Death of a Respected Greek Actor
Greek actor Christos Politis has died at the age of 83. The performer became widely recognised for portraying Yiangos Drakos in the long running television series Lampsi by Nikos Foskolos. News of his death was shared publicly by author Manos Lambrakis through a post on Facebook.
Early Training and First Steps in Theatre
Politis completed his studies at the Drama School of the National Theatre of Greece. His first professional appearance came with the troupe of Giannis Fertis and Xenia Kalogeropoulou in the production Ten Little Negroes during the 1965 to 1966 season. Further roles followed with the troupe of Titika Nikiforaki and Nikos Chatziskos in Much Ado About Nothing in 1968 and Tea and Sympathy in 1969.
Work with Major Theatres and Introduction to Ancient Tragedy
Collaborations with the theatre of Kostas Mousouris and the National Theatre broadened his artistic path. His work at the National Theatre introduced him to ancient Greek tragedy through roles in Aeschylus’ Choephori and Eumenides as well as Euripides’ Hippolytus. These performances took him to international festivals abroad.
Aplo Theatro and Its Cultural Impact
Politis later became a founding member of Aplo Theatro which operated from 1974 to 1990. The troupe aimed to decentralise theatre by touring throughout Greece. A permanent venue was eventually created in Kallithea in 1982. The company focused on repertoire theatre presenting works by Arthur Miller Tennessee Williams Lula Anagnostaki and others. Aplo Theatro also introduced the plays of Joe Orton to a wider Greek audience for the first time.
Collaborations After Aplo Theatro
The dissolution of Aplo Theatro in 1990 marked the beginning of new artistic collaborations for Politis. Work with Antigone Valakou Aliki Vougiouklaki Alekos Alexandrakis Alexis Minotis Alexis Solomos the Municipal Regional Theatre of Crete and the Arma Thespidos followed. A return to ancient drama occurred in 1986 with Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus under the direction of Minotis and again in 1992 with Sophocles Antigone. His final theatre appearance came in the 1997 to 1998 season with the production The Lion in Winter.
Film Career and Later Return to Cinema
Cinema first welcomed Politis in 1968 with a small role in Nikos Foskolos film Avenue of Hatred. A leading role followed in 1969 in the film Saint Nektarios The Protector of the Poor. That same year he received the Best Supporting Actor award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival for his performance in The Girl of 17. Further cinematic work continued mainly through his collaboration with producer James Paris. After decades away from film he returned in 2022 in Christos Massalas movie Broadway.
Television Roles and Enduring Popularity
Television viewers first encountered Politis in 1973 in the series The Nets of Terror. Subsequent roles included appearances in Vasilissa Amalia in 1975 and Afroditi in 1977. Limited television work followed in the 1980s. His defining moment arrived in 1991 when he joined the daily series Lampsi by Nikos Foskolos. His portrayal of Yiangos Drakos lasted 14 years until 2005 and cemented his status with the Greek public.
Additional Work and Teaching
Radio and television theatre productions featured his participation throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Two video productions in the late 1980s added to his diverse work. During the 1990s he also taught for 2 years at the Athens Drama School of G. Theodosiadis.
