Kimon Spathopoulos

Biography

He was called the 'Greek Charlot', and was one of the most special men of film studios and theatrical back stages, as well as a unique artist of make-up. Kimon Spathopoulos, born in Constantinople in 1904, migrated to France at the early 20s. According to the biography by Thodoros Exarhos, he was a talented mime artist and started working outside a famous Parisian movie theater, advertising Charles Chaplin's films. Appeared as an extra in some films before settling to Greece in 1928. He kept miming Chaplin's tramp outside theaters for advertising, that's when he got the nickname the 'Greek Charlot'. He made his film debut in Orestis Laskos's The Clown of Life (1930). Since then he acted in numerous productions alongside the most famous Greek actors. His ability to transform the actor's face in different personas using make-up and masks, gave him the denomination 'The man with a thousand faces' and helped him to become the first important make-up artist with a multi-annual career. Died in 1990.