Greek movie stars born in 1937
Here are 5 famous actors from Greece were born in 1937:
Spiros Focás
Spiros Focás (August 17, 1937 Patras-) a.k.a. Spiros Focas, Clyde Garner, Xiros Andros, Spyridonas Focas or Spyridonas Androutsopoulos is a Greek actor.
He started his acting career in the late 1950s with small roles in Greek films. Focás gained international recognition for his role in the 1961 film, "Madame Sans-Gêne" and went on to work with renowned directors such as Federico Fellini and Michael Cacoyannis. He also acted in Italian and French films, becoming a familiar face in European cinema. In his later years, Focás returned to Greece and acted in popular Greek television series. Along with his acting career, Focás has also translated English and French plays into Greek and has written several books. He has been honored with many awards for his contribution to Greek and European cinema.
Focás is considered one of the most prominent Greek actors of his generation. He has appeared in more than 100 films and television productions throughout his career. In addition to his work in international cinema, he has also acted in numerous Greek productions, including the critically acclaimed film "Z" (1969) by director Costa-Gavras.
Focás has often played characters with intense emotions and complex personalities, winning the admiration of audiences and critics alike. He is known for his range and ability to portray characters from a variety of backgrounds and time periods.
Throughout his career, Focás has been recognized with several awards, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the film "The Man Who Had Power Over Women" (1970). In Greece, he has been awarded the Best Actor award multiple times by the Hellenic Film Academy.
Despite his success in international cinema, Focás remains committed to his Greek roots and has been actively involved in promoting Greek culture and arts. He is a member of the Academy of Athens and has served as the president of the Greek Actors Guild.
Giorgos Panjas
Giorgos Panjas (February 22, 1937 Pangrati-) a.k.a. Giorgos Pantzas is a Greek actor and politician. He has two children, Kate Pantza and Spiros Pantzas.
Giorgos Panjas began his acting career in 1958 with the play "Eros Den Les Ksana" by Dimitris Psathas. He went on to become a prominent figure in the Greek film industry, starring in over 30 movies and TV series. Some of his notable roles include "The Red Lanterns", "Anna and the Wolves", and "The Descent of Angels".
In addition to his successful acting career, Panjas has also been involved in politics. He served as a Member of Parliament for the New Democracy party from 1989 to 1993 and later as a member of the Athens City Council. However, in 2010 he resigned from the party and joined the Independent Greeks party, where he served as an MP until 2012.
Throughout his career, Giorgos Panjas has received numerous awards and honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hellenic Film Academy in 2015.
Giorgos Panjas was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He initially studied law at the University of Athens but dropped out to pursue a career in acting. His talent and passion for acting landed him many leading roles in the Greek film industry during the 1960s and 1970s.
In addition to his career as an actor and politician, Panjas was also a prominent theater director. He directed several plays, including "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Madame Butterfly," which were both critically acclaimed.
Panjas was known for his distinctive voice and commanding presence on screen. He often portrayed complex and emotionally charged characters, earning him a reputation as one of Greece's greatest film actors.
Aside from his acting and political endeavors, Panjas was also a well-respected intellectual and a public figure. He was an avid reader and writer, with an impressive collection of books spanning a wide range of genres and subjects.
Despite retiring from acting in the early 2000s, Panjas remained an influential figure in Greek society until his passing in January 2021. His legacy continues to inspire the younger generation of artists and politicians alike.
Manos Destounis
Manos Destounis (November 19, 1937 Athens-) also known as Emmanouil Destounis, Makis Destounis or Manolis Destounis is a Greek actor.
He studied theater at the National Theater of Greece and made his stage debut in the 1960s. He later appeared in numerous Greek films and television series, becoming a popular character actor known for his versatility and range. Some of his notable film roles include "Stella" (1955), "The Red Lanterns" (1963), and "The Travelling Players" (1975). He also had a recurring role in the Greek television series "To Nisi" (1983-1984). In addition to acting, he also directed several theater productions and served as a member of the Greek Parliament from 1989 to 1993.
Destounis was born in Athens in 1937 and grew up in the district of Pagrati. His father was a sailor and his mother was a housewife. He had a passion for acting from a young age and pursued it by studying theater at the National Theater of Greece.
He made his stage debut in the 1960s and quickly made a name for himself in the theater world. He then began his career in film, starring in numerous Greek films and also serving as a director for several theater productions. He was known for his versatility and ability to play a wide range of characters, from comedic to serious roles.
In addition to his successful acting career, Destounis was also involved in politics. He was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1989 as a member of the leftist political party, Coalition of the Left and Progress, serving until 1993. He was known for his outspoken views on social and political issues.
Destounis was also a dedicated family man, and had two children with his wife, actress Zoe Laskari. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 70, leaving behind a legacy as one of Greece's most talented and beloved actors.
Vangelis Ploios
Vangelis Ploios (November 13, 1937 Peristeri-) is a Greek actor. He has one child, Giorgos Ploios.
Vangelis Ploios started his career in the acting industry during the 1960s and has since become one of the most accomplished actors in Greece. He has appeared in more than 60 films and television series throughout his career, including the popular Greek television series "To Nisi," which aired from 2010 to 2011. Ploios is known for his versatility as an actor, and has portrayed a wide range of characters across various genres. He has also worked as a director, writer, and producer, and has been involved in several award-winning productions. Ploios has been recognized for his contributions to the Greek entertainment industry, receiving numerous accolades such as the Best Actor award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival in 1982 for his role in the film "Landscape in the Mist." He remains an active and respected figure in Greek cinema and theater to this day.
In addition to his successful career in acting, Vangelis Ploios is also known for his political activism. He was a member of the Communist Party of Greece during the 1960s and 70s, and participated in several protests and demonstrations during that time. He also spoke out against the military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974, and was even arrested and imprisoned for his political activities. Ploios has continued to be involved in leftist politics throughout his career, and is known for his outspoken views on social justice and human rights. He has also been involved in various charity and humanitarian causes over the years, and is widely respected for his generosity and commitment to helping others. Today, Vangelis Ploios is regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in Greek culture, and his contributions to the arts and politics have made a lasting impact on his country and beyond.
Petros Markaris
Petros Markaris (January 1, 1937 Istanbul-) otherwise known as Petros Márkaris is a Greek screenwriter, writer and actor.
Markaris was born in Istanbul, Turkey, to a family of Armenian and Greek descent. He studied economics in Vienna before returning to Greece in the 1960s. He is best known for writing crime novels set in Athens, featuring the detective Costas Haritos. Markaris's novels often deal with social and political issues in Greece, such as the economic crisis and corruption. In addition to his novels, Markaris has also written screenplays for Greek and German films, and he has acted in several films and TV series. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Goethe Medal and the Pepe Carvalho Prize.
Markaris began his writing career as a playwright, but it wasn't until the 1990s that he turned his attention to crime fiction. The first book in the Costas Haritos series, "Late-Night News," was published in 1995, and has since been followed by more than ten other books in the series. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages, making him one of the most widely-read Greek authors of his generation.
Markaris is not only an accomplished writer, but also a social and political commentator. He has been vocal about his concerns regarding the state of democracy in Greece, and has been critical of the austerity measures imposed by the European Union on the country in the wake of the financial crisis.
Markaris has also been involved in numerous cultural initiatives both in Greece and abroad. He is a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin, and has been involved in various literary festivals and events around the world. Despite his success and international acclaim, he remains deeply connected to his roots, and often returns to Turkey to visit family and friends.