By Pauline Anne Brady
Popular Greek actor Kostas Voutsas passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88 after being in the Intensive Care Unit of the Attikon University Hospital in Athens. The 88 year old was admitted into hospital on 7th February, with symptoms of a lung infection.
Kostas Voutsas, who was born on New Years Eve in 1931, was one of Greece’s best loved comedians, celebrating a brilliant career of over 65 years in the theatre, cinema, and on television. He first appeared on stage at the historic Acropol Theatre in downtown Athens at the age of 21.
He made his screen debut in 1953 in “O Babas Ekpaidevetai” (Ο Μαμπάς Εκπαιδεύεται) produced by Finos Films. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, often referred to as the “Golden Era of Greek Cinema”, he starred in numerous movies, mostly comedies and musicals, and has co-starred with most of the great Greek movie icons.
During his acting career, spanning almost seven decades, he has starred in about 70 movies, 30 of which were produced by Finos Film, the iconic Greek film production company. Finos Film played a major role in shaping his career and making him a household name in Greece.
In 1984 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
Kostas Voutsas has been married four times. He has a daughter, Sandra Voutsa, from his first marriage to the actress and singer, Erika Broyer, and two daughters from his second marriage to Theano Papaspyrou; Theodora Voutsa, who is an actress, and Nikoleta Voutsa. He has a stepson, the actor Anthimos Ananiades, from his third marriage to the former model, Evi Karagianni. He married his present wife, Aliki Katsavou in 2016 and they have a three year old son, Fivo. He claims that Fivo has gifted him with an extra 20 years of life.
His daughter Theodora posted on Facebook last Sunday that her father devotes his life to making them laugh and helping them see the happy side of life.
The Greek Herald sends their condolences to his family in this difficult time.
