Lakis Lazopoulos | |
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Native name | Λάκης Λαζόπουλος |
Born |
Apostolos Lazopoulos May 6, 1956 Larissa, Greece |
Occupation | Actor, comedian, lawyer |
Years active | 1979–present |
Apostolos "Lakis" Lazopoulos (Greek: Λάκης Λαζόπουλος) is a Greek playwright, actor and songwriter. His birth name is Apostolos Lazopoulos (Greek: Απόστολος Λαζόπουλος), Lakis being a diminutive. Lazopoulos was ranked 83rd by the public in Skai TV's Great Greeks in 2009. In 2010, Forbes ranked Lazopoulos as the most powerful and influential celebrity in Greece.
Career Apostolos Lazopoulos was born in Larissa, Greece, where he received his primary and secondary school education. He then entered the School of Law at the University of Thrace and in 1984 received his Master’s degree from the University of Thessaloniki. Rather than practicing Law however, he chose to devote himself exclusively to acting, which had by this time won him over.
In 1979, he writes his first script for the revue “Something’s cooking in Gipsyland”, in which he stars with the Thessalic Theatre. “SAY GOODBYE, IT’S ALL OVER NOW” soon followed with tremendous success and thus Lakis Lazopoulos joins the Free Theatre of Athens with whom he performs “WHY PEOPLE ARE HAPPY”, followed by yet another successful revue, “CHANGE AND CRAZE”.
The political situation at the time triggers the production of four revues of a more politico-satirical nature, written between the years 1982-1986 by Lakis Lazopoulos and Giannis Xanthoulis: “Haido’s Pasok’’ (1982), “Pasok keeps harping on” (1983), “Blowing hot and cold on kastri” (the PM’s residence), and “Andrea’s taxing tolls” (1985).
In the summer of 1986 he performs in Lysistrata by Aristophanes, and as the lead infuses the role with his own personal style through his translation of the Ancient Greek comedy. The play tours Greece and is performed in all major open theatres, including the Theatre of Herod Atticus in Athens, to highly acclaimed success.