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WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) is pleased to announce that actor and director Joe Manganiello will join the Assembly and its advocates from across the country for the Assembly’s Spring 2025 Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, from March 31 through April 2nd.
To connect more closely with his Armenian heritage, Joe Manganiello traveled to Armenia in 2024 touring the country for ten days and planted a tree at the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in honor of his grandmother, and great-grandmother Terviz "Rose" Darakjian. He was received by the president of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, and other officials who were pleased to welcome the famed actor to his ancestral homeland.
In memory of his great-grandmother and grandmother, he had the Orthodox Armenian words for angel tattooed on his left forearm, and, luck, which also means fate, on his right. The words were drawn for him by famed Armenian calligrapher Ruben Malayan. "The script is the way my great-grandmother who escaped the genocide would’ve read it," he told Julie Jordan in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.Â
"As a descendant of an Armenian Genocide survivor, I am fully aware of the background to our experience as Armenian Americans and the importance to the Armenian people of keeping its culture alive and thriving. I look forward to the Assembly’s Advocacy Summit, as together we will continue to raise awareness about the existential threats facing the Armenian people," said Joe Manganiello.
Actor, writer, director, producer, Joe Manganiello is one of today’s leading Hollywood movie and television industry figures. As the host of NBC’s hit series Deal or No Deal Island, he is familiar to millions of television viewers. Manganiello began his professional film career playing Flash Thompson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. His breakout role was as werewolf Alcide Herveaux in five seasons of the HBO series True Blood. Manganiello is also known for his roles in films such as Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Sabotage, and Rampage.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Susan (Brachanow) and Charles John Manganiello, Joe was raised in Mount Lebanon. During high school, he was captain of the football, basketball and volleyball teams, and played at the varsity level in all three. It was during high school that he began writing and directing films with his friends and as a result, became interested in acting. Joe studied acting at The Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, after which he moved to Los Angeles. His younger brother, Nicholas, is also his producing partner.
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"We are honored that Joe Manganiello will be joining this year’s Advocacy Summit," stated Assembly Co-Chairs Oscar Tatosian and Talin Yacoubian. "His passion and commitment to his Armenian roots speak volumes. We look forward to a very productive and successful Summit," the Co-Chairs added.
The Spring 2025 Advocacy Summit, as in previous years, will include informative briefings and panel discussions, as well as meetings with Members of Congress, culminating with the Capitol Hill Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. For more information and to register, click here.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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