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M
ichael Cacoyannis –the father of the most
famous Greek of all time, Zorbas, as well
as the most famous Greek woman, Stella– passed
away early in the morning of 25 July 2011. The
state funeral took place at the Holy Church of
Agios Dionysios Areopagitis on 28 July; his final
resting place, according to his wish, is the yard
of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation inAthens.
Born 11 June 1921 in Limassol, Michael
Cacoyannis was the eldest son of Sir Panayiotis
and Lady Cacoyiannis. Cacoyiannis studied Law
in London and was called to the Bar (Barrister-at-
law) in 1943. While working for the BBC’s Greek
service, however, first as a news announcer and
then as a producer of cultural programmes, he
discovered an affinity for film and chose to study
acting at the Central School of Dramatic Art in
London, later directing plays at the OldVic School.
Not long after his debut as an actor, in 1947,
he decided to concentrate on directing. In 1952
he left London to settle in Athens. The success
of his first film,
Windfall in Athens
, released in
1953, marked the beginning of an international
career in directing films, including
Stella
,
A
Girl in Black
,
A Matter of Dignity
,
Zorba the
Greek
(winner of three Academy Awards) and
the trilogy of
Electra
,
The Trojan Women
and
Iphigenia
. Cacoyannis worked with some of the
best and most distinguished actors of his time, in
Greece, Europe and Hollywood. His films were
regularly screened at prestigious international
film festivals, where they received numerous
awards and distinctions.
Michael Cacoyannis
Obituary