Culture policy

Culture policy

People's Artist of Azerbaijan Tofig Mirzayev laid to rest in Israel

23 July 2026 02:12 (UTC +04:00)

People's Artist of Azerbaijan, renowned film actor Tofig Mirzayev, has been laid to rest at a cemetery in the Israeli city of Arad, APA reports.

The funeral ceremony was attended by the actor's family members and representatives of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Israel.

Earlier, the director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Israel, Yegana Salman, told APA that Mirzayev had passed away late the previous night at a hospital in the city of Be'er Sheva.

According to Salman, the People's Artist had been hospitalized two months ago after suffering a stroke.

"Although Tofig Mirzayev's condition had improved for a while, it deteriorated again in recent days. During his lifetime, he repeatedly expressed his wish to be buried in Baku. However, he has now been laid to rest at the cemetery in the Israeli city of Arad," she said.

Tofig Mirzayev was born in 1932 in Azerbaijan's Gadabay district. In 1976, he was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR and was later granted a presidential scholarship by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On June 14, 2022, he was awarded the honorary title of People's Artist of Azerbaijan and the Shohrat (Glory) Order.

Throughout his career, Mirzayev appeared in numerous acclaimed Azerbaijani films, including Nasimi, Uzeyir's Life, Find That Girl, His Troubled Love, The Last Night of Childhood, and The Investigation.