Greek actress, singer and politician. Minister of Culture of Greece (1920-1994) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melina Mercouri (31 October 1925 – 6 March 1994) was a Greek actress, singer, and politician.
Melina Mercouri | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Melina Mercouri (1985) | |
| Born | Maria Amalia Mercouris 18 October 1920 (per Julian Calendar) Born 31 October 1925 in the Gregorian Calendar |
| Died | 6 March 1994 (aged 73) |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, Member of the Hellenic Parliament, Minister for Culture of Greece |
| Spouse(s) | Panos Harokopos (m. 1941–1962; divorced) Jules Dassin (m. 1966–1994; her death) |
| Parent(s) | Stamatis Mercouris (father) Eirini Lappa (mother) |
Mercouri’s parents were Stamatis Mercouris and Irene Lappa. Her father was the governor of a section of Athens. She went to school at the Academy of the National Theatre, Athens from 1943 to 1946.
In 1939, Mercouri married Panayiotis Harokopus. They divorced in 1962. Mercouri remarried in 1966 to Jules Dassin.
She died from lung cancer at age 73 in New York City.
Mercouri was an actor in many movies. Her first movie was Stella in 1955. She later acted in Topkapi (1964), and Never on Sunday (1960). Her husband, Dassin, was the director of these movies. Mercouri also acted and sang in the musical llya, Darling (1967). She became very famous for her work in Never on Sunday. Mercouri also was awarded an Academy Award nomination for best actress from that role. Later, she became the Greek Minister of Culture and Sciences. Her job was to educate about Greek history, art and sports. While in this job, Mercouri supported Greek arts, sports, and women's rights. She became part of the Greek Parliament in 1977. Mercouri was also an author. She wrote her autobiography: I Was Born Greek.
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