NEW YORK — It is with deep sorrow that we announce the untimely death of Karnig Nercessian, one of the founding members of the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group (MMTG), on Monday evening, December 5, 2016, at his home, due to a fatal heart attack.
Karnig was born in 1955 in Kessab, Syria. His first attempts in acting were at the local Armenian Catholic School of Kessab, participating in the comedies “Arshin Mal Alan” and “Charshili Artin Agha.”
In 1973, he immigrated to New York and in 1980 joined the AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble. In 2004, he founded and directed the Yeraz Dance Group of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Douglaston, NY.
He was one of the founding members of the Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group, performing in its premiere production of Baronian’s “Apisoghom Agha” under the direction of Tamar Hovannisian. Subsequently, Karnig acted in the leading roles of Saroyan’s “My Heart’s in the Highlands,” Zareh Melkonian’s “Where are You Going Armenian People?” Under the direction of Vartan Garniki, he performed in Carlo Goldoni’s “Servant of Two masters.” He had another leading role in Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” directed by Berj Fazlian. He also appeared in a repeat performance of Saroyan’s “My Heart’s in the Highlands” under the direction of Hovhannes Babakhanyan.
His last performance was in Berj Zeytountzians “All Rise, Court Is in Session” or “Tadaranne,Vodki,” in the role of Talaat Pasha. Nercessian also toured with MMTG as they took their productions to Armenia twice, and numerous times to Boston, Montreal and Los Angeles.