11 Prominent Greeks That Passed Away in 2022

Greeks that passed away in 2022 include prominent individuals in art, music, politics, and sports. Their loss made Greece poorer, but their legacy and contribution will perhaps last forever.

11 prominent Greeks that passed away in 2022

Alekos Fassianos, 86, January 16th

Fassianos was of the greatest contemporary Greek painters, with a distinctive style that became known beyond the boundaries of the art world. He used to design the stage decorations for major classic and modern productions. His art has been exhibited in museums and galleries including in Athens, Paris, and throughout Europe, as well as in Tokyo, New York, São Paulo, and Melbourne

Christos Sartzetakis, 92, February 3rd

He was a Greek jurist and former supreme justice of the Court of Cassation, who also served as the President of Greece from 1985 to 1990. He was the unyielding prosecutor in the sensational case of the assassination of the left-wing member of Parliament Grigoris Lambrakis, committed on May 22, 1963 in Thessaloniki by right-wing extremists.

Vangelis Papathanasiou, 79, May 17th

World-renowned Greek composer Vangelis Papathanasiou, was known professionally simply as Vangelis. The composer won an Oscar award for composing the score for the film Chariots of Fire (1981). Through NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey mission, his music literally reached space.

Dionysis Simopoulos, 79, August 7th

Eminent astrophysicist and honorary director of the Eugenides Planetarium, Simopoulos had a special talent for popularizing the science of astronomy.

Kostas Kazakos, 87, September 13th

Greek actor and parliamentarian Kazakos was an imposing figure in domestic theater and cinema and husband of Tzeni Karezi. Kazakos starred in many films and also played on theater stages.

Ireni Papas, 96, September 14th

One of the most important Greek actors of her generation, she had a career spanning more than fifty years. Papas gained international recognition through such popular award-winning films as The Guns of Navarone and Zorba the Greek.

Dimitris Pantermalis, 82, September 14th

Pantermalis was an archaeologist. He was responsible for the excavations that revealed Dion. He was also connected with the creation of the new Acropolis Museum.

Martha Karagianni, 82, September 18th

The Greek actress was especially loved for her roles in the musicals and comedies of Yiannis Dialianidis. She starred in many films, nineteen of which were produced by Finos Film, a production company that dominated the Greek film industry from 1943 to 1977.

Stamatis Kokotas, 85, October 1st

One of the great legends of Greek laika, Greek popular music, his heyday was the late 1960s and 1970s, when he collaborated with some of the most prominent Greek composers of the time, including Stavros Xarchakos, Dimos Moutsis, Apostolos Kaldaras, Giorgos Hatzinassios, Yiannis Spanos, and Giorgos Zambetas.

Alexandros Nikolaidis, 42, October 14th

Greek Tae Kwon Do Olympic champion Nikolaidis was named the 2008 Greek Male Athlete of the Year. He won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics held in Athens. After his death, his medals were auctioned for charity.

Giannis Diakogiannis, 91, December 12th

Greek sportscaster and journalist Diakogiannis was considered the guru of sports like athletics and football.