robert Mehrabian- President of Carnegie Mellon
*Dr. Tim Vartanian - Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard university
*Prof. Zaven Margosian - Fmr. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Technological University
* [http://www.chem.harvard.edu/groups/saghatelian/people.php Alan Saghatelian] , Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Harvard University
* [http://biology.caltech.edu/Members/Mazmanian Sarkis K. Mazmanian] , Assistant Professor of Biology, California Institute of Technology
* [http://hilbert.math.tufts.edu/~bruceb/ Bruce Boghosian] , Professor and Chair of Mathematics, Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Tufts University

Actors

*Val Avery, character actor
*Brian Bagdasarian- actor
*Richard Bakalyan- actor
*Adrienne Barbeau, 1980s actress [ [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0786716371] "I'm Armenian... So truthfully I'm only half Armenian but it's the half I was raised in." [http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:dyyt4J48wKYJ:books.monstersandcritics.com/nonfiction/reviews/article_1168638.php/Book_Review_There_Are_Worse_Things_I_Could_Do_by_Adrienne_Barbeau+%22Adrienne+Barbeau%22+half-armenian&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1] "Half French-Canadian and half Armenian, she grew up in California during the 1950s." [http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20020616barbeau0616fnp5.asp] "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..." [http://www.dreadcentral.com/index.php?name=Reviews&req=showcontent&id=895] "The book begins with her as a child, half Armenian..."] (Armenian mother)
*Eric Bogosian, playwright and performance artist [ [http://www.wliw.org/productions/armenian.html] "at home being Armenian was a badge of honor, instilled in the younger generation at large extended family gatherings."]
*Christy Canyon, pornographic actress (Armenian father)
*Cher, entertainer [ [http://www.cilicia.com/armo_article_cherarmeniatrip.html] "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.] (Armenian father)
*Mike Connors, television actor [ [http://www.tvguide.com/TV/Televisionary/] "Connors, an Armenian-American born Krekor Ohanian in Fresno, Calif."]
*Ken Davitian, actor, starred in Borat
*Naz Edwards, actress
*Colton Ford, adult film actor and singer
*Arlene Francis, actress [ [http://www.arlenefrancis.com/afbio.html] "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."] (Armenian father)
*Michael A. Goorjian, actor and filmmaker [ [http://www.agbu.org/ararat/Article_04_Fall_2.htm] "Illusion has thrust into the spotlight a new and fresh Armenian-American talent, Michael Goorjian"]
*Sid Haig, actor [ [http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/archive/4279.html] "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."]
*David Hedison, actor, starring in The Young and the Restless
*Frankie Kazarian- actor
*Sylva Kelegian, actress
*Andrea Martin, comedienne [ [http://www.armeniandrama.org/people.php?p=andrea-martin&a=2] " 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."]
*Eddie Mekka, actor
*Akim Tamiroff, actor [ [http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Akim&actor_last=Tamiroff] "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."]
*Adam Sevani, "Moose" in the film
*Kim Kardashian, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" Reality Show Actress // Playboy Dec.2007 (Armenian Father)

Architects

* Mihran Mesrobian (1889 – 1975), noted Washington, D.C. architect

Art

*Greg Costikyan, game designer
*Ronald Dzerigian, painter
*Larry Gagosian- art dealer
*Arshile Gorky, painter
*Reuben Nakian, sculptor
*Haig Patigian, sculptor
*Hovsep Pushman, painter
*Sako Shahinian, illustrator
*Dikran Kelekian, a notable art collector and dealer of Islamic Art

Business

*Albert G. Tutor, Founder of A.G. Tutor Company, Inc, now Tutor-Saliba Corp.
*Garo H. Armen, CEO of Antigenics Inc., NASDAQ listed
*John Mirak, Founder/CEO The Arlington Center Garage and Service Corporation
*John Berberian, owner of Jons Marketplace
*Ian Bremmer- President and founder of Eurasia Group, entrepreneur
*Gerard Cafesjian, entrepreneur
*Ralph Esmerian, Jeweller and Art collector Fred Leighton
*Paul Garmirian, Founder of PG cigars
*Arthur T. Gregorian, noted oriental rug merchant and author
*Vartan Gregorian, President of Carnegie Corporation
*Jirair Hovnanian, founder of J.S Honania and Sons
*Kevork Hovnanian, founder of Hovnanian Enterprises
*Mark Hoplamazian- CEO and President of Global Hyatt
*Kirk Kerkorian, Billionaire and majority stock owner of MGM Mirage
*Kirk Kazazian, Trader/Investor
*Alex Manoogian, Founder of Masco Corporation
*Richard Manoogian, CEO and Director of Masco Corporation and JP Morgan
*David G. Mugar, entrepreneur and philanthropist
*Stephen P. Mugar, founder of Star Market and philanthropist
*Sam Nazarian is an American entrepreneur
*Vahe Aghabegians, entrepreneur
*Charlie Papazian, founded the Association of Brewers
*Tro Piliguian- Chairman of Ogilvy
*Jeanette Sarkissian Wagner, Vice Chair Emerita of the Estée Lauder
*Henry D Sahakian- founder and owner of Uni Mart
*Alex Seropian, Founder of Bungie Studios
*Seth Setrakian, Hedge Fund Manager
*David Shakarian- Founder of GNC
*Sam Simon - chairman and CEO, Atlas Oil Co.
*Roger Tamraz- financier and oil magnate, founded Tamoil
*Ronn Torossian, founder and president of 5W Public Relations
*Ed Eskandarian, Chairman and CEO of Arnold Worldwide
*Ara Yazijian, founder of New England Sheet Metal
*Alex Yemenidjian- Former CEO of MGM Studios
*Avedis Zildjian, Founder of Zildjian
*Craigie Zildjian, CEO of Zildjian
*Robert Zildjian, Founder of Sabian Cymbals
*Blake Krikorian, Founder and CEO of Sling Media
*Kirk Hachigian,CEO of Cooper Industries
*Brian A. Bogosian, Chairman and CEO of Visto
*Daniel C. Ustian , Chairman and CEO of Navistar

Banking and finance

*Granger K. Costikyan, long partner of Brown Brothers Harriman
*Vahan Janjigian, Senior VP and Executive Director of Forbes
*Richard Donchian, pioneer finansist
*Charles A. Agemian, was a nationally known banker.

Entertainment

*George Duran, chef and entertainer
*Bob Kevoian, Bob of the nationally syndicated morning radio "The Bob & Tom Show
*Yvette Nelson, actress, singer, model
*Alex Yemenidjian, Former CEO and Chairman of MGM Studios
*Kim Kardashian, television personality, daughter of Robert Kardashian

Families

* The Mugar family, of Greater Boston, business and philanthropy [ [http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_fifty_families_part_1/ The Fifty Families (Part 1) - Boston Magazine ] ]

Journalists

*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
*Janet Shamlian, news correspondent for NBC
*Roger Tatarian, senior VP of United Press International
*Philip Terzian, literary editor of The Weekly Standard
*Matt Vasgersian, sportcastercaster and host
*Anita Vogel, news reporter for Fox News Channel
*Ralph Vartabedian, LA Times automotive columnist
*Strawberry Saroyan, journalist, The New York Times
*David Chalian, Political Director for ABC News

Lawyers

*Jacqueline Chooljian, judge at United Magistrate Judge
*Charles R. Garry, civil rights/criminal defense attorney
*Mark Geragos, defense attorney
*Robert Kardashian, defense attorney

Media and movie industry

*Lawrence and Gregory Zarian, actors, models, twin sons of Larry Zarian
*Carol Black, CEO and President of Lifetime Entertainment Services
*Carla Garapedian, filmmaker
*Hughes Brothers, directors
*Arthur Chobanian, Producer (Rocky IV and V)
*Howard Kazanjian, producer [http://www.armeniandrama.org/show.php?w=armenianfilm&a=0 Howard Kazanjian ]
*Alek Keshishian, director
*George Krikorian, cinema chain owner
*Rouben Mamoulian, director [http://www.filmsofthegoldenage.com/foga/1999/spring99/mamoulian.shtml "The son of Armenian parents"]
*Haig P. Manoogian, Teacher, Producer (Influenced Martin Scorsese to become a filmmaker)
*Mardik Martin – screen writer
*Robert Papazian emmy award winning producer and ceo of Sunset Gower Studios
*Deran Sarafian, director of CSI Miami, 8 episodes, 2002-2004
*Katherine Sarafian, assistant producer of The Incredibles, 2004
*Francis Veber – screen writer
*Steven Zaillian, writer,director [http://www.tribute.ca/bio.asp?id=1830"Zaillian, whose background is Armenian, lives in Los Angeles..."]
* Arthur Sarkissian, Producer of Rush Hour

Music

*Aram Gharabekian, conductor National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia
*Michael Omartian, produced Donna Summer
*Tonio K, famous songwriter
*Anahid Ajemian, violinist
*Maro Ajemian, pianist
*Charles Amirkhanian, composer
*George Avakian, Columbia Records executive
*Ross Bagdasarian, record producer and songwriter, also known as David Seville of The Chipmunks
*Cathy Berberian, composer; singer
*Ara Berberian, operatic singer
*John Berberian, oud player and rock/jazz fusion musician
*Armen Chakmakian, recording artist, keyboardist, composer
*Cher, singer [http://www.cilicia.com/armo_article_cherarmeniatrip.html "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. Cher, who grew up with one half sister, is the daughter of a mother, Georgia, with Irish, English, German and Cherokee bloodlines, and a father, John, whose parents left Armenia after the Armenian Genocide which was conducted by the Ottoman Turks in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians perished."]
*John Dolmayan, System of a Down drummer
*Richard Hagopian, oud player and singer
*Alan Hovhaness, composer (Armenian father)
*Kim Kashkashian, Violist
*Daron Malakian, System of a Down guitarist and vocalist
*Shavo Odadjian, System of a Down bassist
*Harout Pamboukjian, pop singer
*Leon Redbone, jazz and blues artist
*Derek Sherinian, keyboardist with Kiss
*Serj Tankian, System of a Down vocalist
*Kallen Esperian, singer performed at Metropolitan Opera
*Ivan Galamian, violin teacher
*Armand Tokatyan, singer at Metropolitan Opera
*Paul Motian, famous jazz musician
*Ara Babajian, drummer of Slackers
*Dennis Agajanian, singer
*Hasmik Papian, singer at Metropolitan Opera
*Tony Petrossian, music video director for such artists as DMX, Slipknot, Serj Tankian and others.
*Rob Paravonian, stand up comedian.
*V Sevani, original member of NLT

Politicians

*Bob Avakian, chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party
*Brad Avakian, Oregon State Senator and Secretary Of State Candidate
*Scott Avedisian, Mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island
*Joe Ariyan,
*Adam Benjamin, Democratic Congressman (Armenian mother)
*Albert A. Boyajian, business leader and activist for Armenian causes
*George Deukmejian, Republican politician, the thirty-fifth Governor of California (1983-1991), and a former California Attorney General (1979-1983).
*Anna Eshoo, Democratic Congresswoman (Armenian mother)
*Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, United States federal judge
*Edward Djerejian, former U.S. diplomat
*Chuck Haytaian, former speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly
*Howard Kaloogian, Republican politician
*Greg Aghazarian, California assemblyman
*Paul Krekorian, California assemblyman of California State Assembly
*Mark Krikorian, activist for stricter immigration laws
*Charles Pashayan, Republican Congressman from Fresno, California
*Charles Poochigian, Republican politician
*Rousas John Rushdoony, credited as the father of both Christian Reconstructionism and the modern homeschool movement
*Jackie Speier, Democratic politician
*John Sweeney, Congressman
*Joe Simitian, senator California State Senate
*Larry Zarian, former mayor of Glendale
*Paul Ignatius, Secretary of Navy during the Johnson Administration
*Marvin R. Baxter, associate justice of the Supreme Court of California
*Gregory Djerejian, term member of Council on Foreign Relations
*Edward P. Djerejian, former high ranking deplomat
*Steven Boghos Derounian, former Congressman from New York
*Peter Koutoujian, assemblyman of Massachusetts General Court (legislature)
*Monte Melkonian, military commander in the Nagorno-Karabakh war
*Robert Mardian,

Religion

*Roger Youderian, missionary to Ecuador killed by the Huaorani

ciences

*George Adomian, mathematician
*Hagop S Akiskal- psyhciatrist
*Armen Alchian, economist
*Viken Babikian, professor at Boston University
*James P. Bagian, astronaut
*Aram Chobanian, Dean of School of medicine at Boston University
*Raymond V. Damadian, MRI Pioneer
*Varaztad Hovhannes Kazanjian, plastic surgeon
*Jack Kevorkian, pathologist
*Leonid Khachiyan, mathematician
*Robert Nalbandyan, chemist
*Alex Sevanian, molecular pharmacologist, pioneer in free radical research
*Stephen Stepanian, inventor of the self-discharging, rotating drum mixer that revolutionized the concrete industry
*Luther George Simjian, inventor
*Sami Movsesian, inventor, Project Engineer - Associate Technical Fellow The Boeing Co.
*Avadis Tevanian, operating systems researcher
*Gevik Sardarbegians, Avionics Engineer
*Haig Yacoubian, Electrical Engineer

ports

*Tatev Abrahamyan, (1988 - ) youngest top rated U.S. woman's chess player [Abrahamyan - [http://www.chessgames.com/player/tatev_abrahamyan.html] "TATEV ABRAHAMYAN (born Jan-13-1988) Armenia (citizen of United States of America)"]
*Fred Agabashian, racer
*Ben Agajanian, (1919 - ) pro football player.
*Christopher J.C. Agajanian motorsports promoter and racecar owner
*Andre Agassi, tennis player
*Charlie Avedisian (1917-1983), pro football player New York Football Giants
*Steve Bedrosian, 1987 Cy Young Award winner for the Philadelphia Phillies
*Gokor Chivichyan, judoist
*Alecko Eskandarian, (1982 - ) professional soccer player in Major League Soccer, playing for D.C. United [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/30/AR2006053001578.html] "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."]
*Andranik Eskandarian, soccer player
*Chuck Essegian, (1931-) baseball player, Member of 1959 World champion L.A. Dodgers.
*Brian Goorjian, coach of Sydney Kings
*Dan Janjigian, driver Armenian 2002 Olympic Bobsled Team, America's Cup Silver Medalist
*Frankie Kazarian, top wrestler
*Tim Kurkjian, (1956-) ESPN analyst
*Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., former owner of the Boston Celtics, Memphis Rogues and Thoroughbred breeder
*Pete Mangurian, offensive line coach of New York Giants
*Vanes Martirosyan, boxer
*Karo Parisyan, mixed martial arts fighter
*Manvel Gamburyan, mixed martial arts fighter
*Ara Parseghian, (1923) Notre Dame head football coach
*Vernon Samoorian, Rhode Island area soccer coach
*Lud Shabazian, Sports Editor for the Hudson Dispatch and Jim Braddock's biographer
*Jerry Tarkanian, college basketball coach
*Garo Yepremian, NFL kicker 1966-1981; a member of the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins team.Shant Malhas - soccer player played New York Red Bulls they were undefeated and lead the team in goals

Writers

*Armenak Sarkisyan, poet,agent
*Mark Arax, novelist and journalist
*Michael Arlen, novelist
*Adam Bagdasarian, writer of Forgotten Fire
*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
*Alicia Ghiragossian, poet, Has been nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature
*Nancy Kricorian, poet and author of Zabelle
*Arthur Nersesian, novelist, playwright, and poet
*George Ouzounian (Maddox), operator of The Best Page in the Universe
*Aram Saroyan, internationally acclaimed novelist
*William Saroyan, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, author
*Carla Sinclair, writer (Armenian father)
*Marla Sloane, founder of the Armenian History and Awareness Foundation

ee also

* Armenian-American
* Armenian Diaspora
* Little Armenia, Los Angeles, California
* Armenian Assembly of America
* Armenian American Political Action Committee
* Armenian National Committee of America
* Armenian Youth Federation
* List of Armenians
* List of Armenian-IraniansDvin Bahariance- Mortgage Broker
* List of Armenian-Russians
* List of French-Armenians
* List of Canadian-Armenians

References