"Zara Aramyan, celebrated Armenian TV host and actress, passes away" by Carlo Coppola
Yerevan — At the age of 55, Zara Aramyan, the renowned Armenian actress and television presenter who won the hearts of generations with her talent and charismatic personality, has passed away. News of her death, which occurred today, 17 January 2026, has plunged the Armenian cultural and entertainment world into deep mourning, along with her countless admirers.
The artist had been urgently admitted to the intensive care unit of the Heratsi Hospital Complex due to severe cardiac complications and respiratory failure. In the hours preceding her death, her husband Artashes Gasparyan had announced that her condition was extremely critical and that Zara had been placed on a ventilator. In recent years, Aramyan had endured repeated hospitalizations for cardiovascular problems—a long and painful struggle that, tragically, proved fatal.
Born in Yerevan on 1 July 1970, Zara Aramyan built a distinguished career in the Armenian cultural landscape. After completing her studies at Yerevan State University, she rose to prominence both on stage and on screen. Her remarkable versatility allowed her to excel as a theatre and television actress, a presenter, and a leading media figure. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to national culture, she was awarded the prestigious title of Honoured Cultural Worker of Armenia, a distinction that attests to the lasting impact of her work.
In recent years, Aramyan had become especially popular as the host of the culinary programme Tasty Conversation with Zara, a format blending talk show, storytelling, and gastronomy. Through her warmth and spontaneity, the show became a beloved fixture for many viewers, who appreciated not only the recipes but above all her ability to create an intimate and welcoming atmosphere, giving space to personal stories, traditions, and shared identities.
A painful episode in her life had also attracted audiences attention in the past. According to reports from several Armenian media outlets and statements made by Aramyan herself, she was supposed to receive a state-owned apartment under a government programme designed to support prominent figures in culture and the media. Despite promises and repeated contacts with the relevant institutions, the allocation never materialised.
She addressed the issue with great dignity, avoiding polemical tones while expressing her disappointment over a situation that remained unresolved for years. The case came to symbolise the bureaucratic obstacles and shortcomings of the system meant to support artists, but it was gradually overshadowed by Armenia’s complex domestic and foreign political developments, failing to sustain a broader debate on the treatment of those who have significantly contributed to the country’s cultural life.
Her passion for her work and her love for life shone through in every appearance, making each programme and performance a special moment for her audience. Colleagues, friends, and fans remember Zara Aramyan as a woman of vibrant personality and contagious energy. We too remember her for these very qualities and for the immediate, unforgettable warmth she conveyed from our first meeting, several years ago, at Kara Pilich in central Yerevan, at the end of a popular celebration dedicated to the Watermelon Festival.
Today, the Armenian cultural scene loses one of its most beloved and representative figures. Yet the memory of Zara Aramyan will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and admired her, on stage and in everyday life alike. Her artistic and human legacy will remain a precious heritage for Armenian culture, bearing witness to a life wholly devoted to art and to the profound bond between performer and audience.
