Sotiris Moustakas
Sotiris Moustakas (Greek: Σωτήρης Μουστάκας) (17 September 1940 – 4 June 2007) was a Cypriot actor born in Limassol. His acting career lasted for over five decades, with 1960s–80s as his most successful years. He was described as an "Actor without a Label" cause of his variety of playing in theatrical plays (many different genres), films, television movies, television series, videotape/videocassette movies and many more with great reviews and success in all of them. He became internationally famous with his role "Mimithos" in 1964 Oscar-winning film Zorba the Greek. After that he became a national star in Greece, being part of the Golden Age of the Greek Cinema (1950s–1970s). His last cinema performance was in 2007 Goya Award-winning film El Greco, where he played "Titian". He gave his voice in the greek translation of 2007 Disney film Meet the Robinsons, as his last role. He mainly played comedy roles throughout his career. Moustakas was regarded as one of the greatest Greek comedian actors in history.
Sotiris Moustakas | |
|---|---|
 Moustakas in the movie Enas nomotagis politis (1974). | |
| Born | Sotiris Moustakas 17 September 1940 |
| Died | 4 June 2007 (aged 66) |
| Years active | 1964-2007 |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Bonellou (?-2007) (his death) (1 child) |
Early life
He was born in Limassol, Cyprus.
Career
One of the most significant comic actors of Greece and Cyprus, Moustakas graduated from the National Theater of Greece and was known for his portrayal of offbeat, neurotic yet likable characters. In many of his movies he portrayed multiple roles. He appeared primarily in modern films and plays, although he also performed several roles in classical works.
Moustakas' international film debut came in 1964 in the Oscar-winning Zorba the Greek starring Anthony Quinn, in which he played Mimithos, the village idiot. For that film Moustakas lost his Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor only for two more minutes of filming. As Moustakas said, they had filmed many more minutes of playing, but they didn't put all the scenes on the film's final cut.
Although his recent work was mainly in the theatre, he also had a role in the 2007 film El Greco.
Political activities
Although not widely advertised, Moustakas in his youth was involved in the Greek Cypriot national liberation struggle of EOKA against British colonialism, acting as a messenger, and writing political graffiti. During that period, he was arrested by the British and spent 7 months in jail.[1]
Death
Moustakas felt unwell during rehearsals for an upcoming Aristophanes play, and was transferred to the General State Hospital of Athens. He was taken to the intensive care unit, where he died in the early morning hours of 4 June 2007. At his funeral, his coffin was draped with a Greek flag.
Personal life
He was married to the Greek actress Maria Bonellou, with whom he had a daughter.
Filmography
- El Greco (2007)
- "Haidemena paidia, Ta" (2001) TV Series
- Ti vraki tha paradossis mori? (2001) (TV)
- Petsi kai kokali (2000) (TV)
- "Aparadektoi, Oi" (1 episode) - Epitheorisi (????) TV Episode
- Alepous, O (1990) (V) .... Alepous
- Kapetan Fortounas (1989) (V)
- Mia treli treli nychta (1989) (V) .... Sokratis Leonardos
- Jogadoros, O (1989) (V)
- Peinasmenos kai jenleman (1989) (V)
- Diariktis me to zori (1988) (V) .... Michalis Papadimitrakopoulos
- Andrea prohora (1988) (V)
- Enas trelos tha mas sossei (1988) (V)
- Varis glykos kai meraklis (1988) (V)
- Erastis gia 11 nihtes (1988) (V)
- Tolmi kai afassia (1988) (V)
- Mhn to paizeis ypourge! (1988) (V)
- Pantremenos me pethera (1987) (V) .... Pantelis
- Kourio o Periklis (1987) (V)
- Tsitsiolinos, O (1987)
- Dynasteias, O (1986) .... Bebis Karinkopoulos/Dionisakis 'Tarzan' Karinkopoulos/Odysseas
- Roz gatos, O (1986) .... Archimidis Mantouvalos/Efterpi
- Merikes ton protimoun... ilektroniko (1986) .... Telis/Paraskevas
- Touvla, Ta (1985)
- Mitsos, o rezilis (1984) .... Mitsos ... a.k.a. Glykopseftis, O (Greece: TV title)
- An itan to violi pouli... (1984) .... Lefteris Paganikakis
- Kai aftos to violi tou (1984) (V)
- Psonio, To (1983)
- Paizo kai poly andras, To (1983)
- Pater Gomenios (1982)
- Kamikazi tsantakias, O (1982) .... Poseidonas
- Ego... kai to pouli mou (1982) .... Kokos ... a.k.a. Knock out ston erota (Greece: TV title)
- 'Nona', I (1981) .... Thiseas Doxapatris/Nona
... a.k.a. Nona enantion mafiozou (Greece: video title)
- Megalo routhouni, To (1981) .... Alexandros/Thiseas Doxapatris
- Kathenas me tin trella tou... (1980) .... Sotiris
- Parthenokynigos, O (1980)
- Gefsi apo Ellada! (1980)
- Gynaikes sta opla (1979) .... President
- Enas nomotagis politis (1974) .... Grigoris Monahogios
- Thymios enantion Tsitsou (1971) .... Timolis ... a.k.a. Dyo sainia, Ta (Greece: TV title) ... a.k.a. Thymios enantion olon (Greece: TV title)
- Arhipseftaros (1971) .... Paminos
- Gia mia choufta Touristries (1971)
- Andres xeroun n' agapoun, Oi (1971) ... a.k.a. To timima tis agapis (Greece: video box title)
- Paidi tis mamas, To (1970)
- Tyhi mou trelathike, I (1970)
- Ahaireftos, O (1970)
- Anastenazoun oi penies (1970)
- Ena asteio koritsi (1970)
- Pethaino kathe ximeroma (1969)
- Xypna koroido (1969)
- Oraia tou kourea, I (1969)
- Fovatai o Yannis to therio (1969) ... a.k.a. Tha pao stin zougla me ton Tarzan
- Athina, i klopi tis odou Stadiou (1968) .... Sotos ... a.k.a. Nude as a Trap
- Petheropliktos, O (1968)
- Psihoula tou kosmou, Ta (1968)
- Tsahpinis, O (1968)
- Boufos, O (1968)
- Tha ta kapso, ta lefta mou (1968) .... Kleon Karapanos
- Mnistires tis Pinelopis, Oi (1968) .... Filippos
- Martha (1967) .... Hector
- Kalos ilthe to dollario (1967) .... Henry
- Gia tin kardia tis oraias Elenis (1967) ... a.k.a. Theotrella neiata... xemoramena geramata (Greece: reissue title)
- Kori tis Pentagiotissas, I (1967)
- Erotes sti Lesvo (1967) ... a.k.a. Thanatos ehase to paihnidi, O (Greece)
- Adiki katara (1967)
- Modistros, O (1967)
- Kosmos trellathike..., O (1967) .... Pythagoras
- Kolonaki: Diagogi miden (1967) .... Pavlos Aspromallis
- Hazobabas, O (1967)
- Une balle au coeur (1966) ... a.k.a. A Bullet Through the Heart (International: English title) ... a.k.a. Devil at My Heels (USA) ... a.k.a. Mia sfaira stin kardia (Greece)
- Fos... Nero... Tilefono, Oikopeda me doseis (1966)
- Na zi kaneis i na mi zi? (1966) .... Solomon
- Fifis, o aktypitos (1966)
- Beethoven kai bouzouki (1965)
- Prosopo tis imeras, To (1965)
- Alexis Zorbas (1964) .... Mimithos ... a.k.a. Zorba the Greek (USA)
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Panathinea" Theatre Award | Best Actor | Hamlet | Won |
| 1996 | "Papadoukas" Award | Best Actor | Two Jobs | Won |
| 2003 | Karolos Koun Award | Lifetime Achievement Award | For his contribution in Greek revue theatre | Won |
External links
References
- Η τελευταία πρόβα του Μουστάκα Newspaper article in Simerini, June 05, 2007 (in Greek) Archived August 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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