Zoe Laskari (Greek: Ζωή Λάσκαρη, pronounced [zoˈi ˈlaskari]; 12 December 1942 – 18 August 2017) was a Greek actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Star Hellas 1959 and represented her country at Miss Universe 1959 where she placed Top 15.

Life

Zoe Laskari was born Zoe Kouroukli in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 12 December 1942[1]—not 1943[2] or 1944,[3][4] as had been misreported during her lifetime and after her death—into a middle class family which had a long tradition of service to the Hellenic Army. Her father was murdered during the German occupation in late 1943.

She was raised by her maternal grandparents. In 1959, she won the title of Star Hellas (Miss Greece) - in order to participate in the pageant she added two years to her age to be of age and went on to represent Greece at the Miss Universe pageant in Long Beach, California where she made it to the semifinals. However, while being in the United States, it was revealed that she was still legally a minor, having obscured her true age. She refused to return to Greece and stayed in New York City for about 18 months.[5]

Marriages

In 1967, she married industrialist Petros Koutoumanos, by whom she had her first daughter, Martha Koutoumanou. Their marriage ended in 1971. In June 1976, she married criminologist Alexandros Lykourezos, by whom she had a second daughter, Maria-Eleni Lykourezou.[4]

Career

Due to her success at the beauty pageant, director Giannis Dalianidis, offered her the starring role in O katiforos, a 1961 film, whose success gave her a rapid popularity and she shortly signed an exclusive contract with the biggest Greek film production company at the time, Finos Film.[4] The films in which she appeared ranged from dramas to comedies and musicals. Some of her later movies were Stefania (1966) and Oi Thalassies oi Hadres (1967). Other Laskari film hits were Nomos 4000, Merikoi to protimoun kryo, Koritsia gia filima, Dakrya gia tin Ilektra, Mia kyria sta bouzoukia and Marihouana stop.[6]

Her stage work included famous plays like Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the ancient Greek tragedy The Trojan Women by Euripides and Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park. Her theatrical hits include the play Oi erastes tou Oneirou which was also her first play in Athens. Laskari's first television appearance was her leading role in the TV series Romaios kai Ioulieta in 1976.[6]

Death

Laskari died on 18 August 2017 at Porto Rafti,[7][8] from heart failure. She had two daughters, Martha Koutoumanou and Maria-Eleni Lykourezou.[9]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1961O katiforosRea Nikolaoubox office: 161,331
1962Nomos 4000Maria Oikonomoubox office: 118,841
Horis taftotitaLiana Mavroleontos
O atsidasAnna Kourouzoubox office: 69,414
1963Merikoi to protimoun kryoEva Aggeloubox office: 212,247
IliggosElli
Ena koritsi gia dyoMyrtobox office: 386,817
1964EgoismosMariabox office: 344,675
1965Teddy boy agapi mouZoe Eftyhidou
Koritsia gia filimaTzenibox office: 619,236
Istoria mias zoisMarigo / Maria / Mairi
1966StefaniaStefania Karali
Dakrya gia tin IlektraIlektra Petridibox office: 328,277
1967Oi Thalassies oi HadresMary Kaniatogloubox office: 531,278
1968Olga agapi mouOlga Panagiotidoi-Vassileiadoubox office: 367,559
Mia kyria sta bouzoukiaAnna Masouroubox office: 615,483
Gymnoi sto dromoXenia Koumarianou
1969Agapi gia pantaEleni
1970Aftoi pou milisan me ton thanato
1971Marijuana Stop!Kaiti Lagopouloubox office: 312,260
1972Aixmalotoi tou misousViky Kouvariotoubox office: 124,745
1973Ston asterismo tis ParthenouKoulabox office: 120,010
1974Erastes tou oneirouZoebox office: 70,456
1982AnametrisiAnna

References

  1. ↑ "Zoe Laskari's parents' death" (in Greek). 21 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "A December 1983 article covering the celebration of her 40th birthday" (in Greek). 20 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Βιογραφία (in Greek). zoelaskari.gr. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ζωή Λάσκαρη". finosfilm.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Βιογραφία - zoelaskari.gr" (in Greek). zoelaskari.gr. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. 1 2 Zoe Laskari at IMDb
  7. ↑ "Ζωή Λάσκαρη" [Zoe Laskarie]. finosfilm.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Notice of death of Zoe Laskari, Thenationalherald.com; accessed 22 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "Iconic Greek actress Zoe Laskari dead at 73". ekathimerini.com. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
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