People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Rasim Balayev has passed away at the age of 77.

Axar.az informs the well-known actor died in the Memorial Hospital in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Rеports indicate that Balayev had been receiving treatment for health issues. He had long suffered from diabetes and hypertension.

Rasim Balayev was born on August 8, 1948, in the Agsu District. He completed his secondary education in Agsu in 1965 and graduated from the Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts in 1969. He made his film debut with a minor role in Ulduzlar sonmur (“The Stars Do Not Fade”) at the Baku Film Studio. He became widely loved for his memorable roles in films such as Nasimi, Babek, and Dede Gorgud.

Alongside his work in cinema at Azerbaijanfilm, Balayev was also active in theater. His creative range was remarkably broad, spanning from major leading roles to smaller parts. He appeared in episodic roles in films such as Bu Shirin Soz, Azadliq (“This Sweet Word – Freedom!”), Senin birinci saatin (“Your First Hour”), Xoshbextlik sehnesi (“Scene of Happiness”), Men hele qayidacagam (“I Will Return”), and Birisigun geceyarisi (“The Day After Tomorrow at Midnight”). Balayev also worked with studios such as Uzbekfilm and Mosfilm.

In 1976, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist, and in 1982, he received the title of People’s Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR. In 1986, he was awarded the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR for his role as Selim-bey in the feature film It’s Time to Saddle the Horses. He received the Shohrat Order in 1998 and the Sharaf Order in 2018. In 2019, he was awarded the Jafar Jabbarly Prize, and on August 7, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree awarding him the Istiglal Order.

From 1990 to January 18, 2013, he served as Secretary of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan. On May 31, 2022, he was elected Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan.