Vahram Papazian or Papazyan (Armenian: Վահրամ Քամերի Փափազյան; January 6, 1888 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire – June 5, 1968 in Yerevan, Armenia),[1] was a Soviet actor who was an ethnic Armenian, mostly known for his Shakespearean roles.[2] [3] Vahram did plays in Constantinople, Tiflis, Baku Armenian theaters, Moscow's Maly Theatre and in France, Italy, Austria, Spain, and Belgium.[4] Papazian began his career in 1908, where he was regarded as one of the best Armenian actors at the time. Before his death he was known as the leading star in the Sundukyan Academic Theatre. The Council of National Literature's wrote that 'Vahram Papazian's Othello dominated the Armenian stage for more than half a century'.[5]
In 1933, Rezā Shāh decided to create the National State Theatre Company and invited Vahram Papazian to cast a number of shows for the Iranian Red Cross.
Vahram Papazian is buried at Komitas Pantheon which is located in the city center of Yerevan.[6]
A statue of Papazian was erected in Armenia on February 5, 2012.
A Lebanese Armenian theatre group, founded by the Armenian General Benevolent Union's (AGBU, Armenian: ՀԲԸՄ) Armenian Youth Association (Armenian: ՀԵԸ), is named after Vahram Papazian.