Background and career
Vahram Papazian or Papazyan (Armenian: Վահրամ Քամերի Փափազյան; 6 January 1888 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire – 5 June 1968 in Yerevan, Armenia), was a Soviet actor who was an ethnic Armenian, mostly known for his Shakespearean roles. Vahram did plays in Constantinople, Tiflis, Baku Armenian theaters, Moscow's Maly Theatre and in France, Italy, Austria, Spain, and Belgium. 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'.
In 1933, Reza Shah of Iran decided to create the National State Theatre Company and invited Vahram Papazian to cast a number of shows for the Iranian Red Cross.
