Biography
Thanasis Veggos (29 May 1926 – 3 May 2011) was a Greek actor and director born in Neo Faliro, Piraeus. He performed in around 130 films, predominantly comedies in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, starring in more than 50 among them. He is considered one of the best Greek comedy actors of all time. His famous comedic catchphrase was "Καλέ µου άνθρωπε" ("My good man").
Veggos' first appearance in a film was in Windfall in Athens, produced by Mihalis Kakogiannis, which premiered in Athens as Kiriakatiko Xsipnima on 11 January 1954. Nikos Koundouros gave him a role in Magiki polis in 1955. His first major role was in Psila ta heria Hitler ("Hands Up, Hitler"), 1962 and continued many more films. For his acting in What did you do in the war, Thanasi? (1971), the public of Thessaloniki °apotheosized° him and the movie won three awards at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. He often played everyman characters struggling to get by, but he has also played anti-heroes, he has acted in pure dramas, and on stage in the comedies of Aristophanes. His characters were often self-named "Thanasis". He often worked with directors Panos Glykofridis and Giorgos Lazaridis. In 1995, Theo Angelopoulos cast Veggos and American actor Harvey Keitel in "Ulysses Gaze". In 1997, in the role of Dikaiopoli he appeared in a live performance at the ancient Epidaurus theater.
In 2000, he survived a car accident involving a collision with a train. He later participated in advertisements promoting road safety.
A documentary of his life, whose title translates as A Man for All Seasons, was made in 2004. He always did his own stunts including the most dangerous ones, like hanging from a rope tied to a balcony fifty feet above a pavement without anything to break his fall, walking through a glass door, or falling down a stone staircase head first. During the "Golden Sixties" of the Greek film industry he made his most popular comedy films such as the sequel of Secret Agent 000, Papatrehas, Enas trellos Vengos and many others, also with surrealist humor, most of them by his own company Θ-Β Comedies (Θ-Β Tainies Geliou) which founded in 1964.
In 2008, Veggos was appointed Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias.
On 3 May 2011, he died at 7:10 a.m. He had been hospitalized at the Red Cross hospital, in Athens, since 18 December 2010.
He is survived by his wife Asimina and two sons. He will always be remembered in the more than 120 films and more recent documentaries that he starred in. The phrase "τρέχει σαν το Βέγγο" (English translation: "runs like Veggos") has been adopted into common usage in the Greek language since nobody has run more or faster than Veggos in his many slapstick comedies.
Filmography
all 121
Movies 114
TV Shows 7
self 2
The Flight of the Swan (2011)
With Heart & Soul (2009)
Η Θεσσαλονίκη Της Νοσταλγίας Μας (2009)
Έχω ένα μυστικό... (2008)
A Man for Εverything (2004)
Έρωτας όπως έρημος (2003)
Περί Ανέμων Και Υδάτων (2000)
The Enigma (1998)
It's a Long Road (1998)
Ulysses' Gaze (1995)
Quiet Days in August (1991)
Αστυνόμος Θανάσης Παπαθανάσης (1990)
Θανάσης ο Βομβιστής (1990)
To didymo tis symforas (1989)
Deputy police officer named Thanasis (1989)
Champion (1989)
Thanasis the Optimist (1989)
Bed for five (1989)
Βεγγαλικά (1988)
Thanasis in the country of Will (1988)
Crazy of all Greece (1983)
Thanasis and the Cursed Serpent (1982)
The Big Cannon (1981)
Vengos the Crazy Kamikaze (1980)
Thanasi tightened your belt even more (1980)
The Wicked World of Thanasis (1979)
The Bald Student (1979)
Which Way to the Septic Tank? (1978)
Thanasis in the land of the cuff (1976)
Παρασκήνιο (1976)
The Charlatan (1973)
Dictator calls Thanasis (1973)
The Man Who Ran a Lot (1973)
Thanasis, Take Your Gun (1972)
Carefree... Nut (1971)
What Did You Do in the War, Thanassi? (1971)
Holidays in Vietnam (1971)
Thanasis, Juliet and the sausages (1970)
One Vengos for All Jobs (1970)
Thou-Vou Bald Agent, Operation: Havoc (1969)
Who Thanasis! (1969)
An Unbelievable Sucker (1969)
Doctor Z-Vengos (1968)
Come on People (1967)
Help! Vengos Visible Agent '000' (1967)
Crazy, Nuts and Vengos (1967)
Ο Παπατρέχας (1966)
He's a Mad Mad Veggos (1965)
Ο Καταφερτζής (1964)
Out Poverty and Good Heart (1964)
I'll Make You Queen (1964)
The Twins (1964)
School for Sofferines (1964)
The Poor Demons (1964)
With Many Children (1964)
Τύφλα Νάχη ο Μάρλον Μπράντο (1963)
Jack of All Trades, Master of None (1963)
Restless youth (1963)
The lucky pants (1963)
The Madman (1963)
O Ippolytos kai to violi tou (1963)
Min eidate ton Panai? (1962)
Runaway Bride (1962)
Hands Up, Hitler (1962)
Astronauts (1962)
Δουλειές του ποδαριού (1962)
The King of Gaffes (1962)
The Wise Guy (1962)
Hooray for Madness (1962)
The jar (1962)
The Proud (1962)
Γαμπρός για Κλάματα (1962)
Lisa and the Other Woman (1961)
Eftyhos... trellathika! (1961)
A mistake in love (1961)
Liar Wanted (1961)
Lost dreams (1961)
Oi 900 tis Marinas (1961)
Who Is Margarita? (1961)
Οι χαραμοφάηδες (1961)
Διαμάντω (1961)
The mother's curse (1961)
Sharp as a Needle (1961)
Love Games (1960)
The Dawn of Triumph (1960)
Πόθοι στα Στάχυα (1960)
Madalena (1960)
Three Ladies and me (1960)
Μια Του Κλέφτη... (1960)
For You My Love (1960)
Sunday's Date (1960)
Never on Sunday (1960)
Το Κλωτσοσκούφι (1960)
Blind Angel (1960)
Τα ντερβισόπαιδα (1960)
Μήτρος και Μητρούσης στην Αθήνα (1960)
Papadopoulou family (1960)
Οι Δοσατζήδες (1959)
Mousitsa (1959)
The Policeman of the 16th Precinct (1959)
The Uncle from Canada (1959)
Erotic Stories (1959)
Karagiozis, the Wronged One of Life (1959)
Marriage Adventures (1959)
A Water Mrs. Baggelio (1959)
Blossoming Almond Tree (1959)
Το Αγοροκόριτσο (1959)
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining (1958)
Χαρούμενοι αλήτες (1958)
Mimikos and Mary (1958)
Holidays in Aegina (1958)
Poverty can be bearable while living well (1958)
Το Εισπρακτοράκι (1958)
Just for One Night (1958)
Maria Pentagiotissa (1957)
The Girl Has Got an Uncle (1957)
A Girl in Black (1956)
Experts on the Football Field (1956)
The Ogre of Athens (1956)
The Fairy Tale Girl (1956)
The Magic City (1955)
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1927-05-29
Deathday2011-05-03 (83 years old)
Birth PlacePiraeus, Greece
CitizenshipsGreece
Also Known AsThanasis Vengos, Thanassis Veggos, Thanassis Vengos, Thanasis Vegos, Θανασης Βεγγος, Θανάσης Βέγγος
AwardsBest male role award of Thessaloniki International Film Festival
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
- Thanasis Vengos
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