Stathis Psaltis passes away aged 66

He was born in Velo, Corinthia where he lived during his childhood until the age of 11, when his family moved to Aigaleo.

He studied at the acting school of Kostis Michailidis and finished law school at the university of Athens.

He starred in a lot of Greek films and also in theater. He became popular in the 1980s with commercial movies that included “Kamikazi agapi mou”, “Troxonomos Varvara”, “Ta kamakia”, “Vasika Kalispera sas”, “Kai o protos matakias”, “Trellos eimai oti thelo kano”, “Ela na agapithoume darling”, and “Mantepse ti kano ta vradia”.

Despite his stardom in such low budget productions, characterized by a slapstick style, Psaltis was an acclaimed dramatic actor, whose performances in "serious" roles was highly esteemed by critics and audiences alike.

His last cinematic role was of the abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery in Sina, in the yet unreleased biopic of Kazantzakis directed by Yannis Smaragdis.

Psaltis, it was posthumously revealed was an avid philanthropist and humanitarian supporting those in need, friends and stragers, anonymously.

The Greek comedian's battle with cancer was brief, and when his condition deteriorated rapidly he was taken to hospital.

Doctors immediately transferred Psaltis,66, to the intensive care department however he sadly lost his battle on Friday afternoon.