Frunzik Mkrtchyan and his famous gesture

The photograph shows the Armenian actor Frunzik Mkrtchyan, one of the most beloved and famous actors of Armenian cinema. He was born in 1930 in Leninakan (Gyumri) and gained wide recognition in both Armenian and Soviet cinema. The actor was especially known for his distinctive humour, facial expressions and memorable gestures.

In the photograph a bearded man looks sideways out of a car window, with his index finger raised to his temple. In his other hand he holds a piece of paper, and someone else’s hand reaches towards him from the right.

According to the source, many people call this gesture “the famous Armenian gesture”, and it has become one of the symbols of Frunzik Mkrtchyan’s image.