Vachik Mangassarian obit

Vachik Mangassarian, Veteran Character Actor, Dies at 78

The Armenian performer had roles in 'CSI,' 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' and, more recently, a supporting role in Paul Weitz's 'Moving On' film.

 

He was not on the list.

Vachik Mangassarian, an Armenian actor known for his TV roles on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NCIS, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, has died. He was 78.

Mangassarian died in Burbank from COVID-19-related complications, his manager, Valerie McCaffrey of McCaffrey Talent Management, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in Iran of Armenian descent, he emigrated to the U.S. at age 23 and worked as a waiter in Los Angeles as he set his eyes on a career in Hollywood.

Besides doing theater work, he had early roles in Iranian movies before landing his first American film role in The South’s Shark in 1978. Mangassarian played the role of a father in The Stoning of Soraya M, which starred Jim Caviezel and portrayed the stoning of an Iranian woman.

He also appeared in the movie Lost and Found in Armenia, which starred Angela Sharafyan and Jamie Kennedy in an landmark collaboration between Armenian and American actors.

Mangassarian most recently completed a supporting role in Paul Weitz’s new film Moving On, starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.

As a supporter of the Armenian community, he anchored his own radio and a TV show, The Armenian National Network, for 10 years as he and guests discussed politics, film and art.

 

Survivors include his sisters, Linda Lalaian and Elda Hacopian

Actor (47 credits)

 2010-2019 NCIS: Los Angeles (TV Series)

Fake Iranian President / Sadiki Hassan

- False Flag (2019) ... Fake Iranian President

- LD50 (2010) ... Sadiki Hassan

 2018/I The Pursuit (Short)

Hagop

 2018/I Roxana

Judge 2 (voice)

 2017 What Ana Knew (Short)

Raffi

 2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV Series)

Cleric

- Foisted! (2017) ... Cleric

 2017 Price for Freedom

Samuel Daniels

 2016 East of Byzantium: War Gods and Warrior Saints (Documentary)

Father Levon

 2015 Ablution (Short)

Yousef

 2014 Intelligence (TV Series)

Principal Abubakr

- Secrets of the Secret Service (2014) ... Principal Abubakr

 2013 Cash for Gold (Short)

Ehsan's Father

 2013 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series)

Qasim Zaghlul

- The Asset (2013) ... Qasim Zaghlul

 2013 The Book of Daniel

Babylonian Noble

 2012 Lost and Found in Armenia

Josef

 2009 The Mentalist (TV Series)

Store Owner

- Red John's Friends (2009) ... Store Owner (uncredited)

 2008 The Stoning of Soraya M.

Morteza Ramazani - Soraya's Father

 2006 Cold Comfort (Short)

Cab driver

 2002 The Streetsweeper

 2000 JAG (TV Series)

Muslim Tribunal Chairman

- The Princess and the Petty Officer (2000) ... Muslim Tribunal Chairman

 1999 California Myth

Cab Driver

 1997 The Burning Zone (TV Series)

Jeweler

- Wild Fire (1997) ... Jeweler

 1996 To the Ends of Time (TV Movie)

Morlin Emissary

 1996 The Secret Agent Club

Sheik

 1994 Family Album (TV Series)

Maitre D' (uncredited)

 1993 NYPD Blue (TV Series)

Rajib

- Oscar, Meyer, Weiner (1993) ... Rajib

 1993 SeaQuest 2032 (TV Series)

Tunisian Representative

- Treasure of the Mind (1993) ... Tunisian Representative

 1993 Bodies of Evidence (TV Series)

Hales

- Blindside (1993) ... Hales

 1992 Moondance

 1992 In Living Color (TV Series)

- George Bush Meets Tommy Wu (1992)

 1991 Flesh 'n' Blood (TV Series)

Dean Cartoulian

- King's Strings (1991) ... Dean Cartoulian

 1991 Jake and the Fatman (TV Series)

Maitre d'

- You Don't Know Me (1991) ... Maitre d'

 1990 The New Adam-12 (TV Series)

Tailor

- Witchcraft (1990) ... Tailor

 1990 Beauty and the Beast (TV Series)

Lewis Windham

- The Reckoning (1990) ... Lewis Windham

 1990 Why Me?

Mansourian

 1987-1989 Falcon Crest (TV Series)

Maitre D'

- Payback (1989) ... Maitre D'

- Across the Bridge (1987)

 1989 Veiled Threat

Saleh

 1989 Murphy Brown (TV Series)

Soldier

- Anchors Away (1989) ... Soldier

 1989 Guests of Hotel Astoria

Mr. Tabatabace

 1989 Dark Holiday (TV Movie)

Customs Chief

 1988 Take My Daughters, Please (TV Movie)

Andre

 1988 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)

Chef

- Just Another Fish Story (1988) ... Chef

 1987 Sledge Hammer! (TV Series)

Wine Waiter

- Brother, Can You Spare a Crime? (1987) ... Wine Waiter

 1986 Highway to Heaven (TV Series)

Popov

- Summit (1986) ... Popov

 1986 Remington Steele (TV Series)

Vladimir Denisovich

- Steele Spawning (1986) ... Vladimir Denisovich

 1986 The A-Team (TV Series)

Tour Manager

- The A-Team Is Coming, the A-Team Is Coming (1986) ... Tour Manager

 1985 The Midnight Hour (TV Movie)

Opera Singer

 1985 The Fall Guy (TV Series)

Worker

- Reel Trouble (1985) ... Worker

 1978 The South's Shark (as Vache Mangar)