He was Greece’s “Good Fella”. Thanasis Veggos, actor and comedian, who made Greeks laugh into tears. He was playing roles of a poorr but honest guy, who loved to help his fellow men and women. As he was in real life. Thanasis Veggos died this morning, after long hospitalization due to a severe stroke, two months ago. He was 84 years old.
He made his debut in 1952. His first major role was in Psila ta heria Hitler (“Hands Up, Hitler”), 1962. He often plays everyman characters struggling to get by, but he has also done anti-heroes, pure dramas, and on stage has acted in Aristophanes’ comedies. His characters are often named Thanasis. A documentary of his life, whose title translates as A Man for All Seasons, was made in 2004. He always did his scenes without using a stuntman even for the most dangerous ones, like hanging with a single rope from a balcony, or walking through a glass door. During the “Golden Sixties” of the Greek film industry he made the most famous of his films like the sequel of Secret Agent 000, Papatrehas, Enas trellos Vengos and many others, most of them by his own company Θ-Β comedy films (Tainies Geliou)
After the Greek civil war Veggos was exiled to Makronisos from 1948 to 1950 for political reasons. On Makronisos he met director Nikos Koundouros who was also exiled there. Koundouros later gave him his debut movie role in Magiki polis (1955).
In 2000 his car crashed into a train, but he survived. He later did safety advertisements on the matter.
In 2008, Veggos was appointed Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias.
Thanasis Veggos was defined through his dignity, compassion and professionalism.
He was the Greek Charlie Chaplin…
