George Kotsonaros

George Kotsonaros (Greek: Γεώργιος Κωτσονάρος; born October 16, 1892 in Nafplio, Greece; died July 13, 1933 in Eutaw, Alabama) was a Greek-born professional wrestler and film actor. He acted mostly in silent pictures. His original name was Giorgios Demetrios Kotsonaros; he emigrated to the United States in July 1910.

His swarthy, menacing face—and pugilist's rearranged nose—got him many roles as a tough guy or a prizefighter at a time when boxing movies were a flourishing subgenre due to the sport's huge popularity with the public.

Most of Kotsonaros's films are today considered lost, as is the case with most silent films. Later, Kotsonaros began a career in professional wrestling. On July 13, 1933, Kotsonaros was driving through Alabama when his car overturned, killing him.[1]

Filmography

• Honeymoon Lane (1931) as Nolay
• Dangerous Paradise (1930) as Pedro
  a.k.a. Two Against Death (USA: alternative title)
• The Body Punch (1929) as Paul Steinert
• The Shakedown (1929) as Battling Roff
• We Faw Down (1928) as One-Round Kelly (uncredited)
  a.k.a. We Slip Up (UK)
• Beggars of Life (1928) as Baldy (uncredited)
• Street of Sin (1928) as Iron Mike
• The Fifty-Fifty Girl (1928) as Buck (the Gorilla Man)
• The Love Mart (1927) as Fleming Henchman (uncredited)
• The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927) as Hector
  a.k.a. Helen of Troy (USA)
• The Wizard (1927) as The Gorilla
• King of the Jungle (1927, serial)
• Catch-As-Catch-Can (1927) as Butch
• The Tender Hour (1927) as The Wrestler
• When a Man Loves (1927) as Convict Prisoner (uncredited)
  a.k.a. His Lady (UK)
• While London Sleeps (1926) as The Monk
• Cupid's Knockout (1926)
• Vanishing Millions (1926)

References

1. "Kotsonaros Dies in Auto; Actor-Wrestler Killed In Alabama; John Paul Jones Badly Hurt", New York Times, July 14, 1933; Tim Hornbaker, National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling (ECW Press, 2007) p194

External links

• George Kotsonaros on IMDb