Arif Ali oghlu Guliyev entered the "Drama and Film Acting" faculty of the Baku Cultural-Educational Technical School in 1965. He graduated from the technical school in 1968 and was assigned to work at the Mingachevir State Drama Theatre. In 1973 he entered the musical comedy acting faculty of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts. In 1975 he was invited to the Musical Comedy Theatre. In 1979 he graduated from the Institute of Arts. He created characters of various styles and natures. Among his successful comedic roles on the theatre stage are Sharbatali (S. Dagli, J. Jahangirov, "The New Bride"), Salyanski (F. Amirov, M. Alizade, "Good Luck to You"), Ali (M. Shamkhalov, Z. Baghirov, "Mother-in-Law"), Dursun (S. Rustamov, S. Rustamov, "Durna"), Mursal (S. Alasgarov, S. Gadirzade, "Thunderous Love"), Ibishov (Sh. Gurbanov, S. Alasgarov, "We Know Ourselves"), Dursunov (S. Rahman, E. Sabitoglu, "Separation"), Tofig (Sh. Akhundova, N. Ganjali, "Our House, Our Secret"), the Porter (U. Hajibeyov, "Meshedi Ibad"), Mirzaguly (Hidayat, "When the Cranes Return") and Sabzali (M. Hagverdiyev, "Love, the Devil and White Death"). Azerbaijani Television also occupied a large place in his career. His roles in the television plays "Chance", "The Moustache Affair", "Mother-in-Law", "The Lift Affair", "Half a Post" and "Our Houses Are Neighbours" earned the audience's affection. His characters in the feature films "The Kidnapping of the Groom", "The Scoundrel", "The Ring of Fortune", "Greetings from the Other World", "The Window of Sorrow", "My White City" and "An Apple Resembles an Apple" reflect the richness of his creative potential. He worked at the Yerevan State Azerbaijani Drama Theatre. From 1988 he was artistic director of the Private Satire Theatre. In 1982 he received the Republic Youth Award, in 1989 the honorary title of Honoured Artist, and in 1993 the "Humay" award. In 1993 he was invited from the Musical Comedy Theatre to the National Drama Theatre. That same year he was awarded the honorary title of People's Artist. In 2006, for his achievements in theatre, he received the "Golden Dervish" award, in 2012 the "Zirvya" award, and in 2014 the Artist's Medal. He was a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. The People's Artist died of coronavirus on 7 May 2021. The artist was buried at the Citywide Cemetery.
