( 29 May 1927 – 3 May 2011)
Background
Veggos was the only son of a power station employee who had fought with the Greek Resistance in World War II.[2] He served his compulsory military service on Makronisos from 1948 to 1950.[5] On Makronisos he met film director Nikos Koundouros who was exiled there.[6][7]Life and career
Veggos' first appearance in a film was in Windfall in Athens, produced by Mihalis Kakogiannis, which premiered in Athens as Kiriakatiko Xsipnima on 11 January 1954.[8][9] Nikos Koundouros gave him a role in Magiki polis in 1955.[2][6] His first major role was in Psila ta heria Hitler ("Hands Up, Hitler"), 1962.[6] He often played everyman characters struggling to get by, but he has played anti-heroes, he has acted in pure dramas, and on stage in the comedies of Aristophanes.[2] His characters were often self-named "Thanasis". He often worked with director Giorgos Lazaridis. In 1995, Theo Angelopoulos cast Veggos and American actor Harvey Keitel in "Ulysses Gaze".[10] In 1997, in the role of Dikaiopoli he appeared in a live performance at the ancient Epidaurus theatre.[11] When he used his catchphrase "Καλέ μου άνθρωπε" he brought the house down.In 2000, he survived a car accident involving a collision with a train.[6] He later participated in advertisements promoting road safety.[6]
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 films such as the sequel of Secret Agent 000, Papatrehas, Enas trellos Vengos and many others, most of them by his own company Θ-Β Comedies (Θ-Β Tainies Geliou).[2]
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.[2]
Legacy
He is survived by his wife Asimina and two sons.[2] He will always be remembered in the more than 120 films and more recent documentaries that he starred in.[2] The phrase "τρέχει σάν τόν Βέγγο" (English translation: "runs like Veggo") has been adopted in to common usage in the Greek language since nobody has run more or faster than Veggo in his many slapstick comedies.[12]Filmography
Early movies
- Kiriakatiko Xsipnima (premiered 1954), Windfall in Athens (1956)[9]
- Magiki Polis (1955), Magic City[2]
- Katadikasmeni ki apo to paidi tis (1955), Condemned even by her child!!!!
- O Drakos (1956), The dragon
- 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
- Maria i Pentagiotissa (1957), Maria the Pentagiotissa
- 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), O Karagiozis
- 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
- To rantevou tis Kyriakis (1960), The Sunday appointment
- Ta dervisopaida (1960), The dervish boys
- To klotsoskoufi (1960), The plaything
- Mandalena (1960), Mandalena
- Pothoi sta stachya (1960), Desires in the hay
- Erotika paichnidia (1960), Erotic games
- Pote tin Kyriaki (1960), Never on a Sunday
- 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
Leading roles
- Psila ta heria, Hitler (1962), Stick them up, Hitler
- Oi yperifanoi (1962), The proud ones
- 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 Panai ?
- Gabros gia klamata (1962), Pathetic son-in-law
- Anysicha niata (1963), Anxious youth
- O Yppolitos kai to violi tou (1963), Yppolitos 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 one
- O trelaras (1963), The nutcase
- To tyhero 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
- Faneros Praktor 000 (1967), Out-in-the-open Agent 000[5]
- 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), Who Thanasis
- Ena asyllipto koroido (1969), An amazing dupe
- Thou-Vou falakros praktor , epicheirisis gis madiam (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), Thanasis 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 Thanasis sti hora tis sfaliaras (1976), Thanasis in the land of slap
- Apo pou pane gia havouza ; (1978), Whats 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
- 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
- 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
- To vlemma tou Odyssea (1995), Ulysses' Gaze[10]
- Vimata (1996), Steps
- Ola einai dromos (1998), Everything is a journey
- To ainigma (1998), The riddle
- Psychi vathia (2009), Deep Soul[2]
- 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
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
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