At the age of 87 years old, on Tuesday, 24/08, the Anestis Vlachos. The actor had been hospitalized for the last month at the hospital «Evangelismos», with a urinary tract infection. Lately, the beloved «villain» of Greek cinema had visibly weakened, to the point that he could not be fed.
The news of his death was announced by his son, Hercules, in a post on his personal Facebook account.
«Please take care of mom where you're going Father, find our Sophia and wait for me, I love you all so much... Goodbye dad... Have a safe trip,» he wrote.
Who was Anestis Vlachos
Born in Prossotsani of Drama on February 7, 1934. His parents were farmers by profession. His grandfather, Philip, was a Macedonian Gladiator and his father, Hercules, was killed on the Albanian front in 1940. He settled in Kallithea in 1946 and studied at the Higher School of Cinema-Theatre Stavrakos, where he had a classmate Kostas Kazakos and others. Alongside his studies, he was working on a construction site where he hit a nail and lost his eye. Η Ellie Lambeti with the Dimitri Horn paid for the hospital where he was hospitalized, and until he recovered, they took care of him at home.
In the year of his graduation, Anestis Vlachos started his career in cinema by taking part in his first film N. Koundouros, «Magic City». In 1956 he participated in two more of the most important films of Greek cinema, «The Girl in Black» by M. Cacoyannis and in «Dragon» by N. Koundouros.
He had taken part in 92 films. He had won honours at the FECT in 1966 and 1974, for his performances in the films «With a Twinkle in the Eye» and «Kyrierion» respectively. She also won an honorary distinction for her performance in K. Manousakis« film »Fear" at the 1966 Tunisian Film Festival in 1966.
He interpreted typical supporting roles, usually embodying the «tough» - «bad guy» type. In the theatre, he first appeared in the play «Bury the Dead» (Trivizas« Circular Theatre) and continued acting in all genres, and also appeared on television. In 1994, after an absence of many years, he starred in the film »Eyewitness".
He was married to the actress Maria Garitsis. Together they had a daughter, Elli Vlachou, a journalist and philologist, while from his first marriage to the singer Anastasia Papandronis he had a son, Hercules Vlachos. He was best man with Nikos Xanthopoulos, (Xanthopoulos married him and baptized his son) and inseparable friend with the late George Fountas.
He has been awarded the following international prizes:
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival - Honorary distinction for his contribution to Greek Cinema.
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival - Award for A’ Actor for his performance in the film «Kierion» by Theos Dimos.
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival - Honorary Distinction for his performance in the film by Panos Glykofrydis «Glint in the Eyes».
- Tunisian International Film Festival - Honorary Distinction for his performance in the film «Fear» by Kostas Manousakis.
- Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Bear for his performance in Kostas Manousakis« film »Fear".
The touching post of Spyros Bibilas
Social media were flooded with touching posts dedicated to the memory of the actor, while many famous names in the Greek theatre world rushed to say goodbye to Anestis Vlachos in their own way. Among them was the president of the Greek Actors' Association (SEI), Spyros Bibilas.
Specifically, in a Facebook post Spyros Bibilas writes:
«Farewell My Risen One!!!! It's hard to handle this separation amidst such a flurry of deaths this month!
You who believed in me and trusted me with one of my first big roles on television, who made me a household name and paved the way for me with ZITIANO by Karkavitsas, you who with your hard work, your ethics and your love for your work taught us lessons every day, you who with your roles in the cinema left a mark that no one will ever forget, you who we met in the last performance you played in the theatre and we spent a wonderful winter in the Hadjichristou Theatre with «The House of Elders», you who we met together in the last film you played in «The Bound Red Thread» by Charalambous up on the Prespes, you who loved me and I loved you and we owe you a great deal...I am grateful to you.You will always remain in our hearts ....A cinema «villain» with a golden heart...Have a nice trip...»
