Renowned Armenian actor Rafael Kotanjyan dies aged 79

Well-known Armenian actor Rafael Kotanjyan has died at the age of 79.

Kotanjyan was born in 1942 in Tbilisi, Georgia, and in 1946 his family moved to Yerevan.

He has acted in numerous films.

In 1980 Kotanjyan was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Armenian SSR, in 2003—the title of People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia, the Gold Medal of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia and the Movses Khorenatsi Medal of the Republic of Armenia, and in 2017—the Order of the 1st Degree For the Services Rendered to the Homeland, and several other awards.