Entertainment News from Athens, Tributes to Greek Artists

‎Giorgos Fountas‎‎ (June 3 - 1924 - November 28, 2010) was one of ‎‎the‎‎ most important Greek ‎‎actor‎‎ in cinema, theater and television. His career spanned five decades, appearing in more than fifty films he is known among other things for his role in the Golden Globe winning film ‎‎ ‎‎Stella‎‎ ‎‎ (1955) by ‎‎Michael Cacoyannis.‎‎‎‎ He participated in many other distinguished films of the 1950s and 1960s, including ‎‎ ‎‎Magic City‎‎ ‎‎ (1954), ‎‎ ‎‎The Girl in Black‎‎ ‎(1956), Never on ‎‎ ‎‎Sunday‎‎ ‎‎ (1960) and The Red ‎‎ ‎‎Lanterns‎‎ ‎‎ (1963), while he  also appeared in the foreign productions ‎‎ ‎‎America, America‎‎ ‎‎ (1963) and the Academy Award winning‎‎ Zorba the Greek‎‎ (1964) he almost became the next James Bond. His most important moment on television was his role in the series ‎‎Christ Recrucified‎‎ ‎‎ (1975-1976).‎ Find out more about this fondly remembered actor by listening to the podcast.

‎Yannis Dalianidis‎‎ ‎‎(December 31,‎‎ ‎‎1923‎‎ – ‎‎October 16,‎‎ ‎‎2010) ‎‎was a ‎‎Greek‎‎ director and screenwriter, one of the most commercial in Greek cinema.‎ ‎He began his career as a dancer and choreographer using the artistic pseudonym "Giannis Doal". In 1958 he began writing screenplays for motion pictures.‎ ‎In total, he has directed more than 60 films, most of which he had written the script. Since the 1970s he has also worked in television, creating several television series, most of which were very successful. ‎He is often referred as the father of Greek Movie Musicals. He also created social dramas which touched taboo subjects like teen pregnancies, abortion & made the first nude scene on screen while it was controversial. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this talented 

Marika Kotopouli 3 May 1887 – 11 September 1954 was an important Greek stage actress of the first half of the 20th century. She  excelled most as a tragedian in the works of foreign and Greek classical writers. She starred, however, in many different theatrical genres, including comedy and farce. She appeared on stage as an infant on tour with her parents, her first role was in an inspection, at the age of five. In 1902 she was hired by the Royal Theatre and become known to the wider public. ‎‎An important moment in her career was her participation in the trilogy of Aeschylos‎‎ "Oresteia" ‎‎ ‎‎‎in ‎‎ 1903, ‎‎where she used the demotic language for the first time in an ancient Greek drama, causing a stir in the theatrical and social world of the time. ‎Her personal life has been tumultuous,‎‎ especially in her youth. The great actress dedicated her life to the theatre‎‎ and with her teaching, protection and personal guidance she was able to raise a great generation of Greek actors in the 20th century, she is considered the "Mother" of modern Greek Theatre. Listen to the podcast and find out more:

Nikos Kourkoulos was a highly respected Greek theatrical and film performer, one of the most talented and recognizable actors in Greece of modern times. In his youth he was a footballer at Panathinaikos and by coincidence he made the decision to become an actor, he studied at the Drama School of the National Theatre of Greece and made his first theatrical appearance in the play "The lady with the camellias" with Lambeti - Horn and continued throughout his life to perform on stage. In the cinema he excelled in roles of the  "jeune premier" and starred in social dramas & war dramas, while his filmography did not miss his presence in foreign language films. He was President of the Board of Directors of the National Theatre of Greece and in 1994 he became Artistic director of the National Theatre of Greece. He founded the Experimental Stage and the Actors' Workshop, and he  put into permanent operation the Children's Theatrical Stage, listen to the podcast and find our more:

Orestis Makris was a Greek actor in theatre and cinema and a tenor of operetta. He finished the Athens Conservatory and appeared on stage first as a tenor at the Rosalia Nika troupe in 1925. He participated in about forty films playing characteristic roles mostly the over strict father, but will be remembered for portraying the most believable alcoholic man in the film "The Drunkard" He is considered on of the most significant modern Greek actors. Listen to the podcast and find out more.

WW2 inspired many artists, to pay tribute to the Greco-Italian war on the Albanian front, the German Occupation and the hardships of the Greek people until the liberation. Directors, screenwriters and writers were inspired by the war and created some of the most iconic films we watch every year on the anniversary of "NO" "Oxi Day" on October 28th every year. On the occasion of the ‎‎anniversary of October 28th, ‎‎it is an opportunity to remember these remarkable films that were made without much means, but with love and several sacrifices, which highlight the era, but also the talent of some actors, behind and in front of the camera.‎

Zoe Laskari : December 12, 1942 –  August 18, 2017 was a Greek actress, one of the most famous stars of the old Greek cinema, who began her career by winning the title of "Star Hellas" in 1959. Her real name was Zoe Kouroukli. In the late 60s she was considered – along with Aliki Vougiouklaki and Jenny Karezi– one of the most commercial actresses of Greek cinema. She held the title of Feme Fatale being one of the first Greek actresses to play sexy, controversial and revealing roles on the big screen.  In 2013 she was awarded an award by the Film Academy for her overall contribution to cinema. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this beautiful woman that was so dynamic and was the object of desire of many men.

Yiannis Kalamitsis - 31 October 1939 – 3 November 2013,  was a Greek playwright, lyricist and radio producer. He first followed, the profession of his father who was a merchant of textiles and women's clothing. He began studying architecture in Canada but left the field. He did various jobs in Greece and other countries. He collaborated with well-known artists and wrote reviews and lyrics that were very successful. He was involved in amateur football (he was a fan of the Progressive Youth),painting, winemaking and carpentry. In 1990, he began presenting  a morning radio show (06:00 to 08:00) entitled Morning manipulations with a big  audience listenership (initially on ANT1 radio,  later on NET 105.8  and from  2009 on Real FM 97.8. In the summer of 2013, he moved to the breakfast show 7-10  on the weekends, where he emerged as one of the shows with the biggest audiences of the morning zone. He retired permanently from radio in the fall of 2013. In his radio show he incorporated elements of satire (with an inspired and commonly accepted free expression) writing daily new mocking parlatas and songs (depending on current events).

Listen to the podcast and find out more about this talented and unforgettable artist that wrote over 400 popular Greek songs.

Giannis Gionakis -September 18, 1922 – August 25, 2002 was a stage and film actor. He began studying Medicine but was won over by the theatre .Gionakis performed in hundreds of big screen films mostly comedies and many theatrical musicals, he was a brilliant mimic and an excellent self taught dancer.  He was proposed to make a career in Paris by fellow comedian and friend Louis De Funes due to his charisma, but he preferred staying in Greece. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this popular and  loved comedian:  

Sperantza Vrana was a Greek actress, singer and author. She was born as Elpida Homatianou in Messolongi on 6 February, either in 1926 or 1932. Sperantza was a passionate woman and due to her character and charm was labeled as sex symbol during the 1950's.   She had a rich career and appeared in many on stage plays and over 18 big screen movies. She wrote several books with the most famous one being her autobiography entitled " I dare" Listen to the podcast and find out more about this succulent woman who lived loved with no inhibitions heralding the coming of the sexual revolution in post war Greece.