---
name: "Ken Davitian"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ken-davitian"
fi1m_id: "ken-davitian"
imdb_id: "nm0205772"
tmdb_id: 6734
wikidata_id: "Q562827"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "19 June 1953"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-09-17T18:14:32.458482+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ken Davitian

## Identity

Ken Davitian

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ken-davitian
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ken-davitian
- **IMDb ID:** nm0205772
- **TMDB ID:** 6734
- **Wikidata ID:** Q562827
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Davitian, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q562827, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205772/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6734

Actor. Born 19 June 1953 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 19 June 1953, Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Active:** 2000–2011
- **Also known as:** Kenneth Davitian, Azamat Bagtov, Azamat Baytoff, Kevin Davitian, John Lopez
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 79 (5), 2010s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 84 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Drama 5, Action & Adventure 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $396m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Davitian, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q562827, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205772/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6734

## Streaming the US now

- **Pluto TV:** [*The Artist*](https://film.one/film/the-artist.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan*](https://film.one/film/borat-cultural-learnings-of-america-for-make-benefit-glorious-nation-of-kazakhstan.md) (81)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ken Davitian

> Ken Davitian is an assured comic partner: his deadpan makes absurd behaviour seem perfectly routine. *Borat* gives his physical commitment a proper use, though the small, bumbling or sleazy parts around it suggest how narrowly he has been cast.

Ken Davitian plays Azamat in *Borat* (2006) as though there is nothing peculiar about being beside Sacha Baron Cohen. The deadpan matters: an actor who advertised his amusement would give everyone else permission to stop taking the pair seriously. Davitian commits to the character and the physical comedy without making a separate appeal to be liked. We laughed hard at the contrast between his straight-faced delivery and the obscenity around him. It is a performance worth seeking out, though the film sometimes buys its embarrassment too cheaply.

Before that breakthrough, his work largely meant small film and television parts, often cab drivers or shop owners. *Holes* (2003), in which he played Igor Barkov, belongs to that earlier stretch. Afterwards came Shtarker in *Get Smart* (2008), a pawnbroker in *The Artist* (2011) and the recurring part of Armand Zarkarian in *Cobra Kai*, from 2018 to 2021. Those credits brought more visible supporting work, but the tendency to cast him as bumbling or sleazy figures persisted.

Davitian speaks Armenian in *Borat*, a concrete contribution to a character who has to be accepted as real. He also auditioned in character, without identifying himself as an American actor. That approach suits Larry Charles and Cohen's prank-film method, which depends on encounters between invented characters and real people. The real people's reactions supply the film's sharpest moments, but somebody must make the fiction credible enough to get those reactions. Davitian's seriousness is useful here: he can support the deception without competing with Cohen for every laugh.

The repeated narrow casting is less encouraging. Such parts can make a capable comic actor seem interchangeable, especially when looking foolish is all the writing asks of him. We would welcome more roles that require his straight-faced concentration as well as his willingness to surrender his dignity. Start with *Borat*; squeamish company may require a different plan.

## Biography

Ken Davitian is an American actor and restaurateur. Born on 19 June 1953 in Los Angeles, California, he is best known for his role as Azamat Bagatov, Borat's producer, in the 2006 film *Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan*.

Davitian is of Armenian American descent. He graduated from Whittier College and is fluent in Armenian, which he used in his *Borat* performance. His other screen credits include *Get Smart* (2008) as Shtarker, *The Artist* (2011) as a pawnbroker, and recurring appearances in the series *Cobra Kai* (2018) as Armand Zarkarian. He founded the Los Angeles restaurant The Dip in 2003.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *The Artist* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Pawnbroker — [page](https://film.one/film/the-artist.md)
- *Chuck* (2007), Fi1m 73, as Uncle Bernie — [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan* (2006), Fi1m 81, as Azamat — [page](https://film.one/film/borat-cultural-learnings-of-america-for-make-benefit-glorious-nation-of-kazakhstan.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), Fi1m 76, as Mr. Kahanov — [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Six Feet Under* (2001), Fi1m 86, as Krikor Hovanessian — [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), Fi1m 81, as Jesus — [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)

## Complete filmography (97)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Pay to Die* (2026), as Agent
- *Cruel Love* (2026), as Richie
- *Betrayal* (2024), as Paulie Marconi
- *Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace* (2024), as Armen
- *Team of Two* (2024), as Captain Dupree
- *Mind Melters 28* (2024), Actor
- *Woods Witch* (2023), as Jocelyn's Father
- *Operation: Honorable Beggars* (2023), as Soghomon Aghayan
- *The Messenger* (2023), as Koorush
- *Dante's Hotel* (2023), as Chef Willio
- *Bromates* (2022), as Kaloosh
- *Rabbit* (2022), series, as Dispatch
- *Mister Mayfair: The Spyce of Life* (2021), as Arman
- *Habit* (2021), as Gus
- *Mister Mayfair: Serena's Game* (2021), as Armen
- *Mummy Dearest* (2021), as Malcolm Thrussel
- *Roe v. Wade* (2021), as Papa Potemkin
- *Psychopomp* (2020), as Captain · Co-Producer
- *In the Time It Takes to Get There* (2019), as Merchant 1
- *1st Born* (2019), as Charles
- *The Samuel Project* (2018), as Vartan
- *Melvin Smarty* (2018), as Harry
- *Cobra Kai* (2018), series, as Armand Zarkarian — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/cobra-kai.md)
- *Abducted* (2018), as Scotty
- *Five Star Fouad* (2017), as Fouad
- *Price for Freedom* (2017), as Sheik Omar
- *Once Upon a Time in Venice* (2017), as Yuri
- *The Sex Addict* (2017), as Ken Davitian
- *Paint It Black* (2016), as Masha the Baker (uncredited)
- *Nina* (2016), as Club Owner
- *Pocket Listing* (2016), as Mr. Mousian
- *Big Baby* (2015), as Underbrunter
- *Walk of Shame* (2014), as Cab Driver
- *Small Time* (2014), as Wexler
- *Abstraction* (2013), as Jacob Sarian
- *Natasha Mail Order Bribe Escape to America* (2012), as Boris the Butcher
- *The Artist* (2011), as Pawnbroker — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-artist.md)
- *You May Not Kiss the Bride* (2011), as Vadik Nikitin
- *The Cape* (2011), series, as Store Owner
- *The Prankster* (2010), as Stavros Karas
- *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009), series, as Narek
- *Not Forgotten* (2009), as Father Salinas
- *Soul Men* (2008), as Ardesh Kezian
- *Float* (2008), as Vahig Manoogian
- *Get Smart* (2008), as Shtarker
- *Julia* (2008), as Taxi Driver
- *Meet the Spartans* (2008), as Xerxes
- *Stone & Ed* (2008), as Senor Gordo
- *Chuck* (2007), series, as Uncle Bernie — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *Lucky You* (2007), as Poker Player (uncredited)
- *Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan* (2006), as Azamat — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/borat-cultural-learnings-of-america-for-make-benefit-glorious-nation-of-kazakhstan.md)
- *Ghost Whisperer* (2005), series, as Jake Rose
- *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005), series, as Snyder
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Mr. Sarcasian
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Mr. Kahanov — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *L.A. Twister* (2004), as Walter
- *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, as Mr. Mardirosian — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md)
- *S.W.A.T.* (2003), as Uncle Martin Gascoigne
- *Holes* (2003), as Igor Barkov
- *May* (2003), as Foreign Doctor
- *A Man Apart* (2003), as Ramon Cadena
- *Boomtown* (2002), series, as Jewelry Store Owner
- *The Shield* (2002), series, as Older Armenian — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shield.md)
- *Six Feet Under* (2001), series, as Krikor Hovanessian — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)
- *The Division* (2001), series, as Archimedes
- *Missing Pieces* (2001), as Jorge
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Jesus — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *Strong Medicine* (2000), series, as Cabbie
- *Virgins of Sherwood Forest* (2000), as Manny / Friar Tuck
- *Our Lips Are Sealed* (2000), as Thug #1
- *Lip Service* (1999), as Director
- *Shandra: The Jungle Girl* (1999), as Diego
- *Mascara* (1999), as Rebecca's Boss
- *S Club 7* (1999), series, as Alphonse
- *Becker* (1998), series, as Cab Driver (uncredited)
- *The King of Queens* (1998), series, as Movie Theatre Patron
- *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Jeweler
- *Lord of Illusions* (1995), as Swann Audience Member (uncredited)
- *The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley* (1995), Actor
- *ER* (1994), series, as Zakar Papazian — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Red Sun Rising* (1994), as Cab Driver
- *The Silence of the Hams* (1994), as Luciano Pavarotti
- *Saved by the Bell: The New Class* (1993), series, as Gus
- *Sexual Intent* (1993), as Topless Bar Owner
- *Frogtown II* (1992), as Bud
- *Maximum Force* (1992), as Fat Man
- *Tuesday Never Comes* (1992), as Greenberg
- *Talkin' Dirty After Dark* (1991), as Seat Mate
- *Bikini Summer* (1991), as Max
- *American Raspberry* (1977), as Fat Bartender
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Jorge
- *Concert Heroes*, as Jasper
- *The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope*, as Dede Krikor
- *Mistletoe Massacre*, as Kristoff
- *The Sand Runner*, as Scott
- *How to Kill Your Family On Christmas*, as Principle Kulhawk
- *Blood Rush*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Ken Davitian attending the second issue release of "Girls Gone Wild Magazine" Party at Les Deux, Hollywood, June 4, 2008](https://film.one/media/person/99342/gallery-7c25d2c7c730.jpg) Ken Davitian attending the second issue release of "Girls Gone Wild Magazine" Party at Les Deux, Hollywood, June 4, 2008 — Photo by Glenn Francis of www.PacificProDigital.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Ken_Davitian.jpg/1280px-Ken_Davitian.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ken Davitian](https://film.one/media/person/99342/gallery-72f6e74d0e64.jpg) Ken Davitian — Toglenn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Ken_Davitian_2010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ken Davitian (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/99342/gallery-50e0cc45cd09.jpg) Ken Davitian (2008) — User:Jasonkend, cropped by User:Prosfilaes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Ken_Davitian_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ken Davitian shown here with fan (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/99342/gallery-fe63cc879a00.jpg) Ken Davitian shown here with fan (2008) — Jasonkend, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Kendavitian.JPG/1280px-Kendavitian.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ken-davitian