Ramaz Chkhikvadze

Ramaz Chkhikvadze (Georgian: რამაზ ჩხიკვაძე; 28 February 1928 – 17 October 2011) was a Georgian film and theater actor. First appearing in the 1954 film The Dragonfly (Chrichina), he starred in over 60 films during his career. He won the award for Best Actor at the 8th Moscow International Film Festival for his role in The Saplings. Ramaz Chkhikvadze caused a sensation when he appeared on stage as Richard III at the 1979 Edinburgh Festival in a production of Shakespeare's play by the Rustaveli Theatre Company of Tbilisi, Georgia, then still part of the Soviet Union. Honoring him posthumously, Georgian President Saakashvili issued a statement in which he said "Mr. Ramaz was a distinguished star of Georgian film and theatre and a creator of an entire epoch. The cultural heritage expressed by his unique talent and originality, on which generations have been brought up, will forever stay in the memories of his audience."