Giannis Michalopoulos
Giannis Michalopoulos (Athens, April 22, 1927 – Kifisia, Attica, June 10, 2016) was a prominent Greek actor with a long and multifaceted career in theater, cinema, television, and radio. Modest and low-key, he had a fifty-year journey in the theater and became especially beloved by the public for his characteristic comic roles.
Biography and Early Life
He was born in Athens and began his career as a radio announcer. He served in that role for ten years (1952–1962) at the then National Radio Foundation (EIR), also participating in numerous theatrical radio broadcasts. Later, he turned to acting and studied at the Drama School of the National Theatre of Greece. He graduated in 1951, playing the role of Octavius in Carlo Goldoni’s comedy Le Donne Curiose (The Curious Women).
His professional stage debut occurred in the same year, 1951, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus with Linos Karzis' Thymelic Theatre Company, performing in Aristophanes’ Lysistrata as the chorus leader of the old men. This was followed by a three-year collaboration with the renowned theater company of Elli Lambeti and Dimitris Horn, with whom he developed a close friendship.
Theater
Up until 2002, he participated in dozens of theatrical productions—primarily comedies and revues—collaborating with major figures of Greek theater, such as Dimitris Myrat, Vassilis Diamantopoulos, Marios Alkeos, Lambros Konstantaras, Kostas Voutsas, and many others. He also appeared in televised stage plays.
In 1966, he was honored by the Society of Greek Playwrights for his contribution to modern Greek comedy. Additionally, Maria Psatha awarded him for his performances in the works of her father, Dimitris Psathas.
Cinema
Although he typically played supporting roles in films, he managed to stand out through his dynamic and full-bodied performances. His first film appearance was in The Man for All Jobs (O Anthropos Gia Oles Tis Douleies, 1966) directed by Giorgos Konstantinou.
Television
He starred in many TV series, with a standout performance in Orkisteíte Parakaló (Swear, Please, 1982), where he played a judge in over 90 episodes. His pompous legal speeches and satire earned him widespread recognition.
His television debut was in the series Mr. Advocate (O Kyrios Synigoros, 1970–1972), which he also directed. It was the first comedy series on Greek television. For many, his portrayal of lawyer Dimos Thenis Parlato in 256 fifteen-minute episodes was his most iconic role. Memorable "clients" included Mr. Strifoboumboulas (Philemon Methymakis) and Mikes (Giannis Vogiatzis), while his secretary in the office was Eleni Mavromati.
Personal Life
He was married to Eleni Michalopoulou. Their wedding sponsors were Elli Lambeti and Dimitris Horn. Together they had two children, Artemis and Leonidas, and remained together until her death, which occurred three years before his own passing.
Death
He passed away on June 10, 2016, at the age of 89, at KAT Hospital, following leg surgery. Despite an initial recovery, he suffered cardiac arrest a few hours later. In the last years of his life, he faced serious health issues. He was buried in the Zografou cemetery, in the presence of family, friends, and colleagues.
Filmography
Year – Film – Role
1966 – A Man for All Jobs – John Papas
A Wish I Were a Man – Savas Makrocheris
1967 – Youth of a Penny – Paschalis Avramidis
Ah! My Wife – Charilaos
1970 – A Crazy, Crazy Forty-Year-Old – Orestis Salveris
Stavros is Cunning! – Petros Fokas
My Aunt the Hippie – Pete
1971 – The Trickster – Miltos Kladaras
1973–1975 – The Children of Zebedee – Stathis Zebedaios
1979 – The Lottery Man – Karolos
1980 – The Virgin Hunter – Ioakeim Ioakeim
1981 – The Sex Hunter – Priest
Wild Hens – TV Director
Second-Class Citizens – Vardogiannis
1982–1987 – Swear, Please! – Court President
1983 – Gypsy Band – Judge
One Thousand Cubic Madness – Lazaros
1984 – And He Kept Playing His Fiddle – Court President
1986 – One Crazy, Crazy Rascal – Aristeidis Andreadis
The Unbeatable – Andronikos Nikolaou
The Lover of Hunger – Kostas Sainis
Theatrical Performances
1977 – The Germans Strike Again
1978 – The Method of the Three
1995 – The Thief Shouts
1996 – The Servant of Two Masters
Supplementary Table of Theatrical Performances Featuring Michalopoulos as Actor
Theatre
Yiannis Michalopoulos participated in major theatrical productions from the 1950s to the late 1990s, performing a variety of roles in works of different styles and directorial approaches. During the 1952/1953 season, he appeared in the plays Agapoula and Deep Blue Sea, portraying Franz Gruber and Philip Welch respectively. Both productions were staged by the troupe of Elli Lambeti, Giorgos Pappas, and Dimitris Horn at the Kyveli Theater, directed by Marios Ploritis.
In the 1958/1959 season, he played José Ustigios in the play The State of God, with Dimitris Myrat’s troupe, at the Diana Theater, under Myrat’s own direction. The following year (1959/1960), he portrayed the King in A Nameless Tale and Balboa in Trees Die Standing, with the New Theatre troupe and directed by Vasilis Diamantopoulos.
During the 1961/1962 season, he collaborated with Dimitris Horn’s troupe at the Central Theater, playing Ouspar in Traveller Without Luggage and Iakovos in Thomas the Two-Souled, both directed by Horn himself.
In the 1963/1964 season, he appeared in My Widow and I: A Comedy in 3 Acts and 4 Scenes, playing Arnold Nash, with Andreas Maroulidis Theatrical Enterprises, at Gloria Theater, directed by Michalis Bouchlis. In 1964/1965 and again in 1965/1966, he returned to the role of Paschalis in Youth of a Penny, initially with the Christina Silva Hellenic Popular Stage at Minoa Theater and later with Vaggelis Livadas Theatrical Enterprises at Amirale Theater, both directed by Dimitris Nikolaidis.
Finally, during the 1996/1997 season, he played Pantalone in The Servant of Two Masters, with the Dromena Theatrical Organization, at Katia Dandoulaki Theater, directed by Konstantinos Arvanitakis.
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