Thanasis Veggos
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.
Acted in
The Flight of the Swan
2011
With Heart & Soul
2009
as a Father
Η Θεσσαλονίκη Της Νοσταλγίας Μας
2009
Έχω ένα μυστικό...
2008
as Κυρ-Κυριάκος
A Man for Εverything
2004
as Self
Έρωτας όπως έρημος
2003
Peri Anemon kai Ydaton
2000
as Λύσσανδρος
The Enigma
1998
as Linos
It's a Long Road
1998
as Antonis
Ulysses' Gaze
1995
as Taxi Driver
Quiet Days in August
1991
as Νίκος Γκούφας
Αστυνόμος Θανάσης Παπαθανάσης
1990
Θανάσης ο Βομβιστής
1990
as Thanasis
Το Δίδυμο της Συμφοράς
1989
as Thanasis
Deputy police officer named Thanasis
1989
Thanasis the Optimist
1989
as Thanasis Rodinos / Mother
Bed for five
1989
Champion
1989
as Thanasis Manaris / Sakis
Βεγγαλικά
1988
Thanasis in the country of Will
1988
as Thanasis Pitas
Crazy of all Greece
1983
as Thanasis Koukouras
Thanasis and the Cursed Serpent
1982
as Thanasis
The Big Cannon
1981
as Thanasis Apaloheris
Vengos the Crazy Kamikaze
1980
as Thanasis Trampas
Thanasi tightened your belt even more
1980
as Thanasis Maganas
The Wicked World of Thanasis
1979
as Thanasis Mpesagiampesas
The Bald Student
1979
as Thanasis Chatziathanasopoulos
Which Way to the Septic Tank?
1978
as Thanasis Papathanasis
Thanasis in the land of the cuff
1976
as Thanasis
Paraskinio
1976
as Thanasis Vengos
The Charlatan
1973
as Thanasis / Athanasia / Lefteris
Dictator calls Thanasis
1973
as Thanasis Delithanasis
The Man Who Ran a Lot
1973
as Thanasis Zevedaios
Thanasis, Take Your Gun
1972
as Thanasis
Carefree... Nut
1971
as Thanasis
What Did You Do in the War, Thanassi?
1971
as Thanasis Karathanasis
Holidays in Vietnam
1971
as Thanasis Hatzifapas
Thanasis, Juliet and the sausages
1970
as Thanasis Karathanasis
One Vengos for All Jobs
1970
as Thanasis Hatzikarathanasis
Thou-Vou Bald Agent, Operation: Havoc
1969
as Thou-Vou
An Unbelievable Sucker
1969
as Thanasis Hatzipapageorgakopoulokonstadinogiannopoulos
Who Thanasis!
1969
as Thanasis Trikorfos
Doctor Z-Vengos
1968
as Thanasis
Come on People
1967
as Agathoklis
Help! Vengos Visible Agent '000'
1967
as Thou Vou (Athanasios Bobas)
Crazy, Nuts and Vengos
1967
as Thanasis
Ο Παπατρέχας
1966
as Polydoros Lagos
He's a Mad Mad Veggos
1965
as Thanasis
Ο Καταφερτζής
1964
as Kanellos Karabatsas
Out Poverty and Good Heart
1964
as Thanasis Koutras
I'll Make You Queen
1964
as Antonis Tsilivikis
With Many Children
1964
as Polykarpos Kolovos
School for Chauffeur Ladies
1964
as Babis
The Poor Demons
1964
as Frixos
The Twins
1964
as Thanasis Soukouroglou / Stamatis Soukouroglou / Boulis Hatzifrydis
Τύφλα Νάχη ο Μάρλον Μπράντο
1963
as Stefanos Avgerinos
Jack of All Trades, Master of None
1963
as Thanasis Birbilis
Restless youth
1963
The lucky pants
1963
as Thanasis Foukaras
O Ippolytos kai to violi tou
1963
as Ιππόλυτος
The Madman
1963
as Errikos Delaportas
Min eidate ton Panai?
1962
as Panagis Papapanagopoulos
Runaway Bride
1962
as Harilaos
Hands Up, Hitler
1962
as Panagis
Astronauts
1962
as Thanasis
Δουλειές του ποδαριού
1962
as Mitros
The King of Gaffes
1962
as Frixos
The Wise Guy
1962
as Thrasyvoulos
Hooray for Madness
1962
as Romeos
The jar
1962
as Andreas
Γαμπρός για Κλάματα
1962
as Loukas
The Proud
1962
as Priest
Lisa and the Other Woman
1961
as Petros Valdis
Eftyhos... trellathika!
1961
as Manolis
A mistake in love
1961
as Thymios
Liar Wanted
1961
as Vrasidas
Μυρτιά
1961
as Giannos
Lost dreams
1961
as Vangelis
Oi 900 tis Marinas
1961
as Partsaklis
Διαμάντω
1961
as Karderinas
Who Is Margarita?
1961
as Grigoris Ladias
Sharp as a Needle
1961
as Detective Van Gray
The mother's curse
1961
Οι χαραμοφάηδες
1961
Love Games
1960
as hotel owner
The Dawn of Triumph
1960
as Περιπτεράς
Πόθοι στα Στάχυα
1960
Madalena
1960
as Policeman
Three Ladies and me
1960
as receptionist
Μια Του Κλέφτη...
1960
as Salesman
For You My Love
1960
as Manetas
Sunday's Date
1960
as Car Workshoper
Never on Sunday
1960
as Thanasis
Το Κλωτσοσκούφι
1960
as Janitor
Blind Angel
1960
as Kotsos
Papadopoulou family
1960
as Spyros
Τα ντερβισόπαιδα
1960
as Polydoros
Μήτρος και Μητρούσης στην Αθήνα
1960
as Mitros
Οι Δοσατζήδες
1959
as Thomas Kalafatis
Mousitsa
1959
as Foivos
The Policeman of the 16th Precinct
1959
as Thomas
The Uncle from Canada
1959
Erotic Stories
1959
as Vangelis
Marriage Adventures
1959
as Ice Seller
A Water Mrs. Baggelio
1959
The Tomboy
1959
as waiter
Karagiozis, the Wronged One of Life
1959
Blossoming Almond Tree
1959
as Doctor
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
1958
as Dr. Giannis Papadopoulos
Χαρούμενοι αλήτες
1958
as Waiter
Mimikos and Mary
1958
as Harilaos
Holidays in Aegina
1958
as Thodoros' assistant
Poverty can be bearable while living well
1958
as husband
Το Εισπρακτοράκι
1958
Just for One Night
1958
as Sirios's assistant
Maria Pentagiotissa
1957
as Papalaris
The Girl Has Got an Uncle
1957
as Taxi Driver
The Wooden Shoe, the Gun and the Bow Tie
1957
as Hanos (uncredited)
A Girl in Black
1956
as Policeman
Experts on the Football Field
1956
as Sailor
The Ogre of Athens
1956
as Spathis
The Fairy Tale Girl
1956
The Magic City
1955
as Thanasis