Biography

Giorgos Marinos (Greek: Γιώργος Μαρίνος, Athens, 18 June 1939 - Athens, 10 March 2026) was a Greek singer, actor and entertainer, one of the pioneers of live show in Greece. His parents divorced when he was just one year old and he grew up with his mother, Vasiliki. His father, Alexandros, was absent from his childhood, as he was exiled in Makronissos. He saw him for the first time when he was 12 years old. His parents wanted him to become a civil engineer or architect like his father, who was also talented in mathematics. However, he, still a minor, secretly took exams at the National Theater School. In 1962, during his second year at the National Theatre, he performed in Manos Hadjidakis's Odos oneiron, along with Dimitris Horn, Rena Vlachopoulou, Maro Kontou and other renowned artists. He performed the song "Kathe kipos". From then on, his career in the theater, as well as the nightclubs of the time, began. At the same time, he made a few appearances in cinema, such as in Ionas Daifas' film O tritos dromos, starring Maro Kontou. Combining acting and singing, he presented for the first time in Greece a different kind of entertainment consisting of prose, satire, dance and song. He appeared for almost 20 years (1973-1992) at Makrygiannis, in "Medusa". He had a close friendship with Manos Hadjidakis and Nikos Gatsos. Giorgos Marinos was the first showman of Greece, the man who, with his sketches, caustic lines and imitations, caused laughter and satirized the ills of Greek society. In his personal life, he was particularly lonely. His two passions were always astrology and his dogs. A few years ago, he retired from artistic activities and isolated himself in his home in Neo Voutza, an area near Rafina. He worked for several years on various music venues and theater stages presenting his creations, while he took part in several television series, most notably the show Ciao ANT1, in the mid-1990s. A few of his film appearances have also been recorded. Giorgos Marinos was the first famous person to come out and speak openly about his homosexuality in the mid-1960s, in a conservative Greece. He had revealed to his parents at the age of sixteen that he was homosexual. He had been the inspiration for the creation of the song "Achilleas from Cairo" by his collaborator Kostas Tournas. Nevertheless, as he himself has stated, the great love of his life was the actress Katiana Balanika. They were partners for four years in the late 1960s. As he had said, he did not want to get married and have children, because he believed that it would be unfair for his child to suffer his "sinful" past. Nevertheless, their paths did not part, neither professionally nor as friends. They collaborated for years on "Medusa" and their friendship remained until the end of his life. In recent years he had been facing various health problems, while for a time he was hosted at the Actor's House. He died from complications of dementia on March 10, 2026, at the age of 86.