Michalis Giannatos (; 11 July 1941 – 17 September 2013), alternatively spelled as Michael Yannatos, was a Greek actοr.
Ηe was born in Konstantinoupoli, Turkey. He left the city for Greece in 1964 during the long expulsion of Istanbul Greeks.
Career He studied in Konstantinos Demopoulos' school of drama and first appeared as a professional actor in Georgios Zervoulakos' film Oi stigmatismenoi (Greek: Οι στιγματισμένοι) in 1966. When still a student, he participated in the theatrical play Capetan Michalis (Greek: Καπετάν Μιχάλης) next to Manos Katrakis.
During his long cinematic career, he appeared in close to 100 films, television series and plays. He was a regular in Theodoros Angelopoulos films since he was one of the director's favorite actors. After Megalexandros (Greek: Μεγαλέξανδρος) in 1981, Angelopoulos was always calling him to play in his movies.
He was fluent in five languages; Greek, Turkish, French, Italian and Spanish. Due to that, he appeared in many international productions, including Midnight Express, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Munich and more. He worked next to great actors such as Anthony Quinn, John Hurt, Nicolas Cage, Penélope Cruz, Christian Bale, Eric Bana and Daniel Craig.
He also played in the film A Touch of Spice [Greek title: Politiki kouzina (Greek: Πολίτικη Κουζίνα)] by Tassos Boulmetis and in the European co-production Le Dernier Seigneur des Balkans.
Personal life Giannatos was married to Chaido whom he was with until the day he died. They have three children together; Gerasimos (born in 1979), Ioannis (born in 1980) and Maria (born in 1982).
Since 1979, when his first son was born, Giannatos was working night shifts as a receptionist at the Hotel Caravel. He needed the job so he could take care of his family, while at the same time he was working as an actor every time he had the chance. His son Gerasimos said: "His main job was receptionist. With that job we made it through. He was working from 1979 when I was born till 1996 as a receptionist".
In an interview to Giannis Kasapis in 2012, Giannatos said that he loved classical music: "Classical music is the crown of music. Let me tell you how I first loved it. At my school in Constantinople I had an Italian classmate who asked me if I had ever heard classical music. I said no and she invited me to her house. She played one of Chopin's Polonaises...I froze! I heard them all! Since then I became a devotee". Giannatos also stated that he was hearing Greek songs as well, Stelios Kazantzidis and rebetiko, and sometimes even flamenco, tango or csárdás. In the same interview he said that he loved the three ancient Greek tragedians – Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides – and of course Aristophanes. Also Hemingway and Agatha Christie.
Death Giannatos died on 17 September 2013 at the age of 72 due to a heart attack, while watching a football match with friends. As his son said, no one of his friends realized that he was gone, till the moment someone called him and he didn't respond.
The Greek Minister of Culture and Sports expressed his condolence to Giannatos family while stating: "Michalis Giannatos was an exquisite actor who played in many important Greek, but also foreign, movies. But he was also one of those artists and, deep down, one of those people who are proving every day that it's not necessary to have the main part of a movie to be a protagonist".
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes 1966 Oi stigmatismenoi First appearance as a professional actor 1968 I Arhontissa kai o Alitis Bus Conductor Translated: The Lady and the Tramp 1969 Ta Dio Podia Se Ena...Papoutsi! Translated: Two Legs in One...Shoe! 1969 To...Thima Stellas Translated: The...Victim 1971 Ti Ekanes ston Polemo Thanasi? Italian officer Translated: What Were You Doing at the War Thanasis? 1971 I Kori tou Iliou Turkish Soldier Translated: The Daughter of the Sun 1971 Enas Xenoiastos Palaviaris Man at the funeral Translated: A Carefree Fool 1973 O Tsarlatanos Patroklos Translated: The Charlatan 1973 Oi Polemistai tis Eirinis Soldier Kotsoglou Translated: The Warriors of Peace 1973 O Anthropos pou Etreche Poli Lefteris Zevedaios Translated: The Man Who Ran a Lot 1973 Diktator kalei...Thanasi Translated: The Dictator is Calling...Thanasis 1975 Bounzaka ala...Ellinika! Panagos Translated: Bounzaka in...Greek! 1976 O Thanasis sti Chora tis Sfaliaras Panagos Translated: Thanasis in the Land of Slap 1976 Elliniki Ipothesi Translated: The Greek Affair 1978 The Greek Tycoon Man on Tomasis's Boat Uncredited 1978 Midnight Express Court Translator USA 1978 O Ilios tou Thanatou Confiscator UncreditedTranslated: The Sun of Death 1978 1922 1978 A Walk in the Sun Waitor Sweden & GreeceOriginal title: En Vandring I SolenLanguage: English & Swedish 1979 Ta Paidia tis Piatsas Baker Translated: The Kids of the Piazza 1979 O Palavos Kosmos tou Thanasi Translated: The Crazy World of Thanasis 1980 Megalexandros Dragoumanos Translated: Alexander the Great 1980 Vengos, O Trelos Kamikazi Markos Tamtikos Translated: Vengos, the Crazy Kamikaze 1980 Geusi Apo Ellada Vangelis Translated: Taste From Greece 1982 Aggelos Gas man Translated: Angel 1982 To fragma Chemist Translated: The Dam 1982 To Aima ton Agalmaton Translated: The Blood of the Statues 1982 Sti Zougkla tis Athinas/Taxidi stin Protevousa Spiros Translated: In Athens' Jungle/Journey to the City 1982 I Strophi Turkish officer Translated: Turning point 1983 H Pareksigisi Translated: The Misunderstanding 1983 Psosoxi, Kindinos! Michalis Translated: Caution, Danger! 1983 Ipogeia Diadromi Translated: Underground Route 1983 Kamikazi Agapi mou Fotiou Translated: Kamikaze my Love 1984 Taxidi sta Kithira Harbor Master Translated: Voyage to Cythera 1984 The Next One Captain USA 1985 Bordelo Giavasoglou 1986 The Two Faces of January Nikos 1986 O Melissokomos Translated: The Beekeeper 1987 Pretty Smart The Turk USA 1987 O Efialtis Translated: The Nightmare 1987 The Wind Policeman USA 1987 Chamos sto Aigaleo City Prison guard Translated: Chaos at Aigaleo City 1988 Gemini – The Twin Stars 1st policeman SwitzerlandLanguage: English 1988 Topio stin Omixli Train station guardian Translated: Landscape in the Mist 1988 O Fakelos Polk Ston Aera Translated: The Polk File on Air 1989 The Serpent of Death Greek policeman USA 1989 Athos I Enoxos Translated: Innocent Or Guilty 1989 Ipastinomos Thanasis Translated: Police Lieutenant Thanasis 1990 I Ekdikisi tou Patera Moustafa Ali, Turkish drug dealer Translated: Father's Revenge 1990 Ante Geia Buffet waiter Translated: Take care 1991 To Meteoro Vima tou Pelargou Shopkeeper Translated: The Meteor Step of the Stork 1991 O Drapetis Shadow theater performer Translated: Master of the Shadows 1992 To daxtilidi ShortThe Ring 1994 I Zoi Einai sto Dromo ShortLife is in the Street 1995 Tranzito 1995 Someone Else's America Greek agent USA 1995 Ulysses' Gaze Albanian Film Library Manager Uncredited 1995 O Hamenos Thisauros tou Hoursit Pasa Translated: The Lost Treasure of Hoursit Pasha 1995 Isa Mori Hamoura Short 1996 Me ton Orfea ton Augousto Pantelis Translated: With Orpheus in August 1998 Eternity and a Day Ticket Inspector USA 1999 America Short 1999 O Anthos tis Limnis Hasan Translated: The Flower of the Lake 2001 Captain Corelli's Mandolin Kokolios USA 2001 To Kalokairi tis Annas Sales man Translated: Anna's Summer 2002 Katalathos Astinomikos TV movieTranslated: Policeman by Accident 2002 I Fouska Uncle Translated: The Bubble 2002 Alexandros kai Aishe Translated: Alexander and Aishe 2003 Skipper Straad Short 2003 Politiki kouzina Grandpa's friend English title: A Touch of Spice 2003 Sto Hani Kara Alis Translated: To the Inn 2004 Trilogia 1: To Livadi Pou Dakrizei Zisis Translated: Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow 2005 Hotel Asteria Giorgos TV movie 2005 To Oneiro tou Ikarou Old Gypsy Translated: Icarus' Dream 2005 Opa! Hector 2005 One in a Million Old man USAShort 2005 Munich Hotel Aristides Porter USA 2005 My Family and Other Animals Porter / Waitor UKTV movie 2006 o etsi 2007 Koroido en'taxei' Aimilios Roukounas Translated: All Right Sucker 2008 Oi Prasines, Oi Kokkines, Oi Thalassies Oi Tsouhtres TV movieTranslated: The Green, The Red, The Blue Jellyfish 2008 O Ilias tou 16ou Manos Translated: Ilias of 16th 2011 Nisos 2: To kynigi tou hamenou thisavrou Sifnios 2011 Einai trelloi autoi oi Ellines 2012 A Green Story Grandfather 2012 Dead Europe Hotel manager UKUncredited 2012 Lost Monument Short 2012 O Anthropos pou Taize ton Iskio tou Roland Short Translated: The Man Who Was Feeding His Shadow(final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1971 Proti grammi Translated: Forefront 1974 Alithines Istories Translated: True Stories 1983 I Kiria Doremi Ship's bartender Translated: Mrs Doremi 1984 The First Olympics: Athens 1896 Eleni's father TV mini-series 1991 I Agapi tis Gatas Moustafas Translated: The Cat's love 1992 Oi Frouroi tis Achaias Kir Michalis Translated: Achaias' Guardians 1992 Epikindines Sxeseis Markos Translated: Dangerous Relationships 1993 Casa Di Macaroni Vasilis 1994 To Asimenio Dinario Translated: The Silver Dinar 1995 Stras 1996 Sofia...Orthi Mr. Tolis Episode 13Translated: Sofia...upright 1998 I Aithousa tou Thronou Policeman Episode 1.2Translated: The Throne Room 1998 I Zoi Pou Den Ezisa Thomas Translated: The Life I Didn't Live 1999 Egklimata Butcher Episode 1.2Translated: Crimes 1999 Thimata Eirinis Episodes 1.1 & 1.15Translated: Victims of Peace 2000–2001 Kokkinos Kiklos Mitsos/Bambis/Kafetzis Episode: EpiskeptisEpisode: To Telos Tou Paixnidiou (Mitsos)Episode: Stin Tixi (Bambis)Episode: Chronia Polla (Kafetzis)Translated: Red Circle 2001 Eisai to Tairi Mou Giorgis Episode 1.8Translated: You Are My Soulmate 2004 Voitheia Geitonoi Translated: Neighbors, help 2004 Efta Thanasimes Petheres Translated: Seven Deadly Mother-In-Laws 2004 Archipelagos Translated: Archipelago 2004 Ta Paidia tis Niovis Kadis Translated: Niovis' kids 2005 Peninta-Peninta Turkish officer Episode 2.1Translated: Fifty-Fifty 2005 Le dernier seigneur des Balkans(O Teleutaios Arxontas ton Valkanion) TV mini-series (4 episodes)HistoryFrance/Greece/Poland/Spain/BulgariaLanguage: French 2007 Mia Stigmi, Dio Zoes Anestis Translated: One Moment, Two Lives 2007–2008 Maria, i Aschimi Niketas Translated: Ugly Maria
References
External links
Actor entry at ishow.gr (mostly in Greek but also some in English)