Kostas Karras
Born: 1936-06-21 in Athens, Greece
Died: 2012-05-06
Known For: Acting
Biography
Kostas Karras (Athens, 21 June 1936 – 6 May 2012) was a Greek actor and politician. He studied Political Science in London and acting at the National Theatre's Drama School. He was a graduate of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. In 1963 he graduated from the Pelos Katselis Drama School and the same year made his debut in Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. At that time, he began his successful collaboration with Ellie Lampeti, with whom he was in a relationship, and appeared, among others, in works such as Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" (in the role of Paul Parker) and Tennessee Williams's Bus Stop (in the role of Kowalski). Since then, he has created his own theatrical groups and achieved personal success in Nikolai Gogol's Diary of a Madman and Noel Coward's The Evil Spirit (as Charles). His contribution as an actor to Greek cinema is significant, where he first appeared in 1961. However, his best film appearance is considered to be the role of Menelaus in Michael Cacoyannis' Iphigenia (1977). On Greek television, he starred with great success in many series. From 2000 to 2007, he was a member of the Greek Parliament with the New Democracy party. He was honorary president of Smile of the Child since 1994. He organized the first international fundraiser for the victims of the Bosnian War. He repeatedly gave performances to support vulnerable social groups. He was awarded by many organizations and associations for his social and humanitarian action (Lions, Smile of the Child, Municipalities and Communities). Since July 2000 he was responsible for the Cultural Movement branch of the New Democratic Party of Greece, cultural associations and the finances of Culture. In the 1994-1996 season he participated in the series Our Father in the role of Kostas Stergiou on ANT1. He died of cancer on May 6, 2012, at the age of 75 and was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens. He left behind his wife, Angeliki Baroutsou, with whom he had been married since 1965 and they had a son, Vasilis. His wife died of a heart attack on December 27, 2023.
Filmography
1999
- Μπαμ, μπαμπάς και μπέμπα as Κώστας Σταχτόπουλος
1995
- Πάτερ Ημών as Κώστας Στεργίου
1993
- Ο χήρος, η χήρα και τα χειρότερα as Κώστας Φωτιάδης
1986
1985
1981
- Gigolos as Aris
1977
- Iphigenia as Menelaos
- I theatrina as Παύλος
1972
- Captives of Hate as Angelos von Zirach
- The Mediterranean In Flames as Sub-Lieutenant Erich von Auer
1971
- The Daughter of the Sun as Lefteris
- Ο δρόμος των ηρώων
- Κάθε ναυάγιο και μια κόλασι as Singer(uncredited)
1970
- Lieutenant Natassa as Max
- In the name of the law as Haralabos Margetis
- Η ανταρσία των 10 as First Mate Nafpliotis
- Το Σπίτι με το Φοίνικα as Άγγελος Μακρής
1969
- The Parisian Lady as Giorgos
- The Trial of an Innocent
- 24 Hours of Liveliness
- Crooked Deeds as Dimitris
- Why Did You Betray Me? as Petros
- Thymisou, agapi mou... as Alkis
1968
- Apollo Goes on Holiday as Prince Jan (voice)
- Imperiale as Emperor
- Too Late for Tears
1967
- The Merchant as Alexis Maras
- The Sorceress as Spyros
1966
- My Brother, the Lord as Vasilis Bataras
1965
- Φτωχός, αλλά τίμιος as Andreas Monasis
- Bitter life
- The despised
- Yie mou... Yie mou... as Giorgos Hatziloukas
- Ενώνει ο πόνος δυο καρδιές
1964
- Miss Manager as Stavros Samiotakis
- Thirst for Life as Nasos
- Ένα παιδί χωρίς όνομα as Nikolas
- Nightwalks
- Μια 'βδομάδα στον παράδεισο
1961
- Who Is Margarita? as Dimitris