Kostas Voutsas

Kostas Voutsas (Greek: Κώστας Βουτσάς ; born Konstantinos Savvopoulos (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Σαββόπουλος ; 31 December 1931 – 26 February 2020) was a Greek actor, director, and writer.

Voutsas was born in Vyronas, Athens in 1931 to a refugee family from Epivates, and moved to Thessaloniki in 1932. He studied drama at the Drama School of the Macedonian Conservatory of Thessaloniki and made his stage and screen debut in 1953. His breakthrough came in 1961, when Giannis Dalianidis gave him a key part in his phenomenally successful youth melodrama Ο Κατήφορος (1961).

He soon became one of the best and most popular comic actors of his generation and created personal groups, starring in many Greek comedies by top play-writers and classics like Aristophanes' "Sfikes" (as Philokleon), Molière's "Le bourgeois gentilhomme" (title role) etc. He also starred in about 60 movies, mostly comedies and musicals of the 'golden era' of Greek commercial cinema and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival in 1984.

Voutsas was the father of Alexandra (Sandra) Voutsa from his marriage with Erika Broyer, Theodora Voutsa and Nikoleta Voutsa from his marriage to Theano Papaspirou and Fivos Voutsas from his fourth and last marriage in 2016, with Aliki Katsavou. With his 3rd wife Evi Karagianni didn't have any children and was a stepfather for her child Anthemos Ananiades.

Voutsas died of a lung infection on 26 February 2020 at an Athens hospital, aged 89.

He was a major actor in Finos Films and went on to star in about 60 movies, mostly comedies and musicals of the 'golden era" of Greek commercial cinema.

In 1961 his breakthrough came when the Greek film director Giannis Dalianidis gave him a leading role in his phenomenally successful youth melodrama O Katiforos. He soon became one of the best and most popular comic actors of his generation and created personal groups, starring in many Greek comedies by top playwrights and classics like Aristophanes' The Wasps (as Philokleon), Molière's Le bourgeois gentilhomme (title role), etc.

He was always more committed to being a theatrical actor. In an interview with the Athens daily newspaper To Vima, he said: "Playing in movies has helped me a lot, but I was always committed to the theatre and that was my highlight." His acting technique is being studied at the University of Patras. He received many lifetime achievement awards: Thessaloniki International Film Festival and more.

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In 1984 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.