Actor, Film Director. He was a prolific actor and film director in his native Soviet Georgia. He appeared in over 50 films during his career from 1954 to 1988. He will be best remembered for his role as 'Gedoni' in director Guguli Mgeladze's short comedy, "Burti da moeda" (1961), and as 'Prince Vahvari' in director Georgiy Daneliya's comedy-drama, "Ne goryuy!" (1968), which tells the story of a happy-go-lucky village doctor (played by actor Sergo Zakariadze) who lives a leisurely life as comic events unfold around him. He was born David Ivanovich Abashidze to Vaniko Abashidze and his wife Nino Andronikashvili Abashidze in Tbilisi, Soviet Union, now Tbilisi, Georgia, on May 1, 1924. He was educated locally and attended the prestigious Shota Rustaveli Theater and Georgia State Film University (or Theatre and Film University) in Tbilisi, Georgia. Following his education, he pursued a career in acting and directing. He made his film debut in the role of 'Bichiko' in director Siko Dolidze's comedy romance "The Dragonfly" (or "Chrichina" 1954), which tells the story of a young, funny, lovely, kind girl from the country-side who is named Marine (played by actress Leila Abashidze) but she is nicknamed as 'Chrichina' ('Dragonfly'). She is very popular in her village because of her happy-go-lucky temperament and singing songs. She lost a chance to study at University, fell in love with the handsome, intelligent architect from the city. She must prove to everyone that she is useful for something, and not only for singing "aba deli dela..." every day. Everyone realizes that they are not very suitable for each other, but the young architect can't get her out of his head. Besides, "Burti de moeda" (1961), "Ne goryuy!" (1968), and ""The Dragonfly" (or "Chrichina" 1954), his many other film credits include, "Magdana's Donkey" (1955), "Bashi-Achuki" (1956), "Eteris simgera" (1956), "Me vitkvi simarties" (1956), "Tetri gameebi" (1958), "Ori odjakhi" (1958), "Undiplomo sasidzo" (1961), "Komandirovka" (1961), "Chiakokona" (1961), Tetri karavani" (1964), "Tserodena raindebi" (1964), "Zgvis shvilebi" (1964), "Pieri - militsiis tanamshromeli" (1965), "Bodishi, tkven gelit sikvdili" (1965), "Falling Leaves" (1965), "Khevsuruli balada" (1966), "Matsi Khvitia" (1966), "Male gazapkhuli mova" (1967), "Didi mtsvane veli" (1967), "Arachveule gamopena" (1968), "Tariel Golu" (1968), "Sinatle chvens panjrebshi" (1969), "Pirosmani" (1969), "Didostatis Marjvena (meore seria)" (1969), "Mezoblebi" (1971), "Rotsa akvavda nushi" (1972), "Mkhiaruli romani" (1972), "Zgvis mgeli" (1972), "Tsimbireli papa" (1973), "Melodies Of The Vera Quarter" (1973), "Pirveli mertskhali" (1975), "Ar Daijero, Rom agar var" (1975), "Mtsvervali" (1976), "Namdvili tbiliselebi da skhvebi" (1976), "Sakme gadaetsema sasamartlos" (1976), "Racha, chemi sikvaruli" (1977), "Fedia" (1977), "Ramdenime interviu pirad sakitkhebze" (1978),"Small Town Of Anara" (1978), "Kvarkvara" (1978), "Qortsineba imerulad" (1979), "Pokhishcheniye veka" (1981), "Tsigni pitsisa" (1983), "Matsivarshi vigats ijda" (1983), and "Pesvebi" (1987). On television, he appeared in the role of 'Arkipo Sethuri' in the action-adventure "Data Tutashkhia" (1977), which tells the story of a just man who becomes an outlaw (played by actor Otar Megvinetukhutsesi). He is pursued by the police over the years, while he tries to fight the injustice in the world, but he can't figure out the minds of his fellow-men and is often misunderstood. He also directed and appeared in the dramatic films, "The Legend Of Suram Fortress" (1985), and "Ashik Kerib" (1988). He also appeared on stage in many productions in Georgian theatre. His honors include being awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, being named an Honored Artist of the Georgian SSR in 1961, being named a People's Artist of the Georgian SSR in 1967, and being awarded the Nika Award in 1990 for his work on the film "Ashik Kerib (1988). He passed away in his native Tbilisi, Georgia, on January 26, 1990, at the age of 65. Following his death, he was buried in the Didube Pantheon in Tbilisi, Georgia. He is the father of Zaza Abashidze who is the Editor-in-Chief of the independent media platform "Realpolitika," which covers international politics and works against disinformation, and who is also the Director of the Governance Monitoring Center or GMC, which focuses on on corruption and good governance issues. He was posthumously awarded the Shota Rustaveli State Prize in 1992.