Dionysis Papayiannopoulos

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Dionysis Papayiannopoulos (Greek: Διονύσης Παπαγιαννόπουλος) was born on July 12, 1912, in Diakofto, Peloponnese, Greece. He studied at the Drama School of the National Theater of Greece, where he made his stage debut in 1938, appearing (as the Knight) in Shakespeare's "King Lear". During the next two decades he collaborated with many prestigious stage groups, excelling in, among others, Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (as the Grave-digger) and Dimitris Psathas' "Fonazei o kleftis" (as Solon Karaleon).

In 1961 he created his own stage group and gave memorable performances in a series of modern Greek comedies, like Gerasimos Stavrou's "Zito i zoi" and Asimakis Gialamas and Costas Pretenderis' "Despinis Diefthindis" (as Mr. Vassiliou - a role he repeated in the 1964 film version, opposite Jenny Karezi). He was also very good in Iakovos Kampanellis' "To megalo mas tsirko" (as Kolokotronis, Venizelos and Karagiozis).

His film work has been prolific, too: he appeared in about 120 films, usually in scene-stealing supporting parts. One of his few starring film roles was as the kind-hearted tavern-keeper in O Kyr-Giorgis ekpedevetai (1977). His hero tried to come across as a rich man, though he is a poor and illiterate brewer. The same role continued on TV, where from 1974 to 1981, Papagiannopoulos starred on "Luna Park", a legendary TV series of Greek TV. The director was Yiannis Dalianidis.

He died in his sleep of a stroke on April 14, 1984.

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