Vachik Mangassarian, Actor of ‘NCIS’ Who Claimed Vaccination, Dies of COVID Complications

Vachik Mangassarian, a veteran character actor known for his roles above NCIS, Curb your enthusiasmand The leader’s minions. passed away at the age of 78 from complications from COVID-19. Mangassarian rep confirmed The Hollywood Reporter that he passed away in Burbank, California.

The Iranian-Armenian star moved to the US at the age of 23 and got his first Hollywood role in 1978. In the decades since, he has taken on a wide variety of roles, playing architect Qasim Zaghlul in Marvel’s The leader’s minions and invited guests Curb your enthusiasm. More recently, he appeared on NCIS: Los Angeles.

In the months leading up to his death, Mangassarian frequently expressed his opposition to a COVID-19 vaccine and attacked his territory, posting memes on Facebook alleging that the pandemic was part of a negative big plot.

In a post from September 2021, the actor posted a photo of a news release saying that “millions of test results are positive for Sheeple 19.”

In another post a month later, he posted a photo of a billboard said, “I fear a Democrat in the White House more than I fear COVID-19.” At the beginning of November, he made his position on vaccines clear with a Image of President Joe Biden changed to show a syringe poking his back, along with the caption, “Here’s what you can do with my dose of Joe Let’s Go Brandon.”

It was not immediately clear if Mangassarian was vaccinated to make his latest movie, or not. Continue, where he had a supporting role between Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The actor’s rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment.