Nersisyan was born in Nicomedia, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Izmit, Turkey) and studied in Constantinople.
Later credits include Pepo (1935), Zangezur (1938) (won Stalin Prize in 1941), David Bek (1944), The Song of First Love (1958) and Tjvjik (1961).
Hrachiya Nersisyan continued acting until the end of his life.
His work spanned over two dozen films, including several released posthumously.
Hrachia Nersisyan is buried at Komitas Pantheon in Yerevan city center.