Mirza Azizov

Mirza Azizov was born in 1963 in the city of Chust, Namangan region. In 1987 he graduated from the Tashkent Theatre and Art Institute as a musical-drama actor. From 1989 he worked as an actor-vocalist at the Muqimiy Uzbek State Musical Theatre, and in 1992–1997 he also served at the Uzbek State Drama Theatre.

On stage he played the Pharaoh in «Yusuf and Zulaykho», Bahrom in «Farhod and Shirin», Madalikhon in «Nodirabegim», Alpomish in «The Return of Alpomish», Mashrab in «Na malakman na farishta», Boysoat in «To'ptalgan tuyg'u» and Creon in «Medea». He also worked as a director: his production «To'da» was a laureate of the 17th International Festival of Experimental Theatre in Cairo in 2005. His other productions include «Banda», «Classmate», «The Greedy Rich Man and the Servant», «Princess of Tashkent», «Awakening», «Layli and Majnun» and «A Stain on the Heart».

He appeared in films from 1996, beginning with «Margiana», and played in «Shaytanat», «Ostona», «Love Trials», «Baseness», «The Lost Ones», «Nazira», «Temur» and other films and series. Kun.uz wrote that he had played leading roles in more than fifty films.

He was named Honored Artist of Uzbekistan in 1999 and People's Artist of Uzbekistan in 2015. From 2016 until the end of his life he headed the Muqimiy Uzbek State Musical Theatre.

He died on 15 April 2021 of a coronavirus infection; President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed condolences to his family. In August 2021 he was posthumously awarded the Order «For Selfless Service» by presidential decree.