Famous Greeks

Greek singer Elena Paparizou


Actress Melina Kanakaredes (CSI New York)


Actress Jennifer Aniston.


Model Katia Zygouli, winner of the Elite Model Look contest 1996.


Actress/model Mara Darmousli, winner of the Elite Model Look contest 1998.


Actress/model Mara Darmousli.


Singer Natasha Theodoridou


Greek-Cypriot singer Anna Vissi (the Madonna of Greece)


Actress Anna Mouglalis (born in France)


Opera singer Maria Callas

Actors
John Aniston (1937-), Greek-American TV actor & father of Jennifer
John Cassavetes Greek-American actor and Director, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the Dirty Dozen.
George Chakiris Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in West Side Story; (Greek-American).
Olympia Dukakis (1931-), Greek-American film actress
Melina Kanakaredes (1967-), Greek-American TV actress (Providence, CSI: New York)
Melina Mercouri (1920-1994), film actress & political activist
Irene Papas, film actress
Katina Paxinou (1900-1973), film & theatre actress
Telly Savalas (1924-1994), Greek-American TV actor ("Kojak")
Thanasis Vengos, film actor
Nia Vardalos (1962-), Greek-Canadian film actress and screenwriter (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)
Aliki Vougiouklaki (1934?-1996), film actress
Billy Zane (1966-),Greek-American film actor
John Stamos, Actor (Full House)

Adventurers
Constantine Phaulkon (1648–1688), first counsellor of King Narai of Siam

Clerics
Michael Cerularius (c. 1000–1059), Patriarch of Constantinople
John Chrysostom (347–407), Christian bishop and orator
Saint Photios (820–891), Patriarch of Constantinople and writer
Pope Evaristus (c. 98–105), fourth Pope
Pope Stephen I (254–257) Pope Agatho (678–681)
Pope John VI (701–705) Pope John VII (705–709)

Entrepreneurs
John D. Chandris and family, shipping industry, cruises
Yiannis Dritsas, Giannis inventor of Frappe
Stelios Haji-Ioannou (born 1967), entrepreneur (born to Cypriot parents)
Socrates Kokkalis (b. 27 May 1938), telecommunications magnate, owner of Olympiacos
John Latsis (1910–2003), shipping magnate
Yiannis Carras (d.1989), ship-owner, creator of Porto Carras Resort
Kalopedis family, jewellers and artists
George Livanos (1926–1997), shipping magnate
Constantine M. Los (1871–1962), shipping magnate
Stavros Niarchos (1908–1996), shipping magnate
Aristotle Onassis (1906–1975), shipping magnate
Christina Onassis (1950–1988), shipping magnate
Athina Onassis Roussel {b. 1985), grand-daughter of Aristotle Onassis
Basil Zaharoff (1849–1936), arms trader and financier
George Apostolopoulos
Emanuel Apostolou
Apostolus Vakakis
Theodore Vasilakis
Gerasimus Vasilopoulos
Constantine Veropoulos
Basil Georgatos
George Gerardos
Pan Germanos
Paul D. Giannacopoulos
Michael Dramytinos
Constantine Caesaris
Nicholas Kardasilaris
Demetrius Koutsolioutsos
George Koutsolioutsos
Catherine Kyriakopoulou
Gina Mamidaki
Diamantis Masoutis
Stavros Michaliaras
Sam Benrubi
John Boutaris
Pericles Panagopoulos
Demetrios Paraskevopoulos
George Petzetakis
Constantine Rodopoulos
Anthony Stavrou
Chris Toumanidis
Lorenzos Freris
Paul Psomiadis

Explorers - Ancient period
Herodotus of Halicarnassus (484?–420? BCE)
Nearchus (360?–312 BCE)
Pytheas of Massilia (c. 325 BCE)
Scylax
Xenophon (435?–355? BCE)

Explorers - Modern period
Constantine Phaulkon (17th century)
Juan de Fuca (Apostolos Valerianos)

Fashion designers
Sophia Kokosalaki, haute couture, women, designer for the 2004 Summer Olympics
John Varvatos, haute couture - men

Fashion models
Evi Adam, model
Isavella Dara, winner of Elite Model Look contest 1995
Mara Darmousli, winner of Elite Model Look contest 1998
Vicky Kaya, model
Vaso Kolida, model
Nikos Papadakis, winner of Manhunt International 1994
Irene Skliva, model, Miss World 1996
Corinna Tsopei, Miss World (1964)
Katia Zygouli, winner of Elite Model Look contest 1996

Filmmakers
Theo Angelopoulos
Alexander Payne (aka Alexander Papadopoulos
Michael Cacoyannis
Nikos Koundouros
Kostas Gavras
George P. Cosmatos

Military and political leaders - Ancient period
Alcibiades (450–404 BCE), Athenian general and statesman
Aristides (530–468 BCE), Athenian statesman
Cimon, Athenian leader and statesman
Demosthenes (384–322 BCE), politician and orator
Leonidas, Spartan king
Lycurgus, semi-legendary Spartan lawgiver
Miltiades, Athenian statesman and general
Pericles (495–429 BCE), Athenian leader and statesman
Themistocles, Athenian statesman and admiral

Military and political leaders - Medieval period
Alexius I Comnenus (1048–1118), Byzantine Emperor
Constantine Lascaris, promoters of the revival of Greek learning in the Italian peninsula
Constantine XI (1405–1453), last Byzantine Emperor
Gemistus Pletho, one of the chief pioneers of the revival of learning in Western Europe.
Johannes Cardinal Bessarion, Roman Catholic Cardinal-Bishop of Greek descent
Julian the Apostate (331–363), Byzantine Emperor and Hellenist (defended pagans in face of Christian persecution)
Manuel Chrysoloras, one of the pioneers in introducing Greek literature to western Europe.
Marcus Musurus, professor of Greek language at the University of Padua.
Saint Cyril (827–869), Byzantine monk, developed the Glagolitic alphabet

Military and political leaders - Ottoman Empire period
Atik Sinan, architect for Mehmed II and Mustafa III
Barbarossa (1473–1518), famous privateer, older brother of Khair ad Din; (Greek mother)
İbrahim Ethem Pasha, Greek-born Grand Vizier
Khair ad Din (1475–1546), Greek-born Ottoman Turkish Admiral, also known as Barbarossa; (Greek mother)
Pargalı İbrahim Pasha, Suleyman the Magnificent's first appointed Grand Vizier, who left an important landmark on his reign.
Zaganos Pasha, prominent military commanders of Mehmet II

Military and political leaders - Modern period
John Capodistria (1776–1831), first President of the free and unified Greek state, last President of the first Greek republic.
Constantine Kanaris (1793 or 1795–1877), freedom fighter, politician, and later Prime Minister
Pavlos Melas (1870–1904), hero of Greek Struggle for Macedonia
Eleftherios Venizelos (1864–1936), Prime Minister
Pavlos Kountouriotis (1855–1935), admiral, war hero and later President of Greece
Ioannis Metaxas (1871–1941), dictator of Greece before and during the first part of its participation in World War II
Konstantinos Karamanlis (1907–1998), President of Greece and four-time Prime Minister
Andreas Papandreou (1919–1996), economist, politician, and three-time Prime Minister
Iannis Pharmakis (d. 1821), revolutionary fighter.
Queen Sofía of Spain (b. 1938), wife of Spain's king Juan Carlos
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1921), husband of UK's queen Elizabeth II

Musicians
Louis Demetrius Alvanis (b. 1960), pianist
Nikolaos Chalikiopoulos Mantzaros (1795–1872)
Maria Callas (1923–1977), soprano
George Dalaras (b. 1949), singer
Stavros Koujioumtzis (1932–2005), composer and lyricist
Manos Hadjidakis (1925–1994)
Manos Loizos (1937–1982), composer
Grigoris Bithikotsis (d. 2005), popular singer
Stelios Kazantzidis (d. 2001), popular singer
Marinella (b. 1935), singer
Stavros Xarhakos, composer and MEP
Manolis Kalomiris (1883–1962), composer
Vicky Leandros
Markos Vamvakaris (d. 1973, popular composer of rebetiko
George Michael (Georgios Panayiotou) (Greek-British)
Thanos Mikroutsikos (b. 1947), composer
Dimitri Mitropoulos, conductor
Nana Mouskouri
Georges Moustaki (Greek-French)
Elena Paparizou singer
Apostolos Paraskevas composer and classical guitarist
Demis Roussos
Vassilis Tsitsanis (d. 1984), popular composer
Nikos Skalkottas (1904–1949), composer
Marios Tokas, composer of Cypriot origin
Mikis Theodorakis (b. 1925), composer
Anna Vissi (b. 1957), singer
Vangelis (b. 1943), New Age-musician and composer
Sakis Rouvas (b. 1972), popular singer and showman
Iannis Xenakis (1922–2001), composer
Herbert von Karajan (Herbert Karajannis) (1908–1989) (Austrian of Greek origin)
Agnes Baltsa (b. 1944), mezzo-soprano
Gina Bachauer (1913–1976), pianist
Dimitris Sgouros (b. 1969), pianist
Leonidas Kavakos (b. 1967), violinist
Theodore Antoniou composer, conductor
Alexandros Kalogeras composer
Alex Kapranos, frontman of the pop group Franz Ferdinand
Giannis Poulopoulos, popular singer
Despina Vandi
Keti Garbi Yannimon-Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist Tarpon Springs Florida USA

Painters - Ancient period
Polygnotus
Apelles
Aetion (4th century BCE)
Zeuxis
Parrhasius

Painters - Renaissance
El Greco (1541–1614), born Domenicos Theotokopoulos

Painters - Modern period
Constantine Andreou (20th century)
Georgios Bouzianis
Nikos Engonopoulos (20th century)
Demetrios Farmakopoulos
Demetrios Galanis (19th century)
Georgios Gounaropoulos
Nicholaos Gysis (19th century)
Ioannis Kefallinos (20th century)
Georgios Iakovidis
Nikiphoros Lytras (19th century)
Giannis Moralis
Dimitris Mytaras (20th century)
Yiannis Moralis (20th century)
Konstantinos Parthenis
Yannis Tsarouchis (20th century)

The Emergence of Modern Greek Painting, 1830-1930 (From the Bank of Greece collection)

Philosophers - Ancient period
Anaximander, (609/610–c.547 BCE)
Anaximenes of Miletus
Aristotle (384–322 BCE)
Athenagoras of Athens, (c. 133–190), early Christian apologist
Democritus (b. 460 BCE)
Diogenes (114–129), patriarch of Constantinople
Empedocles (490–430 BCE)
Epictetus, (55–c.135)
Epicurus, (341–270 BCE)
Epimenides
Hypatia of Alexandria (d. 415)
Leucippus
Parmenides
Plato (c.427–c.347 BCE)
Plethon,(c.1355–1452)
Protagoras
Pythagoras (582–496 BCE)
Socrates (470–399 BCE)
Thales of Miletus (c.624–547 BCE)
Zeno of Citium (333–264 BCE)
Zeno of Elea (c.495–c.430 BC)

Sculptors - Ancient period
Agasias
Pheidias
Praxiteles

Sculptors - Modern period
Kostas Axelos (20th century)
Constantine Andreou (20th century)
Cornelius Castoriadis (20th century)

Singers
Haroula Alexiou, one of Greece's largest singer-songwriters
Peter André, English-born Cypriot-Australian singer
Lisa Andreas, represented Cyprus in the Eurovision 2004
Marlen Angelidou, pop singer, was with Greek pop group Hi-5 (Greek Band)
Lindsay Armaou, singer, was part of the girl band B*Witched (half Greek half Irish)
Constantinos Christoforou, represented Cyprus in the Eurovision
George Dalaras, renowned contemporary Greek singer
Loukas Daralas, famous singer of rebetiko and father of George Dalaras
Mario Frangoulis, successful tenor
Keti Garbi, famous singer
Alkinoos Ioannidis, musician and singer
Stelios Konstantas, singer
Stavros Konstantinou, winning Super Idol, the Greek version of Pop Idol
Nana Mouskouri, singer
Manto, singer
Froso Papaharalambous, pop singer, was with Greek pop group Hi-5 (Greek Band)
Giannis Poulopoulos, popular singer and songwriter
Elena Paparizou, winner of Greece's first ever Eurovision victory
Guy Sebastian, famous singer, won the 2002 winner of Australian idol
Irini Psyhrami, pop singer, was with Greek pop group Hi-5 (Greek Band)
Demis Roussos, pop singer, formerly with Vangelis in Aphrodite's Child
Sakis Rouvas, pop singer and gymnast, performed during Closing Ceremony at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Shaya, pop singer, was with Greek pop group Hi-5 (Greek Band) (of Danish and Guyanese descent)
Nansy Stergiopoulou, pop singer, was with Greek pop group Hi-5 (Greek Band)
Marios Tokas, composer
Despina Vandi, successful pop star
Anna Vissi, famous singer

Other
Manolis Andronikos (d. 1992), archaeologist, discovered the Macedonian tombs in Vergina
Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of organising committee, Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Patriarch Athenagoras, former Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, Greek-Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch (1991 to present)
George Bizos, Greek-South African human rights advocate
Moisis Michail Bourlas, member of World War II Greek resistance
Cornelius Castoriadis, economist and philosopher
Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and all Greece (1998 to present)
Zoe Cruz, co-president of Morgan Stanley
Michael Dertouzos, internet pioneer
Olympia Dukakis, Greek-American actress
Nikos Dimou, writer and philosopher
Odysseas Elytis, poet and Nobel prizewinner
Mario Frangoulis, opera singer
Nikos Hadjinikolaou (b.1962), television news anchor, journalist
Manolis Glezos, World War II veteran, grassroots democracy activist and politician
Iakovos, Archbishop of America (d. 2005), late primate of the Greek-Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Sir Alec Issigonis, British-Greek creator of the Mini car
Constantine P. Cavafy, poet
Nikos Kazantzakis, poet, novelist and playwright
Eleni Konsolaki, archaeologist who researched Methana and the Troezen area in 1990
Vissarion Korkoliacos (1908–1991), Greek Orthodox monk
Polyvios Kossivas, bystander who became famous in the 2004 Olympic Games for helping a runner
Makarios III, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus
Dimitri Nanopoulos, quantum physicist
Lefteris Papadopoulos (b.1935), lyricist and journalist
Irene Papas, actress
Dimitris Papaioannou, director and choreographer ; creator of the 2004 Summer Olympics ceremonies
Karasoulos Paraskevas, singer
Nicos Poulantsas, political theorist
Giorgos Seferis, poet and Nobel prizewinner
Spyros Skouras, Greek-American movie mogul, president of 20th Century Fox
Angelos Sikelianos, poet
Arianna Stassinopoulos Huffington, journalist and campaigner
Panayiotis Zavos, geneticist
Saint Philomena, Patron saint of the Children of Mary. Catholic Saint. Martyr

Other (academics)
Chris Argyris, organisational theorist
Apostolos Athanassakis, classicist
Phaedon Avouris, nanotechnologist
Demetrios Christodoulou, mathematical physicist
Fotis Kafatos, biologist
Jannis Kallinikos, organisational theorist
Dimitri Nanopoulos, quantum physicist
Nicholas Negroponte, author, IT evangelist and head of MIT Media Lab
Christos Papakyriakopoulos, mathematician
George Papanicolaou, biologist
John S. Paraskevopoulos, astronomer
Haridimos Tsoukas, organisational theorist
Nicholaos Varopoulos, mathematician
George Vithoulkas, physician
Xenophon Zolotas, economist

Athletes
+ Anastasios Andreou, competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens
+ Marcos Baghdatis (b. 1985)(Half Lebanese, Half Greek-Cypriot), tennis player, finalist in Australian Open 2006 ++ Peter Costa, (b. 1956), famous poker player
+ Constantine II, former King of Greece, sailing (Gold Dragon Class) Gold, Rome Olympics, 1960.
+ Eleni Daniilidou, tennis player
+ Pyrros Dimas (b. 1971), three-time weightlifting Olympic champion
+ Panagiotis Giannakis,basketball player, captain of Greek European Championship winning team
+ Stelios Giannakopoulos, football (soccer player) ++ Nick Galis, basketball player
+ Fani Halkia (b. 1979), Olympic champion in women's 400 metre hurdles
+ Herodotos Giorgallas, (b. 1977), gymnast, took gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
+ Nikos Kaklamanakis, windsurfer
+ Konstantinos Kenteris (b. 1973), Olympic, World and European Champion Sprinter
+ Michalis Konstantinou, soccer player. Plays for Olympiacos
+ Spiridon Louis (1873–1940), First modern Olympic Marathon winner
+ Voula Patoulidou (b. 29 March 1965) 100 metre hurdles in Barcelona in 1992.
+ Georgios Samaras, soccer player ++ Charalambos Xanthos, poker player
+ Theodoros Zagorakis (b. 1971), footballer, captain of Greek European Championship winning team
+ Yannis Panagiotis Professional Surfer Florida USA
+ Theodore Antonopoulis (Anton The Greek), boxer
+ George Kottaras, baseball player




Greek singer Sakis Rouvas


Greek-Lebanese singer Sarbel