When I tell people I am Armenian, their first response to me is “like the Kardashians”. Yes, like the Kardashians, but also like the many other talented Armenian people that you probably didn’t know were Armenian.
So, if it wasn’t for the Armenian race, we basically wouldn’t Apple products, the high-tech medical machines, ATM machines, hair dryers, and many other things. Armenians around all parts of the world are creative pioneers, that have invented so many things.
Here are just some of the Famous Armenians you probably didn’t know about.
Inventors
Dr. Raymond Damadian: Armenian-American physician. Inventor of the first MRI scanning machine.
Michel Ter-Pogossian: Armenian-American medical physicist. One of the pioneers in developing function brain imaging technology. The PET Scan.
Hovhannes Adamian: Armenian engineer. Developed the tri-color principle, one of the founders of colored television.
Gabriel Kazanjian: Armenian-American inventor. The first to patent the hand-held hair dryer.
Stephen Stepanian: Armenian-American inventor of the truck mounted revolving concrete drum mixer. Patented the elevator and conveyor, the compound tool, and the wrench.
Luther George Simjian: Armenian-American inventor and entrepreneur. Creator of the ATM Machine.
Marilyn Hamiltor, maiden name Marilyn Kabotian: Armenian-American author and researcher. Creator of the Quickie-Wheelchair.
Steve Jobs: Co-founder of Apple Computer. Although Steve Jobs birth parents weren’t Armenian, he was raised in the shadow of that heritage by an adoptive mother whose family escaped the killings for safety in America in 1910.
Artists
Cherilyn Sarkisian, known as Cher: Armenian-American singer and actress. The Goddess of pop.
Hovhannes Aivazian, known as Ivan Aivazosky: Romantacism period painter famous for his beautiful marine art.
Ross Bagdarian: Armenian-American actor, musician, and film maker. Creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Howard Kazanjian: Film and producer. Who produced “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones”.
Carolyn Rafelian: Armenian-American entrepreneur and business woman. Creator of Alex and Ani jewelry line.
Christorpher Ter-Serobyan: Armenian chemist who developed the un-copiable green color used in American money.
Musicians
Charles Aznavour: Singer, actor, humanitarian is one of France’s most popular singers.
Aram Khachaturian: Armenian composer and conductor. A few of his compositions are Spartacus, Masquerade, and Sabre Dance.
Soghomon Soghomonian, known as Komitas: Priest, singer, composer, and choirmaster. Pioneer of ethnomusicology.
Entrepreneur
Alexis Ohanian: Armenian-American Internet entrepreneur and investor. The founder and former CEO of Reddit.
Kevork Hovnanian: One of the top ten U.S. homebuilders. The four brothers, Jirair, Kevork, Hirair, and Vahak – are staples in he homebuilding world.
Kirk Kerkorian: investor, casino mogul, and philanthropist. Created Las Vegas as we know it today.
Albert Boghosssian: High End Jeweler, businessman, and philanthropist. Philanthropic projects through their Boghossian foundation.
Anna Der-Vartanian: The first female master chief Petty Officer in U.S. Navy. She is remembered for blazing a path for women in the United States military.
Paul Igantius: U.S. Secretary of Navy. Highest-ranking Armenian-American military official in U.S. history.
Carla Garapedian: Journalist, documentary, and filmmaker. Former journalist for BBC and the only American ever to anchor its BBC World news.
Sports
Andre Agassi: Retired professional tennis player and former world Number one. In singles, Agassi is an eight-time Grand Slam champion and a 1996 Olympic gold medalist.
Youri Djorkaeff: Retired French football (“soccer”) player who played as an attacking midfielder and a forward.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Professional football player as well, who plays for Italian club Roma and captains the Armenian national team. He plays as an attacking midfielder, but can also play as a wide midfielder.
We have over a hundred famous Armenians aside from the Kardashians. An honorable mention would be Princess Diana who is 164th Armenian but nonetheless she has the blood in her.
Armenians are an ancient nation whose sons and daughters have made quite an impact on human history. Science, art, politics, finance – you’d be hard pressed to find a field, in which Armenian men and women don’t thrive. Their talents have made our world a better place and are often undermined.
If you haven’t heard by now, Armenians are currently at war due to an attack from their neighbors. Please consider helping Armenia right now. Check out my previous post on the best ways to help Armenia right now.
Wow!! I love this list. Makes me so proud….
Wow I always learn so much from your site that I never knew. Thank you for putting the information out here so we can all benefit.
Amazing! I had no idea Steve Jobs and Cher were Armenians. Interesting read.
Wow, this is incredible! So many amazing people that should be recognized more!