Kostas Mousouris

Biography

Kostas Mousouris was a Greek actor, director, poet, and theatrical entrepreneur who left a lasting imprint on modern Greek theater. Born in Athens, he began acting at the age of 15 and made his stage debut in 1919. His breakthrough came in 1924 with the foundation of the "Young Actors Troupe", followed by a long and diverse career as both performer and director. He starred with leading theater companies, including those of Spyros Melas and Kyveli, and co-founded the Mousouris-Theodoridou troupe in 1929. Over the decades, he toured extensively across Greece and in Greek communities in Egypt, Turkey, Ethiopia, and Sudan. In film, he appeared in Agnoula (1939), shot in Egypt. Aside from acting and directing, Mousouris was also a published poet and prose writer, with essays and stories featured in various literary journals. In the 1950s, he served as President of the Panhellenic Union of Free Theatre and received numerous honors for his contributions to the arts. He collaborated with many of Greece's most iconic actresses, including Ellie Lambeti, Jenny Karezi, Aliki Vougiouklaki, and Antigoni Valakou. Known for his passion and dedication, Mousouris was widely regarded as a "man of the theater" in every sense. He passed away in 1976, leaving behind a legacy of over five decades in the performing arts.