Olympia Dukakis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olympia Dukakis
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Dukakis in 2019
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| Born | June 20, 1931 Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | May 1, 2021 (aged 89) New York City, U.S.
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| Education | Boston University (BA, MFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1961–2021 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Michael Dukakis (cousin) |
Olympia Dukakis (June 20, 1931 – May 1, 2021) was a famous American actress. She acted in over 130 plays, more than 60 movies, and 50 TV shows.
Even though she became well-known for her movie roles, she started her career in theater. She won an Obie Award in 1963 for her amazing performance in a play called Man Equals Man.
Later, she moved into film acting. She won an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) and a Golden Globe Award for her role in the movie Moonstruck (1987). She also received nominations for other awards, like the Golden Globe for Sinatra (1992) and Emmy Awards for other TV shows.
In 2003, Olympia Dukakis wrote a book about her life called Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress. A movie about her life, called Olympia, came out in 2018.
Early Life and Education
Olympia Dukakis was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on June 20, 1931. Her parents, Alexandra and Constantine, were immigrants from Greece. Her father came from Anatolia, and her mother was from the Peloponnese. She had a younger brother named Apollo.
When she was a girl, Olympia was very good at sports. She was a three-time New England champion in fencing. She went to Arlington High School in Arlington, Massachusetts.
She studied at Boston University and first earned a degree in physical therapy. She used this skill to help patients with polio during a big outbreak. Later, she went back to Boston University and earned another degree in performing arts.
Career Highlights
On Stage
Olympia Dukakis started her acting career in theater in 1961. She performed in plays at the Williamstown Summer Theater. She quickly became known for her talent.
In 1963, she won an Obie Award for her role in Man Equals Man. She continued to perform on stage for many years. She even acted in plays in Central Park at the famous Delacorte Theater in New York City. Her last stage performance was in 2013, when she played Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children.
With her husband, Louis Zorich, and other actors, she helped start the Whole Theater Company in 1973. Olympia was the artistic director, which means she helped choose the plays and guide the actors. The company put on many plays each year for almost 20 years. Famous actors like Samuel L. Jackson performed there.
Olympia Dukakis also directed many plays. She directed classic plays like Uncle Vanya and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. She also performed in plays on Broadway theatre. In 2000, she won an award for her solo performance in the play Rose, where she played a woman who survived the Warsaw Ghetto.
On Screen
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Olympia Dukakis appeared in many popular movies. These include Steel Magnolias, Mr. Holland's Opus, and Moonstruck. For her role in Moonstruck, she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
The director of Moonstruck, Norman Jewison, believed she would win awards for her role. He was right! Besides her Oscar, she also won a Golden Globe for the same movie. She played Rose Castorini, a strong and funny mother. Her performance was both serious and hilarious.
She also had important roles on television. She played Anna Madrigal in the Tales of the City television mini-series, which earned her an Emmy Award nomination. She also played Dolly Sinatra in a TV series about Frank Sinatra's life.
In 2006, she appeared in the movie Away From Her. She played a character whose spouse had Alzheimer's disease. In 2002, she even lent her voice to an episode of The Simpsons.
In 2013, Olympia Dukakis received a special honor. She got the 2,498th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2019, she played Anna Madrigal again in a new Netflix version of Tales of The City.
A documentary film about her life, also called Olympia, was released in 2018. It featured interviews with famous people like Whoopi Goldberg and Laura Linney. Her last movie role was in the 2021 film Not to Forget.
Personal Life
In 1962, Olympia Dukakis married Louis Zorich, who was also an actor. They moved to Montclair, New Jersey, in 1970 and raised their three children there: Christina, Peter, and Stefan. They had four grandchildren.
In her book, Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress, Olympia Dukakis wrote about her experiences growing up as a Greek-American. She also taught acting for 15 years at NYU. She also taught special classes for actors and theater companies across the country. She received the National Arts Club Medal of Honor for her contributions to the arts.
Olympia Dukakis was a strong supporter of women's rights and LGBT rights, which means she believed in fairness and equal treatment for all people. She often spoke about topics like life in the theater and feminism.
Death
Olympia Dukakis passed away at her home in Manhattan on May 1, 2021. She was 89 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Olympia Dukakis para niños
