Martha Karagianni, a well-known Greek actress, died at the age of 82 on September 18. According to Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, her death marks the end of the golden age of Greek cinema.
Lina continued:
“She was a lady known for her candor and frankness. Her presence gave us joy, beauty, and laughter, and it will continue to do so.”
Karagianni’s cause of death is unknown, and information about her burial will be released soon.
Martha Karagianni’s career in the entertainment industry
Martha Karagianni was born in Keratsini on November 6, 1939. She began performing on the Lyric Stage after studying dance. She debuted in Loukia Sakellaropoulou’s children’s ballet when she was eight years old. In 1956, she was only 17 years old when she began her film career. The Unknown was directed by Orestis Laskos. She made her stage debut in Elephants and Fleas in 1957, where she met Giannis Dalianidis. After seeing her at Se la pen, Napoleon Eleftheriou encouraged her to appear in the revue.
Martha first appeared on television in Kostas Pretenderis’ serial O Dromos. She has appeared in a number of musicals and comedies throughout her career. Martha primarily collaborated with Dalianidis, and their first film together, Ziteitai Pseftis, was released in 1961. She then appeared in the Greek musical Merikoi to Protimoun Krio.
Karagianni later appeared in musicals such as Kati kai na kaiei, Koritsia gia filima, Mia Kyria sta Bouzoukia, Oi thalassies oi handres, and others. She sang for the first time in the film Kapetanios Gia Klamata, for the song San Fisa to Maistrali. She went on to sing songs in films like Gorgones Kai Magkes, Mia Treli, and Treli Zontohira.
Martha then signed with a studio and appeared in Giorgos Konstantinou’s 1965 film 5,000 Lies. She first appeared in Pethaino Kathe Ximeroma in 1969, followed by I Oraia tou Kourea, in which she played a comedic character.
With the 1969 film To Anthropaki, she expanded her collaboration with Dalianidis and Kostas Voutsas, which was followed by O Magkas me to Trikiklo. Martha returned with Giorgos Lazaridis O Podogyros. Her most recent films, Pethaino gia Sena and Apo Erota, were released in 2009 and 2014, respectively.
She was a member of the Georgia Vasileiadou and Vasilis Avlonitis group and had a successful theater career. She has performed in theatrical revues alongside celebrities such as Nikos Stavridis, Nikos Rizos, Giannis Gionakis, Sperantza Vrana, Giannis Fermis, Sotiris Moustakas, Marika Nezer, and many more. Martha Karagianni is survived by family members whose identities are unknown. Dimitrios Stefanakos, a Greek player who died in December of last year, was her husband.
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