The actor Danis Katranidis has passed away at the age of 75. The esteemed actor had retired in recent years from the field of acting as he was facing health issues, which he never spoke about publicly.
Friends and relatives will have the opportunity to say their final goodbye to the beloved actor on Thursday, September 5, at 12:30 pm, at the Zografou Cemetery.
The news of his death was announced via a post by the first vice president of the Association of Greek Actors and head of the Theater Department, Spyros Bibilas:
“During the change of the month, our beloved multi-talented colleague, friend, the smiling child of the theater, a spiritual person who created culture with every movement, passed away! Our dear Danis Katranidis, this sad news shocks our entire artistic family… The void is great…” wrote Spyros Bibilas.
Danis Katranidis was born on August 4, 1949, and grew up in Aigaleo. In 1971, he graduated from the drama school of George Theodosiadis. Between 1971 and 1978, he was an actor at the National Theatre.
During the 1978-1979 theater season, he made history in the role of the compere in the legendary production Cabaret directed by Alice Voyiouklaki.
He acted in all genres of theater, from tragedy and comedy to musicals and reviews, while his participation in radio theater was also highly notable.
He taught at the Higher Drama School “Iasmos” and at the Theater Workshop “Vasilis Diamantopoulos”. His path in television series, such as “The Secrets of Edem,” which were beloved by the public, was also significant.
A lover of the sea and a skilled sailor, he had numerous participations and victories in open sea races.
In his personal life, Danis Katranidis had three marriages but did not have children. In 1971, he married the actress (and his classmate from the school of G. Theodosiadis) Mirka Papakonstantinou. The couple divorced six years later but maintained an excellent relationship.
“I had three marriages because I primarily wanted to have a family. The marriages were many years apart; they did not happen every month. There is a 17-year gap between the first and the second, and a ten-year gap between the second and the third. It is a reasonable time for one to say, I can build my life, have a family, and have children. I have no regrets about it. The reason I did not have children was not pathological. There was another reason, and as it turned out, it was better. I have no complaints. I have been given things abundantly in work and in life, more than I expected. I have made many mistakes, and I thank the people who treated me leniently,” Danis Katranidis admitted in an interview.
Filmography
1974 The Trial of the Judges
1975 The Company
1980 The Wanderer
Sly Female, Crafty Woman
1981 Spy Nelly
1982 The Dam
1983 Attention, Danger
1983 The Smugglers
2019 The Search for Laura Durant
2021 Journey to the Stars
STATEMENT BY CULTURE MINISTER LINA MENDONI ON THE LOSS OF DANIS KATRANIDIS
Upon learning about the loss of Danis Katranidis, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni made the following statement:
Danis Katranidis was a great actor, leaving behind a distinct mark, fully utilizing his talent and perfecting his expressive means. He gifted us, in a career spanning fifty years, significant theatrical performances across an extensive repertoire. The ease with which he served demanding roles, as well as the naturalness with which he imposed his presence on stage, captivating the audience, concealed a gift that had been cultivated with dedication and continuous work. Danis Katranidis’s selective transitions from the big screen and television confirmed his stamp as a significant interpreter.
Danis Katranidis won the love and respect of his colleagues and the wider public. It is worth remembering other aspects of him, such as his alignment with numerous colleagues in favor of Democracy in the 1974 referendum, which revealed his sensitivity as a citizen.
I extend my sincerest condolences to his family, his many friends, and his colleagues.
K. Malama: Danis Katranidis was a multi-talented actor.
Danis Katranidis was an actor with a long career and true talent. He served the art of acting, starring for five decades with his roles in major successes. Danis Katranidis was a multi-talented actor with performances in all theater genres. He acted in theater, taught theater, and contributed greatly to Greek culture. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.
Kyriaki Malama
MP for Halkidiki – Culture Sector Coordinator
SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance
Eleni Rantou on Danis Katranidis: “You fought like a beast, rest now”
The actress Eleni Rantou expressed her sorrow for the loss of her beloved colleague through a post on Facebook, writing: “Safe travels, Danis Katranidis. You fought like a beast. Rest now… Another beautiful person traveled this summer.” Her post gathered many supportive messages and emotions from friends and fans.
Vasia Panagopoulou on Danis Katranidis: “The theater is poorer without you”
The news of Danis Katranidis’s death caused sadness in the artistic community, and many of his colleagues have begun to post condolences on social media.
Vasia Panagopoulou, who worked with the esteemed actor at the beginning of her career, posted a photo of them together, writing in the caption: “When in your very first steps in cinema you have the luck to collaborate with an actor of integrity and talent like Danis Katranidis, you are blessed. I met him in my first film ‘The Smugglers’ directed by Pavlos Tasiou. I will never forget his genuine kindness. Safe travels into the light, our Danis. The theater is poorer without you.”
The heartbreaking message from Giannis Bouros: “The Golgotha is over, that was it”
The unfortunate news that Danis Katranidis has taken his last breath after a long battle with his health struck like lightning. The actor was particularly beloved by his colleagues, and when asked about his health condition, they did not want to go into many details. Giannis Bouros made a heartbreaking post through his Facebook account about the difficult battle Danis Katranidis fought, which has now ended.
“The Golgotha is over, Danis. That was it. Rest,” wrote Giannis Bouros for his good friend and colleague.
Tania Tsanaklidou: “You will always be in my heart, a part of my life”
Tania Tsanaklidou bid farewell to Danis Katranidis, who passed away at the age of 75.
With an old photo of them, the singer and actress reflected on the past when the late actor and his then-wife, Mirka Papakonstantinou, supported her like family.
She also described the beginning of her career, with the money she had won from a lottery ticket they had bought together with Danis Katranidis.
As she wrote: “My dear friend. In the summer of ’73, we bought a lottery ticket together on the beach of Kavala. We won 8000 drachmas, 4000 each. With that money as a starting point, I went to Athens with the white Volkswagen Beetle you had back then with our beloved Mirka. You took care of me as if I were your child, you were both beautiful children then. At that time, you were my family. The years went by, we lost touch recently, but I never ‘lost’ you.
Now I must say goodbye. But you will always be in my heart, a part of my life, those thrilling years, with your laughter, your wild teasing, and your humor.
Others will speak of your talent. I want to say goodbye with a big thank you for being so kindly like my brother. Goodnight, my dear friend. The list of losses is getting very long.”