Panagiotis Karnatsos

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Panagiotis (“Takis”) Karnatsos was born in Athens on April 26, 1946. Alongside his rich artistic activity, his private life remained far from the public eye. There are no published details about his family circumstances or personal relationships.

The absence of further information about his private life perhaps reflects his choice to focus on his creative path and to keep his personality protected from the public sphere.

As a painter, Panagiotis Karnatsos left his own mark by successfully presenting his work in solo exhibitions in Athens. Today, his creations adorn the Vorré Museum as well as selected private collections, capturing the sensitivity and depth of his artistic vision.

His contributions to set design and costume design were equally significant. Through his long and fruitful collaboration with Dimitris Potamitis’s “Theatro Erevnas,” his artistic signature was recognized and honored by critics. His work brought to life numerous theatrical productions, including Peter Shaffer’s The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck, Molière’s Scapin’s Deceits, Pierre Beaumarchais’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Pierre Alves Cardoso’s The Double Exile, among others.

Panagiotis Karnatsos was honored with two National Theatre Awards for his productions Robin of the Park and Penthouse with a View of the Park, sealing his talent in modern theatre creation.

His love for children led him to devote himself especially to writing children’s plays, all of which were included in UNICEF’s special edition on Children’s Theatre, edited by Xenia Kalogeropoulou.

Original works and translations of his appeared successfully in productions by distinguished companies and artists—such as Dimitris Potamitis, Zoi Laskari, Martha Karagianni, Kostas Karras, Nikos Galanos—and by the State Theatre of Northern Greece, confirming the timeless appeal of his pen.

As an actor, Karnatsos was a core member of Dimitris Potamitis’s “Theatro Erevnas” for many years, lending his talent to a host of landmark productions. A standout moment in his career was his role as Pilate in the unforgettable 1979 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, directed by Mimis Plessas at the Kalouta Theatre.

With the same passion for the arts, he taught acting both at the Eugenia Chatzikou Drama School and at his own theatre studio, passing on his knowledge and experience to younger generations.

On radio and television he developed a rich and multifaceted activity. He not only distinguished himself as an actor in series such as For Honor and Money, Crucifixion without Resurrection, The Tower of Moscowites, Parallel Roads, Hard Nuts, Myrto, The Unacceptables, The Lefkas Man and others, but also as a writer and screenwriter. He created musical–dance celebratory programs and TV shows for Giorgos Marinos on HRTV’s “Monday Theatre,” in children’s slots on ERT, and on the daily series Parallel Roads on Mega Channel, in collaboration with Kali Karatza. Simultaneously, he penned radio revues on ERA-2 and stood out as a director, radio producer, and presenter, leaving his own imprint on Greek media.

For many years, Karnatsos worked almost exclusively with Walt Disney Pictures, undertaking the Greek adaptation of the dialogue and songs for some of the most classic animated films that shaped our childhood. Among the emblematic films to which he contributed are Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Bambi, The Rescuers, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Mickey, Donald, and many more—bringing these enchanting stories to Greek audiences with love and dedication.

His collaboration with Warner Bros. included the film Thumbelina, and as an actor he took part with great passion in dubbing many of these beloved films, as well as in Warner’s animated series such as Merry Melodies Specials and Looney Tunes, lending voice and soul to a world full of imagination and color.

Karnatsos’s foray into songwriting came about by chance, as he himself said, but proved to be an exceptionally prolific and successful journey. Over the years, his songs found their way into the hearts of the public, earning him four gold and one platinum record, and his catalog surpassed 500 songs.

Specializing in artful love lyrics as well as theatrical and satirical verse, he collaborated with some of the greatest Greek artists—Marinella, Giannis Parios, Giannis Poulopoulos, Manolis Mitsias, Jenny Vanno, Stamatis Kokotas, Tania Tsanaklidou, Aleka Kanellidou, Christiana, Duchess, Polina, Mando, Paschalis, Elpida, Dakis, Bessy Argyraki, Evridiki, Kaiti Garbi, and others—and worked with composers such as Giannis Spanos, Giorgos Hatzinasios, Alexis Papadimitriou, Nikos Ignatiadis, among many others. Together, they created enduring songs like “Ta Matia Sou,” “Pos,” “Mathame Ton Erota,” “Itan Lathos,” “An M’ Agapas,” “File,” “Nychta Einai, Tha Perasei,” and many more.

Beyond his work for the general public, Karnatsos also wrote satirical texts and songs for the stage revues of Giorgos Marinos and Marinella. Many of his songs were performed by iconic figures of Greek music, such as Aliki Vougiouklaki. He also appeared on records as a performer or narrator, lending his voice and personality to works that left an indelible mark.

Panagiotis Karnatsos died at only 50 years old, on April 17, 1996. His funeral was held at Zografou Cemetery.