Spyros Skouras
| Spyros Skouras | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Spyros Panagiotis Skouras March 28, 1893 Skourohorion, Greece |
| Died | August 16, 1971 (aged 78) Mamaroneck, New York, United States |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Occupation | Film industry executive |
| Board member of | Skouras Brothers Enterprises, 20th Century Fox |
| Spouse(s) | Saroula Bruiglia (1920-1971) |
| Children | Plato Alexander Spyros Solon Diana Daphne Dolores Dionysia Colleen |
| Relatives | Siblings: Charles, George |
Spyros Panagiotis Skouras (Greek: Σπύρος Σκούρας; March 28, 1893 – August 16, 1971) was a Greek American motion picture pioneer and movie executive who was the president of the 20th Century Fox from 1942 to 1962. He resigned June 27, 1962, but served as chairman of the company for several years. He also had numerous ships, owning Prudential Lines.
Skouras and two brothers came to the United States as immigrants in 1910; Spyros kept such a pronounced Greek accent in English that comedian Bob Hope would joke "Spyros has been here twenty years but he still sounds as if he's coming next week." Skouras oversaw the production of such epics as Cleopatra (1963) with Elizabeth Taylor, as well as the development of Century City.
His grandchildren include Charles P. Skouras III, a film and television executive. His great-granddaughter Marielle Skouras has produced more than 25 television shows and created Beverly Hills Pawn, a hit reality show on REELZchannel.
Spyros Panagiotis Skouras was born in 1893 in Skourohorion, Greece to a family whose father was a sheepherder. Together with his brothers Charles and George Skouras, he emigrated to the United States in 1910. The brothers settled in St. Louis, Missouri, at that time the fourth-largest city in America and a booming industrial city.
Living frugally on wages as busboys and bartenders in downtown hotels, by 1914 the brothers had savings of $3,500. In partnership with two other Greeks, the Skourases constructed a modest nickelodeon at 1420 Market Street; today's Kiel Opera House now occupies this site. They called their theater the Olympia, and soon acquired other theaters.
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