Huntington Beach native Armen Nahapetian's star is quickly on the rise in the entertainment industry with a growing list of impressive roles in both film and television at just 16 years old. Armen broke into the industry in 2017 with his debut role in Seth McFarlane's space comedy-adventure series "The Orville," where he got an up-close look behind the scenes at the cinematic magic that brings stories to life. Nahapetian's April 2023 role in Ari Aster's "Beau is Afraid," in which he starred as Joaquin Phoenix's titular character's younger self, debuted to great critical acclaim.
Nahapetian has a truly uncanny ability to capture the essence of his characters, a talent that has not been lost on critics. In the film, Nahapetian portrays Joaquin Phoenix's titular character's younger self with a remarkable level of authenticity. Awards Watch notes that he "captures Phoenix's mannerisms perfectly," while Deadline praises his "casting as the 13-year-old Beau." The Hollywood Reporter lauds Nahapetian's performance, stating that "he effectively conveys the incapacitating fear of a troubled child." Mashable adds that "he captures teen Beau's mix of wonder and terror with wide-eyed conviction." With such glowing reviews from multiple reputable sources, it's clear that Armen Nahapetian is a talent to watch in the years to come.
Armen's television repertoire ranges from the dark dramedy series "Here and Now" to adventure comedy "Daybreak," the crime classic "NCIS," and even a role alongside the acclaimed Ru Paul in "AJ and the Queen." His skill is fully displayed in films such as "aTypical Wednesday" and "The Last Silence." His upcoming film "Beau is Afraid" is one of the most highly anticipated films of 2023. Armen's variety of roles has highlighted his fantastic range.
Armen Nahapetian was inspired to begin acting classes after being captivated by the his family tradition of performing fun skits on Christmas Eve. He eventually fell in love with acting because in being a more analytical, observant person, acting allowed him to step into different personalities and express himself. In second grade, he began acting school and has been in love with the craft ever since. Armen is currently a sophomore in high school with dreams of studying astronomy in university and looks forward to continuing to hone his craft with many future roles. His favorite actors include Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, Timothy Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jonah Hill. In addition, he enjoys watching anime, and his favorite films include "Mid 90's," "Big Fish," and "Beautiful Boy." You can find Armen playing on his school's water polo team or skateboarding when not working or attending school. Nahapetian passion for acting is inspired by the quote "acting is a shy guys revenge!"
Nahapetian is the middle of three boys and the son of a French-American mother and an Armenian father. His heritage plays a significant role in his life as he is passionate about raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide. He also cares deeply for animals and hopes to have a rescue farm someday. He currently has 3 rescue cats, 1 rescue dog and is an uncle to another adorable rescue dog!
