# Kevork Malikyan

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Armenian-English actor and teacher (born 1943)

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Kevork Malikyan Born (1943-06-02) 2 June 1943 (age 83) Diyarbakır, Turkey Alma mater Rose Bruford College Years active 1968–present Spouse Maida Kupelian ​ (m. 1965)​ Children 2, including Sevan Malikyan

**Kevork Malikyan** (born 2 June 1943) is an Armenian-English actor and teacher.[1] He is known for his roles as [Kazim](/source/List_of_Indiana_Jones_characters#Kazim) in the film *[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade](/source/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade)* (1989), Max Papandrious in the television sitcom *[Mind Your Language](/source/Mind_Your_Language)* (1977–1979), Rady in the film [*Flight of the Phoenix*](/source/Flight_of_the_Phoenix_(2004_film)) (2004), and [Parvus](/source/Alexander_Parvus) in *[Payitaht: Abdülhamid](/source/Payitaht%3A_Abd%C3%BClhamid)* (2017).

## Early life

Malikyan was born to [Armenian](/source/Armenians) parents in [Diyarbakır](/source/Diyarbak%C4%B1r), Turkey. When he was 10 years old, an archbishop decided to open a religious seminary in [Üsküdar](/source/%C3%9Csk%C3%BCdar), [Istanbul](/source/Istanbul), with the intention of taking in the poor children of Armenian parents from various parts of Turkey and bringing them up as priests. Malikyan was questioned by a priest who wanted to determine whether or not he was a good candidate for the priesthood. His father told him to go to the seminary because he could not afford to give him an education due to financial problems. Though Malikyan was worried because he had no friends in Istanbul and had to leave his parents behind, he went to the city to become a priest.

Malikyan was sent to the Karagözyan Orphanage in Şişli where he spent two years before attending the religious seminary in Üsküdar. In the seminary, there was a small stage where the students acted in Turkish and Armenian. When he was 16, an Anglican priest was invited to the school to teach them English. He was an [Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford) graduate who wrote history books. The man was also fond of acting and had prepared *[Richard III](/source/Richard_III_(play))* by Shakespeare in English, wherein Malikyan played Richard. The priest must have liked Malikyan's acting, because he told the headmaster of the school that Malikyan should become an actor rather than a priest. The patriarch asked Malikyan his opinion on the matter, but Malikyan was unsure because of financial concerns. Father Harding, a British priest, found him a scholarship in Britain.[1]

Malikyan graduated from the Surp Haç Armenian High School[2] in Istanbul, then moved to London in 1963 for acting education. At the drama school [Rose Bruford College](/source/Rose_Bruford_College),[3] he received diplomas for acting and teaching.

## Career

Malikyan made his first television appearance in an episode of the [historical drama](/source/Historical_drama) *[The Portrait of a Lady](/source/The_Portrait_of_a_Lady_(TV_series))* in 1968, playing the role of ‘servant’. Throughout the last years of the 1960s Malikyan made other numerous television appearances including [Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who), [The Saint](/source/The_Saint_(TV_series)), and [The Avengers](/source/The_Avengers_(TV_programme)). Malikyan got his big break in the British film *[The Man Who Haunted Himself](/source/The_Man_Who_Haunted_Himself)* in 1970, starring [Roger Moore](/source/Roger_Moore), in which Malikyan played Luigi the butler of the Pelham family.

In 1977, Malikyan embarked on his most notable role on television, in the [ITV](/source/ITV_(TV_network)) sitcom *[Mind Your Language](/source/Mind_Your_Language)*, which was about an [adult education centre](/source/Adult_education) and followed the story to the ‘English as a foreign language’ class. In the series Malikyan played Maximilian (Max) Papandrious, a Greek shipping worker from [Athens](/source/Athens). The show was very successful and at its height attracted 18 million viewers,[4] Malikyan appeared in 29 episodes from 1977 to the series conclusion in 1979. Although the series was briefly revived in 1986 he did not make any appearances in it. Malikyan's next big film role came in the 1978 [prison film](/source/Prison_film) *[Midnight Express](/source/Midnight_Express_(film))*, in which he played the part of the prosecutor at [Billy Hayes's](/source/Billy_Hayes_(writer)) trial. The film was directed by [Alan Parker](/source/Alan_Parker) and starred [Brad Davis](/source/Brad_Davis_(actor)), [Irene Miracle](/source/Irene_Miracle) and [Bo Hopkins](/source/Bo_Hopkins). The film was very popular and went on to win two [Academy Awards](/source/Academy_Awards). His performance did not go unnoticed, one director who especially noticed him was [Steven Spielberg](/source/Steven_Spielberg). Malikyan tried to audition for the part of Sallah in *[Raiders of the Lost Ark](/source/Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark)*, but was prevented from doing so by heavy traffic.

In 1988, Spielberg cast Malikyan in the third in the [Indiana Jones](/source/Indiana_Jones) series, *[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade](/source/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade)* in which he played [Kazim](/source/List_of_Indiana_Jones_characters#Kazim), the leader of the Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword, an organization that protects the Holy Grail. Throughout the 1990s Malikyan appeared in various television programs including the sitcom [Birds of a Feather](/source/Birds_of_a_Feather_(TV_series)), and [The Final Cut](/source/The_Final_Cut_(TV_serial)). In 2002, he featured alongside [Steven Seagal](/source/Steven_Seagal) in the American [Action film](/source/Action_film), *[Belly of the Beast](/source/Belly_of_the_Beast_(2003_film))*, but the film was not well received by the critics. Two years later Malikyan appeared in the 2004 remake of the 1965 film of the same name, *[Flight of the Phoenix](/source/Flight_of_the_Phoenix_(2004_film))* in which he played Rady: the film received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box-office. During his career, Malikyan has performed in a number of [Shakespeare](/source/William_Shakespeare) plays including *[Henry IV, Part 1](/source/Henry_IV%2C_Part_1)* and *[Henry IV, Part 2](/source/Henry_IV%2C_Part_2)* at the [Shakespeare Globe Theatre](/source/Shakespeare_Globe_Theatre) in 2010. Malikyan also played in a number of roles in the [Royal Shakespeare Company](/source/Royal_Shakespeare_Company) production, *Arabian Nights* (December 2009 – January 2010), at the [Courtyard Theatre](/source/Courtyard_Theatre), [Stratford-upon-Avon](/source/Stratford-upon-Avon), Warwickshire. Malikyan appeared as Inspector Durmaz in the 2012 [action-thriller film](/source/Action-thriller) *[Taken 2](/source/Taken_2)*, which was a sequel of the highly successful 2008 film.

Two years later Malikyan appeared in the epic biblical film *[Exodus: Gods and Kings](/source/Exodus%3A_Gods_and_Kings)* in which he played [Jethro](/source/Jethro_(biblical_figure)). The film was based on the [Book of Exodus](/source/Book_of_Exodus) and was directed by [Ridley Scott](/source/Ridley_Scott). The same year he starred alongside [Tahar Rahim](/source/Tahar_Rahim) and [Simon Abkarian](/source/Simon_Abkarian) in the internationally co-produced [drama film](/source/Drama_Film) *[The Cut](/source/The_Cut_(2014_drama_film))*. In 2016, Malikyan featured in the [historical drama](/source/Historical_drama) *[The Promise](/source/The_Promise_(2016_film))* which was set in the final years of the [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire).

## Personal life

Malikyan married Maida Kupelian in [Kensington](/source/Kensington), London in 1965. They have a daughter and a son, [Sevan](/source/Sevan_Malikyan), an artist based in Cyprus. Malikyan also works as a teacher in [Istanbul](/source/Istanbul).[1]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1970 The Man Who Haunted Himself Luigi 1977 The Assignment Larringa's Murderer Uncredited role 1978 Midnight Express Prosecutor 1981 Sphinx Bell Boy 1983 Trenchcoat Arab 1986 Half Moon Street First Diplomat 1988 Pascali's Island Mardosian 1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Kazim 1995 Paparazzo Mackenzie 1998 The Commissioner Greek commissioner 2002 Bella Bettien Demetrio Altafini 2003 Belly of the Beast Fernand Zadir Direct-to-DVD 2004 The Predator Short film Flight of the Phoenix Rady 2006 Renaissance Nusrat Farfella (voice) 2011 The Palace Sergeant Karem Akalin Short film Open Mike Shopkeeper 2012 Taken 2 Inspector Durmaz 2013 Yozgat Blues Sadettin Usta Şarkı Söyleyen Kadınlar Mesut 2014 The Cut Hagob Nakashian Exodus: Gods and Kings Jethro 2015 Niyazi Gül Dörtnala Süleyman 2016 The Promise Vartan Boghosian 2017 Ay Lav Yu Tuu Nedim

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1968 The Portrait of a Lady Servant Episode: "Dissensions" Virgin of the Secret Service Corporal Episode: "The Great Ring of Akba" Doctor Who Kemel Rudkin 2 episodes: "The Wheel in Space: Episodes 2 & 3" Detective Garcia Episode: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" The Saint Hima Dri Episode: "The People Importers". Uncredited role 1969 The Avengers Rossi Episode: "Homicide and Old Lace" 1972 Jason King Kemal Episode: "Uneasy Lies the Head" In for a Penny Ali 6 episodes Adam Smith Homi Episode: #2.1 New Scotland Yard Joe Angelopoulos Episode: "The Money Game" The Onedin Line Hadji Ahmet’s Spokesman Episode: "Beyond the Upper Sea" 1973 The Upper Crusts Postman Episode: "By Endeavour Alone" Little Big Time Various roles 13 episodes Bowler Marcus Episode: "The Family Tree" 1974 Barlow Amin Episode: "Snatch" 1977 The Sunday Drama Barman Episode: "A Good Human Story" BBC2 Play of the Week Nicholas Episode: "The Kitchen" Who Pays the Ferryman? Doctor Mini-series, Episode 8: "The Daughters of Themis" The Onedin Line Sonay Episode: "Rescue" 1977–1979 Mind Your Language Maximillian Papandrious 29 episodes 1978 Crown Court Yannis Christodoulou 3 episodes: "Past Times: Parts 1–3" The Thief of Baghdad Common Man Television film 1978, 1979 The Professionals Hanish (Mr. X) / Sniper Series 2, Episode 9: "Blind Run" and Series 3, Episode 2: "Backtrack" 1979 Screenplay Stavros Episode: "The Sound of Guns" Minder Chris Series 1, Episode 6: "Aces High and Sometimes Very Low" 1981 Peter and Paul Sapai Television film 1982 Crown Court Seth Lambert Episode: "Window Shopping: Part 3" 1984 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Kemal Series 1, Episode 11: "The Lovers" To Catch a King Vodras Television film Duty Free Policeman Episode: "Hasta La Vista" The First Olympics: Athens 1896 Mr. Persaki, US team host Mini-series, 2 episodes Cold Warrior Yussif Episode: "The Man from Damascus" Scarecrow and Mrs. King Ortiz Episode: "The Times They Are a Changin'" 1985 The Corsican Brothers Orlandi Television film 1987 Boon David Sulenkian Episode: "A Fistful of Pesetas" 1990 House of Cards Mr. Naresh Mini-series, 4 episodes. Uncredited role 1991 Zorro Picotin the Valet 2 episodes: "One for All: Parts 1 & 2" 1991, 1993 The Bill Arcade Cashier / Kemal 2 episodes: "Discretion" and "Corroboration" 1992 Agatha Christie's Poirot Amberiotis Series 4, Episode 3: "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" Van der Valk Colombian Episode: "The Ties That Bind" Press Gang Fahid Episode: "Day Dreams" Double Vision Pasta Manager Television film 1993 The Good Guys Janosci Episode: "Moldavian Rhapsody" The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Armenian Agent Episode: "Istanbul, September 1918" 1994 Minder Chico Series 10, Episode 5: "The Immaculate Contraption" Wild Justice Ali Hassan Television film MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis Zavros Birds of a Feather Mr. Kouniakis Episode: "Business is Business" 1995 The Detectives Josef Esterhazy Episode: "Art Attack" The Final Cut Nures Mini-series, 2 episodes Slave of Dreams Vizier Television film 1997 Into the Blue Inspector Miltiades 2000 In the Beginning Prison Governor Mini-series, 2 episodes 2002 The American Embassy Mullah Episode: "Driven" Spooks Ozan Cosar Episode: "One Last Dance". Uncredited role Judge John Deed Idries Shahatra Episode: "Political Expediency" 2003 Casualty Hussen Episode: "Dire Straits" 2005 Egypt: Rediscovering a Lost World Yanni Athenasiou Mini-series, Episode: "The Temple of the Sands" 2007 Saddam's Tribe Ali Hassan Television film 2008 Silent Witness Hasan Kundak Series 12, 2 episodes: "Terror: Parts 1 & 2" 10 Days to War Massoud Barzani Mini-series, Episode: "$100 Coffee" 2011–2012 Bir Ömür Yetmez 2012 Babalar ve Evlatlar 4 episodes 2013 Strike Back Al-Zuhari Series 4, 2 episodes: "Shadow Warfare: Parts 2 & 5" 2014 Reaksyon Öktem Çetiner 12 episodes 2017 Silent Witness Varkey Khoury Series 20, 2 episodes: "Identity: Parts 1 & 2" 2017–2018 The Last Emperor: Abdul Hamid II Alexandr Israil Parvus AKA Payitaht: Abdülhamid (original title). 50 episodes 2018 Kanaga Enki Tamay Mini-series, 8 episodes 2020 Homeland Agha Jan Episode: "Deception Indicated" 2021 Baptiste Mehmet Arslan Series 2, 3 episodes 2023 The Turkish Detective Erol Karagul 2 episodes 2024 Vikings: Valhalla Mehmet Episode: "Honour and Dishonour"

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TZ_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TZ_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-TZ_1-2) ["'I came to die in Turkey, my homeland,' says Armenian actor"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140302172224/http://www.todayszaman.com/news-340714-i-came-to-die-in-turkey-my-homeland-says-armenian-actor.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.todayszaman.com/news-340714-i-came-to-die-in-turkey-my-homeland-says-armenian-actor.html) on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [This students will out of school](http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/ShowNew.aspx?id=131213)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Back to Turkey after 50 years](http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/ShowNew.aspx?id=19492826)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Powell, Vince (22 July 2009). *The Daily Telegraph*. {{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: Missing or empty |title= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#citation_missing_title))

## External links

- [Kevork Malikyan](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0539616/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Artists MusicBrainz People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kevork Malikyan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevork_Malikyan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevork_Malikyan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.