Nikos Kourkoulos

In 2001, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. After periods of his therapy since then, he passed away in 30th January 2007.

Artistic Director of National Theatre of Greece from 1994 until his death. Later, the New Stage of National Theatre was later named after him as an honor to the legacy of his significant, successful and acclaimed work.

His last stage appearance to date was in the title role of Sophocles' "Philoktitis" (1991); he then became artistic director of the Greek National Theater.

He created his personal group in the early 1970's, with a repertory which included, among others, Franz Kafka's "The Trial", Arthur Miller's "View from the Bridge" and Bertolt Brecht's "The Beggar's Opera".

Was nominated for Broadway's 1968 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "Illya, Darling."

He was one of the founders of the prestigious stage group Proskinio and appeared in the 1967 Broadway musical "Ilya Darling", with Melina Mercouri.

He studied acting at the Drama School of the Greek National Theater and made his stage debut in a 1958 Athens production of Alexandre Dumas fils's "La dame aux camélias", opposite Ellie Lambeti and Dimitris Horn.

His film career has been equally successful: he starred in many films from the late 1950's until the early 1980's.

Nikos Kourkoulos was born in 1934, in Athens, Greece.