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Thanasis Veggos

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
Died3 May 2011(2011-05-03) (aged 83)
Athens, Greece
NationalityGreek
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • company owner
Years active1955–2011
Spouse
Asimina Veggos
​
(m. 1956)​
Children2
AwardsCommander of the Order of the Phoenix
Websitewww.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.[1][2][3] He performed in around 130 films, predominantly comedies in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s,[1] 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").[3][4][5]

Background

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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.[6] 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.[7][8][9]

Career

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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.[10][11] Nikos Koundouros gave him a role in Magiki polis in 1954.[8] His first major role was in Psila ta heria Hitler ("Hands Up, Hitler"), 1962.[8] 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[12] 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.[13] In 2000, he survived a car accident involving a collision with a train.[8] He later participated in advertisements promoting road safety.[8]

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,[14] also with surrealist humor, most of them by his own company Θ-Β Comedies (Θ-Β Tainies Geliou)[15][16][17][18] which he founded in 1964.

In 2008, Veggos was appointed Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias.[1]

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.[19]

Personal life

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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.[20]

Honors and awards

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Filmography

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Early movies

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  • Kiriakatiko Xsipnima (premiered 1954), Windfall in Athens (1956)[11]
  • 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

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Television series

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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.

Theatrical performances and troupes

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Performances

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Troupes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Popular actor Thanassis Veggos dies at 84". Kathimerini newspaper. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b "Αντίο καλέ μας άνθρωπε" [Goodbye our good man]. enet.gr (in Greek). Eleftherotypia. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2018-04-15.
  4. ^ "Θανάσης Βέγγος". Finos Film (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Great Greek actor Thanasis Veggos passes away". Greek Reporter. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2021-07-16.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Κυριακάτικο Ξύπνημα" [Windfall in Athens]. cine.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2017-08-02.
  11. ^ a b "Windfall in Athens (1956)". IMDb.
  12. ^ a b "Thanasis Vengos: Awards at Thessaloniki Film Festival". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Thanasis Vengos (Veggos) films starring". letterboxd.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Thanasis Vengos". cinehook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "The Calm Days of August (1991) awards". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2021-12-28.
  22. ^ "Thanassis Veggos dies at 84". Athens News. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21.
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