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Prominent Armenian film director, screenwriter and theatre director Albert Mkrtchyan passed away on Wednesday morning, just one day after celebrating his 81st birthday.

Albert Mkrtchyan was born on February 27, 1937, in Leninakan (present day Gyumri). He was the younger brother of renowned Soviet actor Frunzik Mkrtchyan.

In 1960, Mkrtchyan graduated from the Acting Department of Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute. In 1971, he graduated from the Directing Department of Moscow Institute of Cinematography. 

From 1960 to 1966, he served as the director of the Armenian TV studio, and in 1971 – the director of HayFilm Studio.

Mkrtchyan was the director and artistic director of Gyumri Drama Theater from 1995 to 1999. He served as the director and artistic director of Mher Mkrtchyan Artistic Theater in Yerevan from 2000.

The filmmaker delivered lectures at the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan and Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema .

In 2000, Albert Mkrtchyan was awarded with the “Movses Khorenatsi” medal. In 2003, he received the title of People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia. Albert Mkrtchyan also received the Special Award at the annual “Hayak” Armenian Movie Awards.

Mkrtchyan wrote and directed many famous Armenian films, including “The Song of the Old Days” (1982), “Tango of our Childhood” (1985), “Merry Bus”, “Dawn on a Sad Street”, and the others.