From Irene Papas to Vangelis Papathanassiou, 2022 was marked by the loss of a number of great Greek figures.
At the end of the year, The Greek Herald commemorates six Greek celebrities who passed away this year.
Vangelis Papathanassiou
Oscar-winning Greek composer Vangelis Papathanassiou, known worldwide as Vangelis, died in Paris on May 17 at the age of 79.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other government officials expressed their condolences when news of Vangelis’ death broke.
“Vangelis Papathanassiou is no longer with us,” Mitsotakis tweeted, later adding in a statement that Vangelis “has embarked on his great journey,” from where he will always “send us his music.”
Singer, Dakis
Legendary Greek pop singer Dakis died on May 29 at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer.
Dakis, whose full name is Vrassidas Haralambidis, was born in 1943 in Alexandria, Egypt. He came to Greece in 1963 and a year later he started singing in clubs.
Among his most popular songs were “Monsieur Cannibal”, “You want out, you don’t want” and other songs in Greek.
Kostas Kazakos
Prominent Greek actor, director and politician Kostas Kazakos died on September 13 in Athens at the age of 87.
During his early career he worked with several theater companies and booked supporting roles in films before his big break came in 1967 when he landed the lead role in the film Kontserto gia Polyvola with Tzeni Karezi.
He suffered from a chronic respiratory disease and had been a patient at Evangelismos Hospital in the Greek capital since July this year. His death was attributed to multiple organ failure.
Irene popes
Legendary Greek actress Irene Papas died on September 14 at the age of 96.
The actress has starred in over 70 films in a career spanning more than 50 years. In 1961, Pappas starred in The Guns of Navarone and in 1964 in Cacoyannis’ Zorba the Greek, which catapulted her to international fame. One of her last film appearances was in 2001’s Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
In 2018 it was announced that she had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for five years.
Martha Karagianni.
One of the most famous actresses of Greek cinema and theater, Martha Karagianni, died on September 18 at the age of 82.
In a statement after her death, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said her death “marks the end of the ‘golden age’ of Greek cinema”.
“She was a woman who excelled in spontaneity and directness. Their presence has brought us joy, beauty and laughter and will continue to bring us joy,” Mendoni said.
Jennifer Aniston with her father John Aniston in 2012.
The Emmy-winning daytime soap opera star and father of Jennifer Aniston, John Aniston, died on November 11 at the age of 89.
In a tribute posted to Instagram, Jennifer announced that he passed Veterans Day.
“Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston. You were one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever known. I’m so grateful you ascended to heaven in peace — and without pain,” she wrote.
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