Greek actor Nikos Kalogeropoulos, star of 'Loufa kai Parallagi', dies at 74

Death and final days

Nikos Kalogeropoulos, one of the most recognisable figures of modern Greek cinema, died on Sunday 9 August 2026 at the age of 74. He had faced serious health problems in recent years, and according to ERT he had been hospitalised at Kyparissia Hospital in his final days. To Vima reported that he had been battling cancer and died at a public hospital in Athens. The discrepancy between the two locations was not resolved by the available sources.

Early life and training

Kalogeropoulos was born on 1 August 1952 in Filiatra, Messinia, in the Peloponnese. He moved to Athens to study theatre, attending the drama schools of Kostis Michailidis, Veakis, and Athens. His first written play, titled "O Baboulas", was staged in 1976 at the KAVA theatre. His television debut came in 1975 with an adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis's "Christ Recrucified", followed by roles in series such as "O fotografos tou choriou" (1977), "Oi parastratimenoi", and "Methismeni Politeia" (1980).

Cinema breakthrough

His first film appearance was a small role in 1980's "Thanasi sfikse ki allo to zonari". The following year, 1981, brought his breakthrough: Theodoros Maragkos's "Mathe paidi mou grammata", a political satire co-starring Vasilis Diamantopoulos and Kostas Tsakonas. His performance earned the B' Performance Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. In 1982 he appeared in "Arpa Colla", and in 1984 he starred in Nikos Perakis's "Loufa kai Parallagi", the role that made him widely known to Greek audiences and earned him the A' Male Role Award at Thessaloniki. He also appeared in "Rembetiko" directed by Kostas Ferris.

Television and beyond acting

On television, Kalogeropoulos appeared in productions including "Chaire Taso Karataso" (1985), "Oli i doxa, oli i chara" (1989), "Sto camping" (1989), and "Erasitechnis anthropos" (1999). His career was not limited to acting: he directed, wrote screenplays, composed poetry and songs, and collaborated as a director with actors such as Giorgos Kimoulis, Ilias Logothetis, and Antonis Kafetzopoulos. In his later years he returned to his native region and created the "Trenotechnio" in the Trifylia area near Kyparissia, a cultural and artistic space.

Reactions

News of his death spread grief across the Greek acting community. Actress Semina Digeni posted a tribute on social media.

“My dear Nikos, that tough zeibekiko that Dimitratos sang only for you, in 'Look What You Did', keep singing it in the joints of Sirius. I see again that show, where you shone, wonderful and untamed creature.”

Kalogeropoulos leaves behind a body of work spanning film, television, theatre, poetry and song, with roles that were loved by generations of Greek viewers.