name	Sharon Small
birth date	January 01, 1967
birth place	Glasgow, Scotland
occupation	Actress
yearsactive	1994-present }}

Sharon Small (born 1 January 1967) is a Scottish actress acclaimed for her dramatic work in film, radio, theatre and television. Her best-known TV role is that of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC television adaptation of the ''Inspector Lynley Mysteries'' by Elizabeth George.

Education and personal life[link]

Small was born in the Drumchapel district of Glasgow in 1967, the eldest of five children. She attended Kinghorn Primary School where she was the Kinghorn Gala Queen in her final year. She then attended Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy, though she did not take part in any of the school musicals because she was too shy. Small went on to complete a drama course at what is now Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy, whose graduates include actors Ewan McGregor and Dougray Scott. After moving to London, Small studied drama at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where she graduated in 1989.

Career[link]

Film[link]

Terry ''Bite'' ''Driven'' ''About a Boy (film) ''Dear Frankie'' ''Belly Button'' ''Pop Art'' short film

scope="col" width="80"	Year	Title	Character	Production	Awards
1997	''Bumping the Odds''	|	-	Best Actress Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival
1997	|	Alison	-	-
1998	|	Caroline Hall	Dandelion Films	-
2002	About a Boy'' ||	Christine	-	-
2004	|	Marie	Universal	-
2004	|	Kika	Satellite Pictures	-
2009	|	-	Forward Films

Television[link]

Michelle Gibson ''Doctor Finlay'' ''The Bill'' ''Hamish Macbeth (TV series) ''No Child of Mine'' ''Sunburn'' ''Glasgow Kiss'' ''Cutting It'' ''Inspector Lynley Mysteries'' ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' ''Rebus (TV series) ''Nina and the Neurons'' ''Murderland'' ''Mistresses (TV series)Masterpiece Mystery! ''Downton Abbey'' ''Kidnap and Ransom''

scope="col" width="80"	Year	Title	Character	Production	Notes
1994	''Taggart''	|	SMG Productions	1 episode
1996	|	Irene Gallagher	-	1 episode
1997	|	Gina Nash	ITV	-
1997	Hamish Macbeth'' ||	WPC Anne Patterson	-	1 episode
1997	|	Linda	-	-
1999–2000	|	Carol Simpson	-	14 episodes
2000	|	Cara Rossi	-	6 episodes
2003	|	Boo Wiberley	-	-
2001–2007	|	DS Barbara Havers	-	nominated for Most Popular Actress and the Golden Satellite Award
2005	|	Titania	ShakespeaRe-Told>Shakespeare Retold'' season	-
2006	Rebus'' ||	Miranda Masterson	-	-
2007	|	Bud the Taste Neuron	-	7 episodes
2009	|	Dr Laura Maitland	ITV	3 episodes
2008–2010	Mistresses'' ||	Trudi Malloy	BBC	-
2010	|	Mary Pritchard	ITV adaptation of "Miss Marple: The Blue Geranium", aired on PBS	-
2011	|	Marigold Shore	-	1 episode
2012	|	Beth Cooper	ITV	3 episodes

Theatre [link]

Small has appeared in 35 plays to date, her credits include;

''The Nun'' ''London Cuckolds'' by Edward Ravencroft ''When Harry Met Sally'' ''Lear'' by Edward Bond ''Life Is A Dream'' ''Spur of the Moment (play) ''Men Should Weep'' by Ena Lamont Stewart

scope="col" width="80"	Year	Title	Character	Production
1994	''The Threepenny Opera'' by Bertolt Brecht	Polly
1996	|	-	Greenwich Studio Theatre
1998	|	-	Royal National Theatre
2004	|	Marie	Theatre Royal Haymarket
2005	|	Fortanelle	Sheffield Crucible Theatre
2009	|	-	Donmar Warehouse
2010	Spur of the Moment'' by Anya Reiss ||	Vicky Evans	Royal Court Theatre
2010	|	Maggie Morrison	Royal National Theatre>National Theatre

Radio[link]

scope="col" width="300"	Title	Character
''At The Foot Of The Cross''	Narrator
''High Table, Lower Orders''	Zoe
"Dr. Finlay - The Adventures Of A Black Bag"	Nurse Angus
''Angel''	Lorraine
''The Order of Release''	-

Filmography[link]

''Miss Marple: The Blue Geranium'' - Mary Pritchard (2010) (TV)

''Mistresses'' - Trudi (2008–2010, 16 episodes)

''The Inspector Lynley Mysteries'' — Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers (2001–2007, 23 episodes plus two episodes from an uncompleted sixth season)

''Nina and the Neurons'' — Bud the Taste Neuron (2007, 2 episodes)

''Rebus'' — Miranda Masterson (2006, 1 episode)

''Shakespeare Retold: A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (2005) (TV) — Titania

''Belly Button'' (2004) — Kika

''Dear Frankie'' (2004) — Marie

''Cutting It'' — Boo Wibberley (2003, 1 episode)

''About a Boy'' (2002) — Christine

''Glasgow Kiss'' — Cara Rossi (2000, 6 episodes)

''Sunburn'' — Carol Simpson (1999–2000, 14 episodes)

''Driven'' (1998) — Caroline Hall

''Bumping the Odds'' (1997) (film/TV) — Terry

''The Bill'' — Gina Nash (1997, 1 episode)

''Hamish Macbeth'' — WPC Anne Patterson (1997, 1 episode)

''No Child of Mine'' (1997) (TV) — Linda

''Bite'' (1997) — Alison

''Doctor Finlay'' — Irene Gallagher (1996, 1 episode)

''Taggart'' — Michelle Gibson (1994, 1 episode)

Awards and honours[link]

2008 TV Choice Awards - Best Actress - NOMINATED

2007 Golden Satellite Awards - Best Actress - NOMINATED (for the Inspector Lynley Mysteries)

1997 Edinburgh Film Festival - Best Actress Award - WON (for "Bumping the Odds")

References[link]

External links[link]

The Inspector Lynley Misteries web site

Sharon Small at bbc.co.uk

Category:People from Glasgow Category:Scottish film actors Category:Scottish television actors Category:Scottish stage actors Category:Scottish voice actors Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts Category:People educated at Balwearie High School

de:Sharon Small fr:Sharon Small nl:Sharon Small no:Sharon Small sv:Sharon Small

Name	Patrick Baladi
Birth date	December 25, 1971
Birth place	Birmingham, Warwickshire, England }}

Patrick Baladi was born on 25 December 1971 and is an English actor.

Baladi was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. His father is a gynaecologist from Libya, and his mother was a midwife. He was educated at Stonyhurst College where he was the first student to win the Charles Laughton prize for acting for his roles in ''Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'' (he played Pharaoh) and ''Amadeus'' (he played Mozart). After school he went on to train as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Baladi is best known for his portrayal of David Brent's suave and charming arch-nemesis, Neil Godwin in the BBC's hit comedy series, ''The Office''. Baladi appeared in the second and final series of the award-winning show, as well as the subsequent ''The Office Christmas Special''.

In addition to ''The Office'', Baladi has appeared in various films and television shows including ''Kidnap and Ransom'', as Philip Shaffer, ITV (2011), ''Alpha Male'', ''Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'', ''Bodies'', ''P.O.W (TV Series)'', ''Lady Audley's Secret'', ''Grafters'', ''Silent Witness'', ''The International'', ''Party Animals'', and ''Mistresses''. Baladi portrayed Dodi Al-Fayed in the 2007 television docudrama ''Diana: Last Days of a Princess''. In 2008 he had a small role in the romantic comedy ''Last Chance Harvey'', appearing alongside Emma Thompson.

In the BBC drama, ''Bodies'', Baladi played the antagonist Dr. Roger Hurley. He is also a veteran stage actor who has appeared in numerous Royal Shakespeare Company productions such as ''Hamlet'' and ''Much Ado About Nothing''. He now stars in the comedy ''No Heroics'', where he plays as one of the main characters, Excelsor.

Baladi married his long-time girlfriend, Gemma Walker, at Sandals Halcyon Beach in St Lucia on 9 January 2007 and their daughter Ava was born on 3 March 2007.

Baladi is also a member of the band Grow Up, along with Keith Allen.

References[link]

External links[link]

Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:English film actors Category:English television actors Category:People educated at Stonyhurst College Category:British people of Libyan descent Category:British people of Arab descent

de:Patrick Baladi

Name	Lesley Rumball
Updated	31 May 2010
Fullname	Lesley Rumball
Maidenname	Nicol
Birth date	May 09, 1973
Height
Occupation	Sports and exercise medicine registrar Winner of the George Pitsis trophy at the 2011 Australasian College of Sports Physicians registrar conference.
Children
Positions	WD, C
Domesticyears	1998 1999–2006
Domesticteams	Otago Rebels Southern Sting
Nationalyears	1993–2005
Nationalteams	New Zealand
Nationalcaps	109
Coachteams
Medaltemplates	}}

}} Lesley Marie Rumball, ONZM (née Nicol; born 9 May 1973) is a former New Zealand netball player. Rumball played with the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, from 1993–2005. She represented New Zealand in 109 tests to become the second most capped player in Silver Ferns history behind Irene van Dyk. Rumball played as a midcourt defender during her top-level netball career, before her retirement in 2006.

Silver Ferns career[link]

Rumball debuted for the national team, the Silver Ferns, in 1993. During her time with the Silver Ferns, she played in two Netball World Championships (1995, 1999, 2003) and two Commonwealth Games (1998, 2002). She was co-captain of the Silver Ferns with Bernice Mene from 1999–2001 and 2003–04; she was also vice-captain in 1998, 2002 and 2005.

Domestic netball[link]

Rumball played for the Otago Rebels in the National Bank Cup in 1998, with the Rebels winning the title that season. The following year she changed to Southern Sting in 1999, under coach Robyn Broughtan. With the Sting she also won Cup titles every year from 1999–2004, and 2nd place in 2005 and 2006. She also became Sting captain in 2003 after Bernice Mene retired from all levels of netball.

Rumball retired from the Silver Ferns in 2005 and the Southern Sting in 2006.

Outside of netball[link]

Lesley married Chris Rumball, who is also a doctor. She and her husband travelled overseas following her retirement from top-level netball, living two years in the United Kingdom followed by a year at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. She subsequently moved back to New Zealand to continue her career in sports medicine.

In the 2004 New Years Honours List Lesley was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

References[link]

Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:People from Invercargill Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:New Zealand netball players Category:New Zealand international netball players Category:Netball players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Netball players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for New Zealand

name	Karen Dunbar
birth date	April 01, 1971
birth place	Ayr, Scotland
occupation	Actress, comedienne
yearsactive	}}

Karen Dunbar (born 1 April 1971 in Ayr, Scotland) is a Scottish comedienne and entertainer.

Early life[link]

She first came to the attention of mainstream audiences in the BBC Scotland comedy series ''Chewin' the Fat'' and subsequently was given her own show by the channel, ''The Karen Dunbar Show''.

Prior to mainstream success, Karen, an out lesbian, was well known on the Scottish gay scene, including regularly hosting karaoke nights in both Glasgow and in Edinburgh.

Career[link]

Over Christmas 2007 Karen made her first appearance in pantomime, at the King's Theatre in Glasgow, playing Nanny Begood in ''Sleeping Beauty''. Further pantomime roles include the Good Fairy and the Wicked Stepmother in ''Cinderella'' (2008–09) and Widow Twankey in ''Aladdin'' (2009–10). She appeared as a critic on "Britain's Got More Talent" on 27 May 2008.

In 2008, Dunbar was scheduled to star in ''Ecstasy'', the film adaptation of Irvine Welsh's best-selling novel, ''Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance'', as well as performing a series of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Also known as a comedy actress, she has tackled serious roles, most notably to date her performance in the poetic monologue ''A Drunk Woman Looks at the Thistle'' adapted by Denise Mina from Hugh MacDiarmid's poem, ''A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle''.

In 2009, she starred in a 6 part series of new Scottish comedy Happy Hollidays.

Personal life[link]

According to the ''Pink Paper'' (15 September 2005, page 9), Dunbar and her partner Jennifer were married in a ceremony in Toronto. They separated in July 2009.

Education[link]

Dunbar attended Ayr Academy, a secondary school in Ayr.

References[link]

External links[link]

Karen Dunbar biodata

Karen Dunbar website

Category:1971 births Category:Lesbian actors Category:LGBT people from Scotland Category:Living people Category:People from Ayr Category:Scottish comedians Category:Scottish film actors Category:Scottish television actors Category:Scottish women comedians Category:People educated at Ayr Academy Category:LGBT comedians

name	Charles Aznavour
background	solo_singer
birth name	Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian
birth date	May 22, 1924
origin	Paris, France
countries
genre	PopChansonJazz
occupation	Singer-songwriter, actor, public activist, diplomat
years active	1936–present
label	EMIMusArm Records
associated acts	Claude LombardKatia Aznavour
website	www.c-aznavour.com }}

Charles Aznavour, OC (born Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian; ; ''Shahnour Vaghinak Aznavurian''; May 22, 1924) is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world. Charles Aznavour (pronounced in French as Sharl Aznavoor) is known for his unique tenor voice: clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. He has appeared in more than sixty movies, composed about a thousand songs (including 150 at least in English, 100 in Italian, 70 in Spanish, and 50 in German), and sold well over 100 million records.

In 1998, Charles Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users of ''Time Online'' from around the globe. He was recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. He has sung for presidents, popes, and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events, and is the founder of the charitable organization ''Aznavour for Armenia'' along with his long-time friend impresario Levon Sayan.

In 2009 he was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as Armenia's permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva. He started his new ''Aznavour en Toute Intimité'' tour in 2011.

Life and career[link]

Background[link]

Aznavour was born as Shahnour Vaghenagi Aznavourian in Paris the son of Armenian immigrants Michael Aznavourian (an Armenian from Akhaltsikhe,Georgia) and Knar Baghdasarian (from Izmir, Turkey), who survived the Armenian Genocide. His father spent his youth in Tbilisi Georgia, where his family had moved for work (Charles's grandfather was a personal chef to the Governor General of Tbilisi). Later, after moving to France, Michael Aznavourian sang in restaurants before establishing his own Caucasian restaurant called ''Le Caucase''. Missak Manouchian, a leader of French Resistance who was executed by the Nazis in 1944, had been a frequent guest at the Aznavourian's home, and Aznavourians had supported Misak and his wife Meliné when they were in hiding. Together with his wife, who was an actress, Michael introduced Charles to the world of theatre at an early age. Charles dropped out of school at the age of nine, already aspiring to the life of an artist. He began to perform at this time, and soon took the stage name "Aznavour". His big break came in 1946 when the singer Édith Piaf heard him sing and arranged to take him with her on tour in France and to the United States.

Music[link]

Often described as "France's Frank Sinatra ", Aznavour sings frequently about love. He has written musicals and about a thousand songs, and made more than one hundred records. Aznavour's voice is shaded towards the tenor range, but possesses the low range and coloration more typical of a baritone, contributing to his unique sound. Aznavour speaks and sings in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese, Neapolitan), which has helped him perform at Carnegie Hall and other major venues around the world. He also recorded at least one song from the 18th century Armenian poet Sayat Nova, and a popular song, ''Im Yare'' in Armenian. ''Que C'est Triste Venise'', sung in French, Italian (''Com'è Triste Venezia''), Spanish (''Venecia Sin Ti''), English (''How Sad Venice Can Be''), and German (''Venedig in Grau''), is one of Aznavour's most famous multilingual songs.

In 1974 Aznavour became a major success in the United Kingdom where his song "She" went to Number One in the charts. His other well-known song in the UK was "Dance in the Old Fashioned Way".

Artists who have recorded his songs and collaborated with Aznavour include Édith Piaf, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra (Aznavour was one of the rare European singers invited to duet with him), Andrea Bocelli, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan (he named Aznavour among the greatest live performers he's ever seen), Liza Minnelli, Elton John, Dalida, Serge Gainsbourg, Josh Groban, Petula Clark, Shirley Bassey, José Carreras, Laura Pausini, Nana Mouskouri and Julio Iglesias. Fellow French pop legend Mireille Mathieu has sung and recorded with Aznavour on numerous occasions. In 1974, Jack Jones recorded an entire album of Aznavour compositions entitled "Write Me A Love Song, Charlie", re-released on CD in 2006. Aznavour and Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti sang Gounod's aria ''Ave Maria'' together. He performed with famed Russian cellist and friend Mstislav Rostropovich to inaugurate the French presidency of the European Union in 1995. Elvis Costello recorded "She" for the film ''Notting Hill''. One of Aznavour's greatest friends and collaborators from the music industry is legendary Spanish operatic tenor Plácido Domingo, who often performs his hits, most notably a solo studio recording of "Les bateaux sont partis" in 1985 and duet versions of the song in French and Spanish in 2008, as well as multiple live renditions Aznavour's "Ave Maria". In 1994, Aznavour performed with Domingo and Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø at Domingo's third annual ''Christmas in Vienna'' concert. The three singers performed a variety of carols, medleys, and duets, and the concert was televised throughout the world, as well as released on a CD internationally.

At the start of autumn in 2006, Aznavour initiated his farewell tour, performing in the US and Canada, and earning very positive reviews. Aznavour started 2007 with concerts all over Japan and Asia. The second half of 2007 saw Aznavour return to Paris for over 20 shows at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, followed by more touring in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the rest of France. He has repeatedly stated that this farewell tour, health permitting, will likely last beyond 2010. At 87, Aznavour is in excellent health, although admittedly 60 years on stage have made him "a little hard of hearing". He still sings in multiple languages and without persistent use of teleprompters, but typically sticks to just two or three (French and English being the primary two, with Spanish or Italian being the third) during most concerts. On 30 September 2006, Aznavour performed a major concert in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia to start off the cultural season "Arménie mon amie" in France. Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and French president Jacques Chirac, at the time on an official visit to Armenia, were in front-row attendance.

In 2006, 82-year-old Aznavour traveled to Cuba, where he, together with Chucho Valdés, recorded his new album ''Colore Ma Vie'', presented at Aznavour's Moscow concert in April 2007. Later, in July 2007, Aznavour was invited to perform at the Vieilles Charrues Festival.

"Forever Cool" (2007), an album from Capitol/EMI, features Aznavour singing a new duet of "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" with the voice of the late Dean Martin.

Aznavour finished a tour of Portugal in February 2008. On 18 January 2008 he participated as guest vocalist with the contestants of the French reality show Star Academy and sang his famous ''Emmenez-Moi'' with contestant Jérémy Chapron. Throughout the spring of 2008, Aznavour toured South America, holding a multitude of concerts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Summer saw him in Quebec, and a return to Latin America followed in autumn.

In 2008 an album of duets, ''Duos'', was released. It is a collaborative effort featuring Aznavour and his greatest friends and partners from his long career in the music industry, including Céline Dion, Sting, Laura Pausini, Josh Groban, Paul Anka, Plácido Domingo, and many others. It was released on various dates in December 2008 across the world. His next album, ''Charles Aznavour and The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra'' (previously known as ''Jazznavour 2''), is a continuation in the same vein as his hit album ''Jazznavour'' released in 1998, involving new arrangements on his classic songs with a jazz orchestra and other guest jazz artists. It was released on November 30, 2009.

In 2009 Aznavour also toured across America. The tour, named ''Aznavour en liberté'', started in late April 2009 with a wave of concerts across the United States and Canada, took him across Latin America in the autumn, as well as the USA once again. In August 2011 Aznavour released a new album, ''Aznavour Toujours'', featuring 11 new songs, and ''Elle'', a French re-working of his greatest international hit, She. Following the release of ''Aznavour Toujours'', 87-years old Aznavour began a tour across France and Europe, named ''Charles Aznavour en Toute Intimité'', which started with 21 concerts in the "Olympia" theatre in Paris. On December 12, 2011 he gave a concert in Moscow State Kremlin Palace that attracted a capacity crowd. The concert was followed by standing ovation which continued for about 15 minutes.

In 2012, Aznavour embarks on a new North American leg of his "''En toute intimité''" tour, visiting Québec, New York and the Gibson Amphitheatre, the third-largest such venue in California, for multiple shows.

Film[link]

Aznavour has had a long and varied parallel career as an actor, appearing in over 60 films. In 1960 Aznavour starred in François Truffaut's ''Tirez sur le pianiste'', playing a character called Édouard Saroyan. He also put in a critically acclaimed performance in the 1974 movie ''And Then There Were None''. Aznavour had an important supporting role in 1979's ''The Tin Drum'', winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980. Aznavour starred in the 2002 movie ''Ararat'' playing Edward Saroyan, a movie director.

Armenia and abroad[link]

Since the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Aznavour has been helping the country through his charity, Aznavour for Armenia. Together with his brother in-law and co-author Georges Garvarentz he wrote the song "Pour toi Arménie", which was performed by a group of famous French artists and topped the charts for 18 weeks. There is a square named after him in central Yerevan on Abovian Street, and a statue erected in Gyumri, which saw the most lives lost in the earthquake. In 1995 Charles Aznavour was appointed an Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO. Aznavour is a member of the Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees. The organization has rendered more than $150 million in humanitarian aid and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia since 1992. Charles Aznavour was appointed as "Officier" (Officer) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997.

In 2004 Aznavour received the title of "National Hero of Armenia" for his humanitarian work, Armenia's highest award. On December 26, 2008, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a presidential decree for granting citizenship for the Republic of Armenia to Charles Aznavour whom he called a "prominent singer and public figure" and "a hero of the Armenian people".

An admirer of Quebec, where he played in Montreal cabarets before becoming famous, he has helped the career of Québécoise singer-songwriter Lynda Lemay in France, and has a house in Montreal. On 5 July 2008, he was invested as an honorary officer of the Order of Canada and performed the following day on the Plains of Abraham as a feature of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.

Aznavour and famed Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, with the collaboration of over 40 of France's most celebrated singers and musicians, recorded a music video band aid (clip) in the aftermath of the catastrophic 2010 Haiti earthquake, titled "1 geste pour Haïti chérie".

Personal life and cultural impact[link]

Aznavour married his third wife, Swede Ulla Thorsell, in 1968. He has 5 children - Seda, Katia, Misha, Nicolas and Patrick. In 1990 he offered insights into his life to writer-director Michael Feeney Callan in his series My Riviera, which was filmed at and around Aznavour's home in Port Grimaud, in the South of France. He currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland.

His musicality and fame abroad is present in many other areas of pop culture. Aznavour's name was used as the basis for the name of the character Char Aznable by Yoshiyuki Tomino in his anime mecha series, Mobile Suit Gundam. His song "Parce Que Tu Crois" was sampled by Hip Hop producer Dr. Dre for the song "What's the Difference" (feat. Eminem & Xzibit), from his album ''2001''. He is mentioned in The Psychedelic Furs song "Sister Europe" ("The radio upon the floor/ is stupid, it plays Aznavour").

He has often joked about his physicality, the most infamous feature of which is his limited height; he stands only tall, and Aznavour has made this a source of self-deprecating humour over the years.

Politics[link]

Charles Aznavour has been increasingly involved in French, Armenian, and international politics as his career has progressed. During the 2002 French presidential elections, when radical right-wing nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front made it into the runoff election, facing incumbent Jacques Chirac, Aznavour signed the "Vive la France" petition, and called on all French to "sing the Marseillaise" in protest. Chirac, a personal friend of Aznavour's, ended up winning in a landslide, carrying over 82% of the vote.

He has written a song about the Armenian Genocide, titled ''Ils sont tombés'' (known in English as "''They fell''").

He has also campaigned fervently for international copyright law reform. In November 2005 he met with President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso on the issue of the review of term of protection for performers and producers in the EU, advocating an extension of the EU's term of protection from the current 50 years to the United States' law allowing 95 years, saying "[o]n term of protection, artists and record companies are of the same mind. Extension of term of protection would be good for European culture, positive for the European economy and would put an end the current discrimination with the U.S." He has also notably butted heads with French politician Christine Boutin over her defense of a "global license" flat-fee authorization for sharing of copyrighted files over the Internet, claiming that the license would eliminate creativity. In May 2009 the French Senate approved one of the strictest internet anti-piracy bills ever with a landslide 189-14 vote. Aznavour was a vocal proponent of the measure and considered it a rousing victory:

"If the youth can't make a living through creative work, they will do something else and the artistic world will be dealt a blow... There will be no more songs, no more books, nothing at all. So we had to fight..."

Along with holding the mostly ceremonial title of French ambassador-at-large to Armenia, Aznavour agreed to hold the position of Ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland on February 12, 2009:

"First I hesitated, as it is not an easy task. Then I thought that what is important for Armenia is important for us. I have accepted the proposal with love, happiness and feeling of deep dignity"

Awards and recognition[link]

1963, 1971 and 1980 - Edison Awards (three-time awardwinner)

1971 - Golden Lion Honorary Award at the Venice Film Festival for the Italian version of the song ''Mourir d'aimer''

1995 - Large Medal of the French Academy

1995 - Ambassador of Goodwill and Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO

1996 - Induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

1997 - French Victoire award for Male artist of the year

1997 - Honorary César Award

1997 - ''Officier'' (Officer) of the ''Legion d'honneur''

2004 - National Hero of Armenia

2006 - Honorary prize at 30th Cairo Film Festival

2008 - Honorary Officer of the Order of Canada

2008 - Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia

2009 - MIDEM Lifetime Achievement Award 2009 - Grigor Lusavorich award of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic 2009 - Officer of the National Order of Quebec 2010 - Honorary order "For outstanding contribution to strengthening cultural ties between Russia and France"

Discography[link]

Filmography[link]

Actor[link]

''La Guerre des gosses'' (1936) – Extra

''Adieu chérie'' (1946)'' (as Aznavour) – Le duettiste

''Entrez dans la danse'' (1948)

''Une gosse sensass''' (1957) – Le chanteur

''Paris Music Hall'' (1957) – Charles

''La Tête contre les murs'' (1959) – Heurtevent

''Les Dragueurs'' (1959) – Joseph Bouvier

''Pourquoi viens-tu si tard?'' (1959) – Un danseur

''Oh! Qué mambo'' (1959)'' (uncredited) – Un spectateur au cabaret

''Le Testament d'Orphée'' (1960) (uncredited) – The Curious Man

''Un taxi pour Tobrouk'' (1960) – Samuel Goldmann

''Tomorrow Is My Turn'' (''Le Passage du Rhin'') (1960) – Roger

''Tirez sur le pianiste'' (1960) – Charlie Kohler/Édouard Saroyan

''Gosse de Paris'' (1961)

''Les Lions sont lâchés'' (1961) – Charles, un convive de Marie-Laure

''Esame di guida - tempo di Roma'' (1962) – Marcello

''Horace 62'' (1962) – Horace Fabiani

''Le Diable et les dix commandements'' (1962) – Denis Mayeux (episode "Homicide point ne seras")

''Les Quatre vérités'' (1962) – Charles

''Les Vierges'' (1963) – Berthet

''Cherchez l'Idole (1963) – Aznavour

''Le Rat d'Amérique'' (1963) – Charles

''Thomas l'imposteur'' (1964)

''Alta infedeltà'' (1964) – Giulio (segment "Peccato nel Pomeriggio")

''La Métamorphose des cloportes'' (1965) – Edmond

''Le Facteur s'en va-t-en guerre'' (1966) – Thibon

''Paris au mois d'août'' (1966) – Henri Plantin

''Caroline chérie'' (1968) – Postillon

''Candy'' (1968) – Hunchback juggler

''Le Temps des loups'' (1969) – Inspector

''The Adventurers'' (1970) – Marcel Campion

''L'Amour'' (1970) – Le présentateur

''The Games'' (1970) – Pavel Vendek

''The Selfish Giant'' (1971) – Narrator (French version)

''Un beau monstre'' (1971) – Inspector Leroy

''Part des lions'' (1971) – Éric Chambon

''Les Intrus'' (1972) – Charles Bernard

''The Blockhouse'' (1973) – Visconti

''Dix Petits Negres'' (1974) Dir Peter Colinson, Produit par Gerard Thum

''Ein Unbekannter rechnet ab'' (1974) – Michel Raven

''Sky Riders'' (1976) – Insp. Nikolidis

''Folies bourgeoises'' (1976) – Dr. Lartigue

''Die Blechtrommel'' (1979) – Sigismund Markus

''Ciao, les mecs'' (1979) – L'amnésique

''Der Zauberberg'' (1982) – Naphta

''Qu'est-ce qui fait courir David?'' (1982) – Léon, le père de David

''Les Fantômes du chapelier'' (1982) – Kachoudas

''Une jeunesse'' (1983) – Bellun

''Viva la vie!'' (1984) – Édouard Takvorian

''Yiddish Connection'' (1986) – Aaron Rapoport

''Mangeclous'' (1988) – Jérémie

''Il Maestro'' (1989) – Romualdi

''Le chinois'' (1989) – Charles Cotrel

''Charles Aznavour Armenia 1989'' (1989)

''Les Années campagne'' (1992) – Le grand-père/Grandfather

''Pondichéry, dernier comptoir des Indes'' (1997) – Léo Bauman

''Le Comédien'' (1997) – Monsieur Maillard

''Laguna'' (2001)

''Truth About Charlie'' (2002) – Himself

''Ararat'' (2002) – Edward Saroyan

''Le Père Goriot'' (2004) – Jean-Joachim Goriot

''Ennemis publics'' (2005)

''The Colonel'' (2006) – Père Rossi

''Up'' (2009) – Carl Fredricksen (French Voice)

Concerts[link]

Video[link]

1977 ''Großer Unterhaltungsabend – Charles Aznavour'' (Essen, Germany 1977). VHS Nikkatsu Video Films Co., Ltd./Japan

1982 ''An Evening with Charles Aznavour'' (Duke of York's Theatre, London 1982). VIP Videocasette Diffusion, VHS SECAM MU 550

Laserdisc[link]

1982 ''An Evening with Charles Aznavour'' (Duke of York's Theatre, London 1982) [content differs from the video version]

DVD[link]

1999 ''Aznavour Live - Palais des Congrès 97/98'' (EMI)

2001 ''Aznavour Live - Olympia 68/72/78/80'' (EMI)

2001 ''Charles Aznavour au Carnegie Hall'' (New York, June 1996) (EMI)

2001 ''AZNAVOUR – Pour toi Arménie'' (At Erevan Opera, September 1996)

2002 ''Patrick Bruel – Entre-Deux'' (C. Aznavour sings ''Parlez-moi d'amour'' [with Patrick Bruel])

2003 ''AZNAVOUR LIVE – Palais des Congrès 1994'' (EMI)

2004 ''Aznavour – Minelli au Palais des Congrès de Paris'' (EMI)

2004 ''Toronto 1980'' (as a Bonus to the ''Aznavour/Indispensables'' CD Boxset) (EMI)

2004 ''80, Bon Anniversaire Charles – Palais des congrès 2004'' (EMI)

2004 ''Bon anniversaire Charles!'' (TV broadcast concert for Charles Aznavour 80th anniversary, May 22, 2004) (EMI)

2005 ''Charles Aznavour 2000 – Concert intégral'' (EMI)

2006 ''The Royal Opera – Die Fledermaus'' (Covent Garden, London 31-12-1983) (C. Aznavour sings ''She'')

2007 ''Charles Aznavour : En concert à Erevan'' (EMI)

2007 ''Aznavour - Palais des Congrès de Paris (1987)'' [not the same concert as the CD version] (EMI)

2008 ''Charles Aznavour et ses amis au Palais Garnier'' (EMI)

2009 ''Anthologie 1955–1972 - 3 DVD Box Set (PAL Only)'' (INA / EMI)

2010 ''Anthologie volume 2 1973–1999 - 3 DVD Box Set (PAL Only)'' (INA / EMI)

FILMS Documentary[link]

''Charles Aznavour - Armenia 1989'', (Armenfilm) 1989 color 10min. 35mm. Director Levon Mkrtchyan. The film is about the humanitarian aid that Charles Aznavour, a famous French singer of Armenian origin, brought to Armenia after the Spitak earthquake in 1988.

''Christmas in Vienna III'', A Christmas gala concert live from Vienna on 22 December 1994 with Aznavour, Plácido Domingo and Sissel Kyrkjebø, featuring the Vienna Symphony conducted by famed Croatian conductor Vjekoslav Šutej.

''Making of "Colore ma vie"'', A making-of featurette released in 2007 coinciding with the release of Aznavour's latest studio album, ''Colore ma vie''. Filmed in Havana and Paris, it shows his collaboration with Chucho Valdez and the thoughts, opinions, and artistry the two put into the album.

Appeared on The Muppet Show Episode 9. Taping Dates: June 29 - July 1, 1976. Original Airdates: January 17, 1977 (New York) and January 22, 1977 (LA)

See also[link]

Charles Aznavour Museum

List of best-selling music artists

Franco-Armenian relations

Ils Sont Tombés

References[link]

External links[link]

Official site

Charles Aznavour on imusic.am

Biography by Radio France International

Charles Aznavour - Armenian-Russian Pages

Live performances[link]

Charles Aznavour - "Ave Maria" performance

Charles Aznavour - "Hier encore" performance

Charles Aznavour - "Paris au mois d'août" performance

Category:1924 births Category:Living people Category:Ambassadors of Armenia Category:Ambassadors to Switzerland Category:English-language singers of France Category:French Armenians Category:French film actors Category:French male singers Category:French songwriters Category:Italian-language singers Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:Officers of the National Order of Quebec Category:Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Category:Actors from Paris Category:Permanent Representatives of Armenia to the United Nations Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Category:Spanish-language singers Category:National Hero of Armenia

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