Greek actor Thodoris Atheridis discusses past alcohol addiction and stroke recovery

Addiction battle and sobriety

Greek actor Thodoris Atheridis recounted his past battle with severe alcohol dependence, his rehabilitation, and his personal life during an appearance on the television program Kalitera Arga broadcast on 30 September 2026. The 61-year-old actor stated that heavy drinking was widespread among peers during his youth, which initially masked the severity of his habit. Although he remained punctual and professional in his acting work, he felt his focus grew duller and overly relaxed compared to the sharp concentration required for the stage. He maintained cordial relations with his friends without ever turning violent, but the constant presence of a drink created persistent social awkwardness. Atheridis explained that he lived in a haze of dependency until his daughter reached nine years old. His addiction reached its peak at age 34, concluding with a 40-day period where his consumption reached a full bottle of whisky each day before he joined Alcoholics Anonymous to secure long-term sobriety.

If I had continued, though, I might not be alive, the quantities were prohibitive. The last 40 days were the most extreme, I usually drank a bottle of whisky every day.

Health crisis and family protection

Atheridis also discussed suffering a stroke and the deliberate steps he took to shield his mother from learning about the medical incident while it occurred. Convinced that the alarming news would cause his mother severe distress, he concealed the emergency and asked his sister to arrange a FaceTime video call to project normalcy from the hospital room. When his mother asked whether he had closed his theatre production, he told her that the venue had run into technical problems with the sound equipment. His mother only discovered the truth through her sister shortly before Atheridis was discharged from the hospital. Atheridis emphasized that people must consider the emotional impact on family members before disclosing medical scares, adding that his philosophy involves searching for positive outcomes rather than dwelling on misfortune.

Phobias and personal relationships

The actor addressed the phobias that affected him for years, specifically a severe fear of airplanes that made him feel completely helpless. He stated that these deep-seated fears ceased after his mother died, attributing the sudden emotional relief to her blessing. Shortly after her funeral, he realized he could enter the elevator to travel three floors up to his apartment without experiencing anxiety, finding that facing fears directly helped him overcome them. Atheridis also addressed his relationship status with actress Smaragda Karydi, explaining that their decision to step back from each other was taken for the overall health of their bond rather than due to an acrimonious breakup. He noted that romantic infatuation naturally diminishes over time like medication, adding that he currently enjoys living alone and has no desire for a partner.

I really have not broken up. We simply decided that it is perhaps better for our relationship to distance ourselves from each other.