Thanasis Veggos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thanasis Veggos
Θανάσης Βέγγος |
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Thanasis Veggos as "Out-in-the-open Agent" (1967) (secret agent "007" spoof)
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| Born | 29 May 1927 |
| Died | 3 May 2011 (aged 83) Athens, Greece
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| Nationality | Greek |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1955–2011 |
| Spouse(s) |
Asimina Veggos
(m. 1956) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the Phoenix |
Thanasis Veggos (pronounced: Thanássis Véngos) was a famous Greek actor and director. He was born in Neo Faliro, Piraeus, on May 29, 1927, and passed away on May 3, 2011. Thanasis Veggos acted in about 130 movies, mostly comedies, during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. He was the main star in more than 50 of these films. Many people think he was one of the best Greek comedy actors ever! His funny catchphrase was Καλέ μου άνθρωπε, which means "My good man."
Contents
Thanasis Veggos: Early Life
Thanasis Veggos was the only son of a man who worked at a power station. His father was part of the Greek Resistance during World War II. This group fought against the people who had taken over Greece at the time. Thanasis's father helped protect the Piraeus power station from being destroyed in 1944. Because of his father's actions, the family faced some tough times after the war.
Thanasis's real family name was Βέγκος. He once said he spelled it with γγ because it looked better. When he was young, Thanasis was part of a youth group called EPON. Because of this, he had to serve his military time on a famous prison island called Makronisos from 1948 to 1950. While there, he met a film director named Nikos Koundouros, who was also on the island. This meeting would later help him start his acting career.
His Amazing Acting Career
Thanasis Veggos first appeared in a movie called Windfall in Athens in 1954. Nikos Koundouros, the director he met on Makronisos, gave him a role in another film, Magiki polis, that same year. His first big role was in Psila ta heria Hitler ("Hands Up, Hitler") in 1962. After that, he starred in many more movies.
Awards and Famous Roles
Thanasis Veggos was very popular. For his acting in What did you do in the war, Thanasi? (1971), audiences in Thessaloniki loved him! This movie also won three awards at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. He often played everyday people who were trying their best to get by. But he also played different kinds of characters, even in serious dramas and ancient Greek plays by Aristophanes. Many of his characters were even named "Thanasis"!
He often worked with directors Panos Glykofridis and Giorgos Lazaridis. In 1995, a famous director named Theo Angelopoulos cast Thanasis Veggos alongside American actor Harvey Keitel in a movie called "Ulysses Gaze." In 1997, he performed live at the ancient Epidaurus theatre.
Incredible Stunts and His Own Company
Thanasis Veggos was known for doing all his own stunts! Even the really dangerous ones. He would hang from ropes high up, walk through glass doors, or fall headfirst down stairs. He never used a stunt double!
During the "Golden Sixties" of Greek cinema, he made his most famous comedy films. These included movies like Secret Agent 000, Papatrehas, and Enas trellos Vengos (which means "One crazy Veggos"). Many of these funny movies were made by his own company, Θ-Β Comedies, which he started in 1964.
Later Years and Legacy
In 2000, Thanasis Veggos was in a car accident involving a train, but he survived. After that, he even appeared in commercials to encourage people to drive safely. A documentary about his life, called A Man for All Seasons, was made in 2004.
In 2008, the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias, gave Thanasis Veggos a special award called the Commander of the Order of the Phoenix. This is a very high honor.
Thanasis Veggos passed away on May 3, 2011, after being in the hospital since December 2010. He will always be remembered for his more than 120 films and documentaries. In Greece, people even have a saying: "τρέχει σαν το Βέγγο" (which means "runs like Veggos"). This is because he ran so much and so fast in his many funny, slapstick comedies!
Personal Life
Thanasis Veggos was married to Asimina, and they had two sons. He was a dedicated family man.
Honors and Awards
Thanasis Veggos received many awards for his amazing work:
- 1962: Hellenic Association of Film Critics Award
- 1971: Best Actor Award at the 12th Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for What Did You Do in the War, Thanasis?
- 1971: Hellenic Association of Film Critics Award for What Did You Do in the War, Thanasis?
- 1972: Best Actor Award at the 13th Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for Thanasis Take Your Gun
- 1973: Best Actor Award at the 14th Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for The Charlatan
- 1991: Audience Award at the Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema for The Calm Days of August
- 1993: Lifetime Achievement Award from the Thessaloniki Festival of Greek Cinema
- 2002: The Municipality of Korydallos named a theatre Thanasis Veggos Theatre in his honor.
- 2008: The Municipality of Piraeus named Evangelismou Square Thanasis Veggos Square.
- 2008: Commander of the Order of the Phoenix from the President of Greece.
- 2008: Faces Award from the TV Magazine of Ethnos.
- 2010: Lifetime Achievement Award from Status Magazine.
- 2010: Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hellenic Film Academy.
Television Series
Thanasis Veggos also acted in TV shows in the 1990s and 2000s. In these roles, he often played a wise older person who gave advice to younger characters.
- 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
Thanasis Veggos also performed on stage in many plays:
- 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
Images for kids
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Thanasis Veggos as "Out-in-the-open Agent" (1967)
