Valeh Karimov was born on 20 March 1944 in the city of Miyaneh, in Iran's East Azerbaijan province. After graduating from the drama and film acting faculty of the M.A. Aliyev Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts in 1969, he permanently linked his acting career with the Sumgayit Theatre. At this theatre he created nearly 70 characters and staged several productions as a director. Since 1990 he has been a member of the Union of Theatre Workers of Azerbaijan. In 1990 he was awarded the honorary title of Honoured Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR, and in 2000 the honorary title of People's Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the Presidential Prize. In 2005 he was awarded a personal pension by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 2015 he has worked as an actor and director at the Ganja State Drama Theatre. On 4 June 2020 he was awarded the "Vagif Samadoglu" medal. In March 2023 he began working as an actor and stage director at the Mingachevir State Drama Theatre.
