Biography
Thanasis Veggos (Greek: Θανάσης Βέγγος, 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. (Source: Wikipedia)
Acted in 123
2010s
- 2011
The Flight of the Swan
Movie
2000s
- 2009
With Heart & Soul
a Father
- 2008
Έχω ένα μυστικό...
Κυρ-Κυριάκος · 23 episodes
- 2006
Καθρέφτη Καθρεφτάκι Μου
Αρίστος · 15 episodes
- 2003
Έρωτας όπως έρημος
TV
- 2000
1990s
- 1998
The Enigma
Linos
It's a Long Road
Antonis
- 1995
- 1991
Quiet Days in August
Νίκος Γκούφας
- 1990
Police Officer Thanasis Papathanasis
TV
Προσοχή! Μας βάλανε μπόμπα...
Thanasis
1980s
- 1989
Champion
Thanasis Manaris / Sakis
To didymo tis symforas
Thanasis
Bed for Five
Movie
Thanasis the Optimist
Thanasis Rodinos / Mother
- 1988
A Madhouse Named "Hellas"
Movie
Thanasis in the country of Will
Thanasis Pitas
- 1983
The Madman of Greece
Thanasis Koukouras
- 1982
Thanasis and the Cursed Serpent
Thanasis
- 1981
The Big Cannon
Thanasis Apaloheris
- 1980
Vengos the Crazy Kamikaze
Thanasis Trampas
Thanasi tightened your belt even more
Thanasis Maganas
1970s
- 1979
The Wicked World of Thanasis
Thanasis Mpesagiampesas
The Bald Student
Thanasis Chatziathanasopoulos
- 1978
Which Way to the Septic Tank?
Thanasis Papathanasis
- 1976
Χίλια Χρόνια Πριν - Βυζάντιο: Η Γιορτή των Καλενδών
Movie
Thanasis in the land of the cuff
Thanasis
- 1973
The Charlatan
Thanasis / Athanasia / Lefteris
Dictator calls Thanasis
Thanasis Delithanasis
The Man Who Ran a Lot
Thanasis Zevedaios
- 1972
Thanasis, Take Your Gun
Thanasis
- 1971
Carefree... Nut
Thanasis
What Did You Do in the War, Thanassi?
Thanasis Karathanasis
Holidays in Vietnam
Thanasis Hatzifapas
- 1970
Thanasis, Juliet and the sausages
Thanasis Karathanasis
One Vengos for All Jobs
Thanasis Hatzikarathanasis
1960s
- 1969
Thou-Vou Bald Agent, Operation: Havoc
Thou-Vou
An Unbelievable Sucker
Thanasis Hatzipapageorgakopoulokonstadinogiannopoulos
Who Thanasis!
Thanasis Trikorfos
- 1968
Doctor Z-Vengos
Thanasis
- 1967
Come on People
Agathoklis
Help! Vengos Visible Agent '000'
Thou Vou (Athanasios Bobas)
Crazy, Nuts and Vengos
Thanasis
- 1966
Papatrechas
Polydoros Lagos
- 1965
He's a Mad Mad Veggos
Thanasis
- 1964
The Hustler
Kanellos Karabatsas
Out Poverty and Good Heart
Thanasis Koutras
I'll Make You Queen
Antonis Tsilivikis
With Many Children
Polykarpos Kolovos
School for Chauffeur Ladies
Babis
The Poor Demons
Frixos
The Twins
Thanasis Soukouroglou / Stamatis Soukouroglou / Boulis Hatzifrydis
- 1963
Marlon Brando Has Nothing On Him
Stefanos Avgerinos
Jack of All Trades, Master of None
Thanasis Birbilis
The lucky pants
Thanasis Foukaras
O Ippolytos kai to violi tou
Ιππόλυτος
The Madman
Errikos Delaportas
- 1962
Min eidate ton Panai?
Panagis Papapanagopoulos
Runaway Bride
Harilaos
Astronauts
Thanasis
Hands Up, Hitler
Panagis
Odd Jobs
Mitros
The King of Gaffes
Frixos
The Wise Guy
Thrasyvoulos
Hooray for Madness
Romeos
The Jar
Andreas
Groom for Crying
Loukas
The Proud
Priest
- 1961
Lisa and the Other Woman
Petros Valdis
Eftyhos... trellathika!
Manolis
A mistake in love
Thymios
Liar Wanted
Vrasidas
Μυρτιά
Giannos
Lost dreams
Vangelis
Oi 900 tis Marinas
Partsaklis
Diamanto
Karderinas
Who Is Margarita?
Grigoris Ladias
Sharp as a Needle
Detective Van Gray
The mother's curse
Movie
The Wastrels
Movie
- 1960
Love Games
hotel owner
The Dawn of Triumph
Περιπτεράς
Desires in the Straw
Movie
Madalena
Policeman
Thieves Rejoice Only Once
Salesman
For You My Love
Manetas
Sunday's Date
Car Workshoper
The Underdog
Janitor
Blind Angel
Kotsos
The Dervish Boys
Polydoros
Mitros and Mitrousis in Athens
Mitros
1950s
- 1959
Wandering Jews
Thomas Kalafatis
Mousitsa
Foivos
The Policeman of the 16th Precinct
Thomas
The Uncle from Canada
Movie
For bread and love
Thanasis
Blossoming Almond Tree
Doctor
Erotic Stories
Vangelis
Marriage Adventures
Ice Seller
A Water Mrs. Baggelio
Movie
The Tomboy
waiter
Karagiozis, the Wronged One of Life
Movie
- 1958
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Dr. Giannis Papadopoulos
Happy Bums
Waiter
Mimikos and Mary
Harilaos
Holidays in Aegina
Thodoros' assistant
Poverty can be bearable while living well
husband
The Bus Conductor
Movie
Just for One Night
Sirios's assistant
- 1957
Maria Pentagiotissa
Papalaris
Of Fortune The Written
Movie
The Girl Has Got an Uncle
Taxi Driver
The Wooden Shoe, the Gun and the Bow Tie
Hanos (uncredited)
- 1956
A Girl in Black
Policeman
Experts on the Football Field
Sailor
The Ogre of Athens
Spathis
The Fairy Tale Girl
Movie
- 1955
The Magic City
Thanasis
Καταδικασμένη και από το παιδί της
Movie
Produced 12
1980s
- 1983
The Madman of Greece
Producer
- 1981
The Big Cannon
Producer
1970s
- 1976
Thanasis in the land of the cuff
Producer
1960s
- 1969
Thou-Vou Bald Agent, Operation: Havoc
Producer
Who Thanasis!
Producer
An Unbelievable Sucker
Producer
- 1968
Doctor Z-Vengos
Producer
- 1967
Come on People
Producer
Help! Vengos Visible Agent '000'
Producer
- 1966
Papatrechas
Producer
- 1965
He's a Mad Mad Veggos
Producer
- 1964
Out Poverty and Good Heart
Producer
Directed 8
1970s
- 1973
The Man Who Ran a Lot
Director
1960s
- 1969
Thou-Vou Bald Agent, Operation: Havoc
Director
An Unbelievable Sucker
Director
Who Thanasis!
Director
- 1968
Doctor Z-Vengos
Director
- 1967
Help! Vengos Visible Agent '000'
Director
Crazy, Nuts and Vengos
Director
1950s
- 1958
Poverty can be bearable while living well
Assistant Director
Wrote 1
1980s
- 1981
The Big Cannon
Writer
Appearances2
2000s
- 2004
An All-Weather Man
Self
1970s
- 1976
Paraskinio
Self · 1 episode