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Greek actor and director

Thanasis Veggos
Θανάσης Βέγγος
Thanasis Veggos as "Out-in-the-open Agent" (1967) (secret agent "007" spoof)
Born	(1927-05-29)29 May 1927 Neo Faliro, Piraeus, Greece
Died	3 May 2011(2011-05-03) (aged 83) Athens, Greece
Nationality	Greek
Occupations	Actor director company owner
Years active	1955–2011
Spouse	Asimina Veggos (m. 1956)
Children	2
Awards	Commander of the Order of the Phoenix
Website	www.veggos.gr

Thanasis Veggos (alternatively spelt Thanassis and/or Vengos; Greek: Θανάσης Βέγγος, Thanássis Véngos; 29 May 1927 – 3 May 2011) was a Greek actor and director born in Neo Faliro, Piraeus. He performed in around 130 films, predominantly comedies in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, starring in more than 50 among them. He is considered one of the best Greek comedy actors of all time. His famous comedic catchphrase was Καλέ μου άνθρωπε ("My good man").

Background

Veggos was the only son of a power station employee, who had fought with the Greek Resistance in World War II. Vassilis Veggos played an important part in the defense of the Piraeus power station when the Germans attempted to destroy it before departing in 1944, but precisely because of this was dismissed from his job in the post-war purge of leftists. His real surname was "Βέγκος" and, as he had said, he wrote it with ''γγ'' because it looked better in the eyes. Veggos himself was a member of EPON, the youth branch of the left-wing resistance movement EAM, and so served his compulsory military service as an inmate on the notorious prison island Makronisos from 1948 to 1950. On Makronisos he met film director Nikos Koundouros who was also exiled there.

Career

Veggos' first appearance in a film was in Windfall in Athens, produced by Michael Cacoyannis, which premiered in Athens as Kiriakatiko Xsipnima on 11 January 1954. Nikos Koundouros gave him a role in Magiki polis in 1954. His first major role was in Psila ta heria Hitler ("Hands Up, Hitler"), 1962. and continued many more films. For his acting in What did you do in the war, Thanasi? (1971), the public of Thessaloniki apotheosized him and the movie won three awards at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. He often played everyman characters struggling to get by, but he has also played anti-heroes, he has acted in pure dramas, and on stage in the comedies of Aristophanes. His characters were often self-named "Thanasis". He often worked with directors Panos Glykofridis and Giorgos Lazaridis. In 1995, Theo Angelopoulos cast Veggos and American actor Harvey Keitel in "Ulysses' Gaze". In 1997, in the role of Dikaiopoli he appeared in a live performance at the ancient Epidaurus theatre. In 2000, he survived a car accident involving a collision with a train. He later participated in advertisements promoting road safety.

A documentary of his life, whose title translates as A Man for All Seasons, was made in 2004. He always did his own stunts including the most dangerous ones, like hanging from a rope tied to a balcony fifty feet above a pavement without anything to break his fall, walking through a glass door, or falling down a stone staircase head first. During the "Golden Sixties" of the Greek film industry he made his most popular comedy films such as the sequel of Secret Agent 000, Papatrehas, Enas trellos Vengos and many others, also with surrealist humor, most of them by his own company Θ-Β Comedies (Θ-Β Tainies Geliou) which he founded in 1964.

In 2008, Veggos was appointed Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias.

On 3 May 2011, he died at 7:10 a.m. He had been hospitalized at the Red Cross hospital, in Athens, since 18 December 2010.

Personal life

Thanasis Veggos was married to Asimina and they had two sons. He will always be remembered in more than 120 films and documentaries that he has starred in. The phrase "τρέχει σαν το Βέγγο" (English translation: "runs like Veggos") has been adopted into common usage in the Greek language since nobody has run more or faster than Veggos in his many slapstick comedies.

Honors and awards

1962, Hellenic Association of Film Critics Award, from Hellenic Critics Association
1971, Best Actor Award, from 12th Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for the film What Did You Do in the War, Thanasis?
1971, Hellenic Association of Film Critics Award, from Hellenic Critics Association for the film What Did You Do in the War, Thanasis?
1972, Best Actor Award, from 13th Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for the film Thanasis Take Your Gun
1973, Best Actor Award, from 14th Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for the film The Charlatan
1991, Audience Award, from the Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for the film The Calm Days of August
1993, Lifetime Achievement Award, from the Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema
2002, Honoree, Municipality of Korydallos Theatre was named Thanasis Veggos Theatre from the Municipality of Korydallos, Attica
2008, Honoree, Evangelismou Square was named Thanasis Veggos Square from the Municipality of Piraeus, Attica
2008, Commander of the Order of the Phoenix, from the President of Greece Karolos Papoulias
2008, Faces Award, from the TV Magazine of Ethnos
2010, Lifetime Achievement Award, from the Status Magazine
2010, Lifetime Achievement Award, from the Hellenic Film Academy

Filmography

Early movies

Kiriakatiko Xsipnima (premiered 1954), Windfall in Athens (1956)
Magiki Polis (1955), Magic City
Katadikasmeni ki apo to paidi tis (1955), Condemned even by her child
O Drakos (1956), The dragon
Oi assoi ton gipedon (1956), The aces of the playground
To koritsi me ta mavra (1956), A Girl in Black
Echei theio to koritsi (1956), The girl has an uncle
To koritsi me ta paramythia (1957), Fairytale girl
Tsarouhi, pistoli, papillon (1957), Tsarouhi, pistol, bow tie
Maria i Pentagiotissa (1957), Maria the Pentagiotissa
Tis tyhis ta grammena (1957 Greek film) (1957)
I ftocheia thelei kaloperasi (1958), Having a good time in poverty
To eispraktoraki (1958), The little money collector
Diakopes stin Aigina (1958), Holidays in Aegina
Oi kavgatzides (1958), The brawlers
Mono gia mia nychta (1958), Only for one night
Haroumenoi alites (1958), Happy streetboys
Kathe empodio se kalo (1958), Each obstacle is for good
O Mimikos kai Mairi (1958), Mimikos and Mairy
To koritsi tis amartias (1958), The girl of sin
O Karagiozis (1959), Mr. Punch
Gamilies Peripeteies (1959), Nuptial Adventures
I mousitsa (1959), The cunning jade
Anthismeni amigdalia (1959), Blooming almond tree
Ena nero Kyra Vaggelio (1959), Gimme some water Kyra Vaggelio
O Ilias tou 16ou (1959), Ilias of 16th precinct
Gia to psomi kai ton erota (1959), For the bread and love
Oi dosatzides (1959), The tallymen
Enas Ellinas sto Parisi (1959), A Greek in Paris
To agorokoritso (1959 ), The tomboy
O theios apo ton Kanada (1959), The uncle from Canada
Periplanomenoi Ioudaioi (1959), Wandering Jewes
To rantevou tis Kyriakis (1960), The Sunday appointment
Ta dervisopaida (1960), The dervish boys
To klotsoskoufi (1960), The plaything
Madalena (1960), Madalena
Pothoi sta stachya (1960), Desires in the hay
Erotika paichnidia (1960), Erotic games
Pote tin Kyriaki (1960), Never on a Sunday
Treis koukles ki ego (1960), Three dolls and me
Oikogeneia Papadopoulou (1960), The Papadopoulos family
O Mitros ki o Mitrousis stin Athina (1960), Mitros and Mitrousis in Athens
Tyflos Aggelos (1960), Blind Angel
I avgi tou thriamvou (1961), The dawn of triumph
Oi enniakosioi tis Marinas (1961), The nine hundred of Marina
Gia sena tin agapi mou (1961), For you my love
Mia tou klefti (1961), Once a thief
Horis mitera (1961), Without a mother
Poios tha krinei tin koinonia; (1961), Who will judge society ?
Diavolou kaltsa (1961), Cunning woman
I katara tis manas (1961), The mothers curse
Hamena oneira (1961), Lost dreams
Ziteitai pseftis (1961), Lier wanted
Lathos ston erota (1961), Fault in love
I myrtia (1961), The myrtle
Diamado (1961), Diamado
Eftychos trelathika (1961), Fortunately I went nuts
Poia einai i Margarita; (1961), Who is Margarita?
Liza ki i alli (1961), Liza and the other girl
Doulepste gia na fate (1961), Work to eat
O atsidas (1962), The smart one
Douleies tou podariou (1962), Odd jobs
To pithari (1962), The earthenware jar
Yperochi optasia (1962), Beautiful illusion
I nyfi to 'skase (1962)
Oi yperifanoi (1962), The proud ones

Leading roles

Psila ta heria, Hitler (1962), Stick them up, Hitler
Zito i trela (1962 ), Hurrah for madness
Vasilias tis gafas (1962), King of gaff
Astronaftes gia desimo (1962), Silly astronauts
Min ton eidate ton Panai; (1962), Anyone saw Panais?
Gabros gia klamata (1962), Pathetic son-in-law
Anisycha niata (1963), Anxious youth
O Ippolytos kai to violi tou (1963), Ippolytos and his violin
Tyfla na'chei o Marlon Brando (1963), Marlon Brando doesn't compare
Polytehnitis kai erimospitis (1963), Jack of all trades and master of none
O trelaras (1963), The nutcase
To tixero panteloni (1963), Lucky pants
Scholi gia soferines (1964), School for women drivers
Oi ftochodiavoloi (1964), The poor demons
O polyteknos (1964), Father of many children
Exo i ftocheia kai i kali kardia (1964), Poverty and gentle heart
Tha se kano vasilissa (1964), I will make you a queen
Ta Didyma (1964), The Twins
O Katafertzis (1964), The hustler
Einai enas trelos ... trelos Veggos (1965), He is one crazy ... crazy Veggos
O Papatrehas (1966), The babbler
Voitheia! O Vengos faneros praktor 000 (1967), Out-in-the-open Agent 000
Pare kosme (1967), For all to take
Trelos, palavos kai Vengos (1967), Crazy, daft and Veggos
Doktor Zi - Veggos (1968), Doctor Zi - Veggos
Poios Thanasis; (1969), Thanasis who?
Ena asyllipto koroido (1969), An amazing dupe
Thou-Vou falakros praktor, epiheirisis "Yis Mathiam" (1969), Thou-Vou bald agent, operation havoc
Enas Veggos gia oles tis douleies (1970), One Veggos for all the trades
O Thanasis, i Ioulieta kai ta loukanika (1970), Thanasis, Juliette and the sausages
Diakopes sto Vietnam (1971), Holidays in Vietnam
Ti ekanes sto polemo Thanasi; (1971), What did you do during the war Thanasis?
Enas xegnoiastos palaviaris (1971), One carefree wacko
Thanasi pare to oplo sou (1972), Thanassis, take your gun
O anthropos pou etreche poly (1973), The man who ran too much
Diktator kalei Thanasi (1973), Dictator calls Thanasis
O tsarlatanos (1973), The charlatan
O grylos (1975), The jack
O Thanasis sti hora tis sfaliaras (1976), Thanasis in the land of slap
Apo pou pane gia tin havouza; (1978), What's the way to the refuse dump ?
O palavos kosmos tou Thanasi (1979), The batty world of Thanasis
O falakros mathitis (1979), The bald - headed student
Thanasi sfixe ki allo to zonari (1980), Thanasis tighten up your belt
O trelos kamikazi (1980), The mad kamikaze
To megalo kanoni (1981), The big cannon
O Thanasis kai to katarameno fidi (1982), Thanasis and the accursed serpent
Trelos kai pasis Ellados (1983), Daffy of all Greece
Made In Greece (1987) ft. Harry Klynn
O Thanasis sti hora tou "tha" (1988), Thanasis in the country of "shall"'
Trelokomeion i Ellas (1988), Mad house Greece
To didymo tis symforas (1989), The duo of misfortune
Ypastynomos Thanasis (1989), Police lieutenant Thanassis
O protathlitis (1989), The champion
Prosohi ... mas valane boba (1990), Attention ... they set us a bomb
Isyhes meres tou Avgustou (1991), The calm days of August
Zoi harisameni (1993), Pleasant life
Vimata (1996), Steps
To vlemma tou Odyssea (1997), Ulysses' Gaze
Ola einai dromos (1998), Everything is a journey
To ainigma (1998), The riddle
The Lilly's Story (2002)
Psychi vathia (2009), A Soul So Deep
The Flight of the Swan (2010)

Television series

Veggos also played roles in televisual series in the 1990s and 2000s; these were mainly roles of an elder wise person, who gives his advice to the younger ones.

Ta veggalika (1985) ERT
Astynomos Thanasis Papathanasis ( 1990 ) ANT1 channel, Police commissioner Thanasis Papathanasis
Peri anemon kai ydaton ( 2002 ) Mega channel, About everything
Erotas, opos i erimos ( 2003 ) NET channel, Love, like the desert
Kathrefti, kathreftaki mou ( 2006 ) ANT1 channel, Mirror Mirror
Exo ena mystiko (2008) Alpha TV, I Have a Secret

Theatrical performances and troupes

Performances

O trelos tou louna park kai i atsida ( 1959–70 ), The madman of the entertainment park and the wizard
Okto andres katigoroundai ( 1963 ), Eight men accused
Kokkina triandafylla ( 1963 ), Red roses
Oi ftohodiavoloi ( 1963 ), The poor demons
Arhodorebetissa ( 1963–64 ), Lady rebetis
Kypros yiok ( 1963–64 ), Cyprus gone
Ti ekanes ston Troiko polemo Thanasi; ( 1971 ), What did you do during the Trojan War Thanasis ?
To vlima ( 1972 ), The missile
Mam, kaka, koko kai nani ( 1975 ), Eat, poop, shag and sleep
Peace of Aristophanes ( 1995 )
Ellin exastheneis ( 1997 ), Greece you are losing your senses
Acharnians of Aristophanes ( 1998 )
Ellines eiste kai faineste ( 1998–99 ), Greek is a Greek does

Troupes

Mandoubala
Kainourgia Athina, New Athens
Anthropoi tou ' 60, People of ' 60

References

^ "Popular actor Thanassis Veggos dies at 84". Kathimerini newspaper. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07.
"Γιατί μπήκε στο νοσοκομείο ο Θανάσης Βέγγος, βιογραφικό" [Why Thanasis Veggos enters in hospital (his biography)]. fimes.gr (in Greek). 2010-12-22. Archived from the original on 2019-01-23.
^ "Αντίο καλέ μας άνθρωπε" [Goodbye our good man]. enet.gr (in Greek). Eleftherotypia. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2018-04-15.
"Θανάσης Βέγγος". Finos Film (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
"Με αγάπησαν 4 εκατομμύρια άνθρωποι και με μίσησαν τρεις: Ο Θανάσης Βέγγος μέσα από δύο σπάνιες συνεντεύξεις του" [They have loved me 4 million people and they have hated me three: Thanasis Veggos through two rare interviews with him]. LiFO (in Greek). 2017-06-14. Archived from the original on 2021-05-29.
"Θανάσης Βέγγος: Μαχητής της ζωής ‒ εργάτης της Τέχνης" [Thanasis Veggos: Fighter of life and art worker]. Rizospastis (in Greek). 2011-04-11. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09.
Λαζαρίδου, Ελένη (2020-03-01). "Θανάσης Βέγγος: Δεν έχω χρόνο να μισώ αυτούς που με μισούν, γιατί είμαι απασχολημένος αγαπώντας αυτούς που με αγαπούν" [Thanasis Veggos: I do not have time to hate those who are hate me, because I am busy loving those are love me]. Max Mag. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25.
^ "Great Greek actor Thanasis Veggos passes away". Greek Reporter. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2021-07-16.
"Ο Ν. Κούνδουρος για τη φιλία του με το Θ. Βέγγο" [Film director Nikos Koundouros about his friendship with Thanasis Veggos]. Star (in Greek). 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11.
"Κυριακάτικο Ξύπνημα" [Windfall in Athens]. cine.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2017-08-02.
^ "Windfall in Athens (1956)". IMDb.
^ "Thanasis Vengos: Awards at Thessaloniki Film Festival". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.
"Αντίο, καλέ μου άνθρωπε: Έφυγε ο Θανάσης Βέγγος" [Goodbye our good man: Thanasis Veggos passes away]. zoomnews.gr (in Greek). 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
"Thanasis Vengos (Veggos) films starring". letterboxd.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31.
"Θανάσης Βέγγος, Πτώχευσε και έχασε το σπίτι του, επειδή τον 'έπνιξαν' οι δανειστές και η εφορία, Ποιος τον έσωσε από την καταστροφή" [Thanasis Veggos went bankrupt and lost his house, because lenders and the tax authorities had drawned him, who save him from the disaster]. mixanitouxronou.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
Vasilopoulos, Christos (2017-09-14). "Η Μηχανή του Χρόνου – Θανάσης Βέγγος – Α΄ Μέρος" [Greece's state broadcaster ERT's documentary program Mixani tou Chronou – Thanasis Veggos – Part A]. Mηχανή του Χρόνου (video 44min:42sec) (in Greek). Athens. ERT. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09 – via YouTube.
Vasilopoulos, Christos (2017-09-19). "Η Μηχανή του Χρόνου – Θανάσης Βέγγος – B΄ Μέρος" [Greece's state broadcaster ERT's documentary program Mixani tou Chronou – Thanasis Veggos – Part B]. Mηχανή του Χρόνου (video 50min:20sec) (in Greek). Αθήνα. ERT. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09 – via YouTube.
"Thanasis Vengos". cinehook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02.
"Στην Αμοργό τελικά η τελευταία κατοικία του Θανάση Βέγγου" [In Amorgos island finally Thanasis Veggos was interred]. gossip-tv.gr (in Greek). 2011-05-09. Archived from the original on 2011-05-13.
"Τα νυχτερινά σχολεία της ζωής" [The night schools of the life]. choicetv.gr (in Greek). 2011-04-13. Archived from the original on 2011-04-15.
"The Calm Days of August (1991) awards". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2021-12-28.
"Thanassis Veggos dies at 84". Athens News. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21.

External links

Website dedicated to Thanasis Veggos - veggos.gr
Thanassis Veggos Filmography at 90lepta.com
Thanassis Veggos Filmography at retrodb.gr
Thanasis Veggos at IMDb

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