Born in Cairo to Armenian parents, Gerald Papasian hails from a renowned musical family that founded the first and largest music stores in the Near East during the 20th century, leaving an indelible mark on the region's cultural landscape. As a cosmopolitan and multilingual artist, Gerald Papasian currently resides in Paris, where he has founded the Dikran Tchouhadjian Institute, a testament to his commitment to preserving and promoting Armenian culture.
Parallel to his illustrious international acting career, Gerald Papasian has produced and directed numerous works in both English and French, including his own translation of the Western Premiere of the Opera Anoush at the Michigan Opera Theater. This impressive achievement is a testament to his versatility and dedication to the arts.
Gerald Papasian is perhaps best known for his international tours with stage partner Nora Armani in Sojourn at Ararat, a multiple award-winning play that has garnered widespread critical acclaim. The duo has performed the play at various prestigious venues, including the Edinburgh & Avignon International Festivals, The Smithsonian Institute, The Sydney Opera House, and Joe's Pub at the Public Theater in N.Y., among others.
Papasian's extensive body of work also includes productions such as Dentiste Pour Dames (Déjazet Theater-Paris),Dikran Tchouhadjian's opera Arshak II, restored in collaboration with Haig Avakian, staged at the San Francisco Opera by Francesca Zambello, and the French premiere of Tchouhadjian's opera-bouffe Gariné in France.
Under the direction of Irina Brook, Papasian has performed in a range of productions, including The Good Person of Szechuan, Waiting for the Dream, and Somewhere La Mancha, for which he was nominated best actor for his portrayal of Sancho Panza.
In addition to his stage work, Papasian has also made significant contributions to film and television, with credits including Nervous Ticks (w/Bill Pullman),Mauvais Joueurs and Aram (both w/Simon Abkarian),Quand La Ville Mord (w/Aïssa Maïga),8th Wonderland (Nicolas Alberny, Jean Mach),Le piano (Levon Minassian),Mohamed Dubois (w/Eric Judor),Le French (w/Jean Dujardin),Histoire de fou (Robert Guediguian) Cannes Film Festival Official Selection, OTTG in a lead role, and more.
He has also starred in the International Emmy award-winning TV series Braquo on Canal+, as well as Au Service de La France for ARTE, where he played the KGB head of bureau.
Papasian is an Honorary Member of the National Theater of Armenia and has been awarded the Gold Medal from the Ministry of Culture of Armenia in 2013 and the prestigious Movses Khorenatsi Presidential Medal in 2011. He works in the USA, France, and Armenia, and is a multifaceted artist who teaches, directs, produces, acts, and is a translator and dramaturg for operatic works.
