Meritorious Artist (Russian: Заслуженный артист, Zasluzhenny artist, also translated as Merited Artist, Deserved Artist or Distinguished Artist or Honorary Artist or Honorable Actor) is an honorary title in the Soviet Union, Russian Federation, Union republics, and Autonomous republics, also in some other Eastern bloc states, as well as in a number of post-Soviet states.The title is awarded by a national government to actors, directors, film makers, writers, dancers, singers, painters, architects, etc., for exceptional achievements in arts.The honorary title was originally modeled after German honorific title for distinguished opera singers.