List of Greek Americans
Appearance
(Redirected from List of Greek-Americans)
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By ethnicity |
The following is a list of notable Greek Americans, including both original immigrants of full or partial Greek descent who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
Architecture
[edit]- George J. Efstathiou – architect
- Costas Kondylis – architect
- Nicholas Negroponte – architect and computer scientist
Peter John Spillis- architect
Business
[edit]Automobiles
[edit]- Elena Ford – Ford Motor Company heiress and officer
Agriculture
[edit]Alcoholic beverages
[edit]- C. Dean Metropoulos – owner of Pabst Brewing Company
Chemicals and petroleum
[edit]- Andrew N. Liveris – CEO of Dow Chemical Company
- William S. Stavropoulos – past CEO and Chairman of The Dow Chemical Company
- William Tavoulareas – president of Mobil Oil Corporation
Computer software & hardware
[edit]- Michael Capellas – terminal CEO of MCI and Compaq
- Greg Papadopoulos – senior vice president and chief technical officer of Sun Microsystems Inc.
- Stratton Sclavos – president & CEO of VeriSign
- Ed Zander – CEO of Motorola and former president of Sun Microsystems
- George Perlegos - Computer scientist and engineer. Founder and former CEO of ATMEL
Consumer products
[edit]- John Paul DeJoria – cofounder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products
- Tom Kartsotis – founder of Fossil Group and Shinola Detroit
- Leo Stefanos – inventor of the Dove Bar
Education
[edit]- John Brademas – president of New York University
- Peter Diamandopoulos – president of Adelphi University
- Linda P.B. Katehi-Tseregounis – chancellor of the University of California, Davis
- Constantine Papadakis – president of Drexel University
- Paul Vallas – CEO of the Chicago Public Schools
Entertainment and media
[edit]- Akim Anastopoulo – Featured judge on Eye for an Eye. Executive producer of Crackle’s Men of West Hollywood; co-owner of the series’ production company, Get Me Out Productions.
- Kary Antholis – senior vice president for miniseries at HBO
- John P. Avlon, author, political commentator, CNN Senior Political Analyst and former Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beast [1]
- Nickolas Davatzes – retired president and CEO of A&E Television Networks
- Jim Gianopoulos – chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures
- George Kerasotes – one of the founders of Kerasotes Theatres, and United Theatre Owners of Illinois in 1947.
- Oren Koules – entrepreneur, film producer, and professional sports executive
- Alexander Pantages – vaudeville and early motion picture producer and impresario
- Ted Sarandos – chief content officer for Netflix
- Charles Skouras – movie magnate, president of Fox Coast West and National Pictures
- George Skouras – movie magnate, president of United Artists
- Spyros Skouras – movie magnate, president of 20th Century Fox
- George Lois – advertising executive (ESPN, USA Today, Xerox, MTV, Wolfschmidt, Tommy Hilfiger), "Fizz Fizz What a Relief it Is", "No Dancing in the (a)Isles" "Crazy People" (Big break hired by Rossides for Javits 1960)
Finance and venture capital
[edit]- Peter Barris – American venture capitalist, FDA
- Christos Cotsakos – cofounder of E-Trade
- Zoe Cruz – ex co-president of Morgan Stanley
- Jamie Dimon – (Papademetriou) - CEO of JPMorgan Chase, grandson of Smyrna broker
- John Calamos – founder of Calamos Investments
- Peter Peterson (Petropoulos) - ex-CEO of Bell & Howell, Lehman Bros, chair of Council on Foreign Relations, chair BlackStone, Nixon Commerce Scy
- William Spell – founder and current president of Spell Capital Partners
- Mike Vranos – hedge fund manager
- Harry Wilson – former investor and restructuring expert
- Jim Chanos - founder and president of Kynikos Associates
Game design
[edit]- Nikita Mikros – founder and CEO of Smashworx and Tiny Mantis Entertainment
- Alex Rigopulos – video game designer, cofounder of Harmonix Music Systems
Inventor
[edit]- George Ballas – inventor of the weed eater, father of dancer Corky Ballas and grandfather to dancer Mark Ballas
Medical devices and pharmaceuticals
[edit]- Peter M. Nicholas – cofounder of Boston Scientific Corporation
- P. Roy Vagelos – M.D. and former chairman and CEO of Merck
Retail
[edit]- Sophia Amoruso – founder and owner of Nasty Gal
- John Catsimatidis – founder of Gristedes Foods
- Tom Carvel – founder of the Carvel franchise
- The Demoulas Brothers – founders of the DeMoulas' Market Basket
Real estate
[edit]- George Argyros – founder of real estate company Amel & Affiliates [2]
- Sam Israel – investor and landlord
- George Lycurgus – developer of hotels on Waikiki and the Volcano House
- George P. Mitchell – original developer of the Woodlands
- Alex Spanos – California realty magnate, chaired American Bible Society
- George Tsakopoulos – real estate developer and founder of Tsakopoulos Investments in Sacramento, CA
- Efstathios George Valiotis - founder of Alma Realty Corp & Bank in New York
Social media
[edit]- Jason Calacanis – angel investor (Uber), entrepreneur and founder of Weblogs, Inc.
- Arianna Huffington – founder of Huffington Post
- Alyssa LaRoche – founder of Aimee Weber Studio Inc.
- Ted Leonsis – vice-chair of AOL
- Angelo Sotira – cofounder of the online community DeviantArt
- Gregg Spiridellis – cofounder of JibJab
- Evan Spiridellis – cofounder of JibJab
Sports
[edit]- Peter Angelos – MLB owner of the Baltimore Orioles and former basketball player. Successful product-liability case lawyer.
- Alex Anthopoulos – (May 25, 1977) Canadian-born baseball executive. Currently GM and EVP of Atlanta Braves. Formerly GM and SVP of Toronto Blue Jays.
- Alex Spanos – Deceased. Was owner of NFL's San Diego Chargers.
- Dean Spanos – President and CEO of San Diego Chargers. Son of Alex Spanos.
- A. G. Spanos – President of Business Operations of San Diego Chargers. Grandson of Alex Spanos.
- Peter Karmanos Jr. – founder, president & CEO of Compuware and owner of the NHL team Carolina Hurricanes
- Ted Phillips – president and CEO of the NFL team the Chicago Bears
- Ted Leonsis – founder, chairman, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment
- Tom Gores – Billionaire, businessman, investor.
Various
[edit]- Jim Davis (businessman) – chairman of New Balance[3]
- Peter Diamandis – magazine entrepreneur, founder of the International Space University
- Prince Alexander von Fürstenberg – businessman and philanthropist
- Lazaros Kalemis – founder and CEO of Alpha Card Services
- Michael Recanati – businessman and philanthropist
- George Logothetis – founder and CEO of the Libra Group[3]
- Harry Markopoulos – forensic accounting and financial fraud investigator; Madoff investment scandal whistleblower[4]
- John Rigas – founder of Adelphia Communications Corporation[5]
- John Sitilides – government affairs and international relations specialist at Trilogy Advisors LLC in Washington, D.C.[6]
Fashion
[edit]Cuisine
[edit]- Cat Cora – Iron Chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America
- Marisa Churchill – known for Top Chef (season 2), author of the Sweet & Skinny cookbooks, Food Network Challenge, and host of My Sweet & Skinny Life on Alpha channel in Greece.
- George Mavrothalassitis – chef and restaurateur known as one of the cofounders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine in the early 1990s
- Spike Mendelsohn – chef and restaurateur best known as the fifth-place finisher of the fourth season of Top Chef (2008–2009)
- Michael Psilakis – restaurateur best known for his appearances on television shows including Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Iron Chef America, The Best Thing I Ever Ate and No Kitchen Required
- Michele Ragussis – chef, best known as a finalist on the Food Network series Food Network Star (season 8)
- Nicholas Stefanelli – chef and restaurateur, known for his Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Masseria
- Michael Symon – Iron Chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America
Fashion
[edit]- Michael Costello – fashion designer[7]
- Patricia Field – fashion designer[8]
- James Galanos – fashion designer[9]
- Peter Speliopoulos – vice president, DKNY design[10]
- George Stavropoulos – fashion designer
- John Varvatos – fashion designer[11]
- Nick Verreos – American fashion designer[12]
Modeling
[edit]- Betty Cantrell – beauty pageant titleholder, Miss Georgia 2015 & Miss America 2016
- Margia Dean – former American beauty queen and actress, Miss California 1939
- Ella Halikas – model, social media influencer
- Patricia Kara – model, actress, TV personality
- Katerina Katakalides – model and beauty pageant titleholder (Teen Miss New York 2016)
- Cleo Maletis – beauty pageant titleholder
- Becky and Jessie O'Donohue – American Idol contestants and models,[13][14]
- Ryan Pinkston – actor and model
- Suzi Simpson – model, actress, aspiring screenwriter [15]
- Jessica St. George – Playboy magazine Playmate of the Month (February 1965)
- Stassie Karanikolaou – model
- Eleanna Livaditis – Miss Colorado USA 2014
- Maritsa Platis – Miss U.S. International 2020
- Eleana Frangedis – Miss Teen America 2012
- Elena LaQuatra – Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016
- Corinna Tsopei – Miss Universe 1964 - American actress
- Sofia Richie Lionel's Richie daughter
Style
[edit]- Vidal Sassoon – British and American hairstylist
Explorers and settlers
[edit]- Pete Athans – mountaineer
- Yiorgos Caralambo – one of the eight men hired by US Army in 1856 to lead the camel driver experiment in the Southwest.
- John Cocoris – introduced the technique of sponge diving in 1905 to Tarpon Springs by recruiting divers and crew members from Greece. The first divers came from the Saronic Gulf islands of Aegina and Hydra, but they were soon outnumbered by those from the Dodecanese islands of Kalymnos, Symi and Halki.
- Philip Tedro, or Hadji Ali - hired by US Army in 1856 to lead the camel driver experiment in the Southwest.
- Gracia Dura Bin – early settler, wife of Dr. Andrew Turnbull
Religious figures
[edit]- Andrew Constantinides Zenos (1855–1942) Presbyterian minister, author, and dean of McCormick Theological Seminary
- Archbishop Iakovos – former Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, Harvard professor, Selma marcher, president World Council of Churches
- Aryeh Kaplan – American Orthodox rabbi of Greek-Sephardic descent from Thessaloniki
- Eric Metaxas – author, essayist and biographer of Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and William Wilberforce
- Betty Robbins – second Jewish female cantor in history
- - Ambrosios Athanasios Mandilaris (Father Ambrose) (1872-1960) Greek Orthodox Church; President of Greek Coummunity of Chicago; called the Church Builder.
Law enforcement
[edit]- Peter Angelos – product-liability case lawyer, owner of the MLB Baltimore Orioles and former basketball player.
- Stephanos Bibas – United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- James C. Cacheris – senior United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- Michael Chagares – federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Constantine George Cholakis – former United States federal judge
- William P. Dimitrouleas – United States federal judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- Peter C. Economus – United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- Maria Foscarinis – founder and executive director, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
- Nicholas Garaufis – senior United States district judge serving on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- Constandinos Himonas – justice of the Utah Supreme Court
- Kenneth M. Karas – United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Gregory G. Katsas – United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- Charles Petros Kocoras – United States federal judge of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Thomas Demetrios Lambros – former United States federal judge
- Paul J. Liacos – chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1989 to 1996
- John Michael Manos – United States federal judge for 30 years
- Costa M. Pleicones – jurist who served as the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court
- Eleni M. Roumel – Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims
- John J. Stamos – justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1988 to 1990
- Nicholas Tsoucalas – Senior Judge for the United States Court of International Trade
- Paula Xinis – United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland
- John G. Papianou - American-born partner and chair of Montgomery McCracken's Litigation Department. Super Lawyer 2017-2019.
Literature
[edit]Drama: Theater, TV & Screenwriting
[edit]- A. I. Bezzerides – novelist and screenwriter
- Tina Fey – comedian, former head writer of Saturday Night Live and creator of 30 Rock
- Zoe Kazan – screenwriter and playwright
- Nico Mastorakis – novelist, script writer
- Harry Mark Petrakis – novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, biographer, educator, and lecturer
- Evan Spiliotopoulos – screenwriter
Fiction
[edit]- A. I. Bezzerides – novelist and screenwriter
- N. A. Diaman – novelist and artist
- Charles Patton Dimitry - journalist, poet, and author
- John Bull Smith Dimitry - journalist and author
- Jeffrey Eugenides – novelist and short story writer[16]
- Panio Gianopoulos – writer, editor
- Nico Mastorakis – novelist, script writer
- George Pelecanos – crime novelist and television drama writer (The Wire)
- Harry Mark Petrakis – novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, biographer, educator, and lecturer
- Stephanos Papadopoulos – poet, translator
- David Sedaris – essayist, author and radio contributor
- Eleni Sikelianos – experimental poet with a particular interest in scientific idiom
- Byron Vazakas – poet (nominee for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, 1947)
- Michael Katakis – writer, photographer, and manager of Ernest Hemingway's literary estate
Nonfiction
[edit]- Chloe Aridjis – writer (daughter of Greek-Mexican Homero Aridjis and American Betty Ferber de Aridjis)
- Daphne Athas – writer
- Nicholas A. Basbanes – author who writes and lectures widely about books and book culture
- Demetrios Constantelos – priest and academic scholar
- Rae Dalven – author and academic (Romaniote - Greek Jewish)
- Nicholas Gage – reporter for The Wall Street Journal
- Dan Georgakas – writer, critic and member of the editorial board for Cineaste
- Panio Gianopoulos – writer and editor for Bloomsbury Publishing[17]
- Vanessa Grigoriadis – contributing editor for New York magazine and Rolling Stone magazine
- George Gregoriou – William Paterson University professor, writer
- Arianna Huffington (born Arianna Stassinopoulos) - columnist, pundit and founder of the liberal website The Huffington Post
- John Kass – columnist, Chicago Tribune
- Paul Kemprecos
- Markos Kounalakis – president and publisher emeritus, 'Washington Monthly'; foreign affairs columnist, McClatchy
- Leon Logothetis – British-born author who now lives in Los Angeles, TV host, global adventurer, traveler, and inspirational speaker.
- Nick Mamatas
- Eric Metaxas
- Markos Moulitsas – blogger and political columnist, founder of the liberal blog Daily Kos
- Ion Hanford Perdicaris – author wrote about art and Moroccan culture. Son of 1st U.S. consul to Greece Gregory Perdicaris and kidnap victim in 1904 internationally covered incident known as "The Perdicaris Incident" which was resolved by President Theodore Roosevelt with a US marine intervention. A loose interpretation of the incident was the basis for the 1975 film The Wind and the Lion starring Sean Connery.
- Andrew Sarris – film critic and a leading proponent of the auteur theory of criticism
- Giorgio A. Tsoukalos
Media
[edit]Television
[edit]- Ernie Anastos – WNYW-New York City co-anchorman
- Mike Emanuel - Fox News - Chief Washington Correspondent and anchor
- Chloe Melas – American journalist
- Thalia Assuras – TV reporter, CBS News (born in Canada, moved to U.S.)
- Dean Brelis – foreign correspondent for NBC, CBS and Time magazine
- Alexis Christoforous – CBS News Early Show
- Chris Clark – lead news anchor at WTVF in Nashville, TN. He also gave Oprah Winfrey her first television job
- Stefan Fatsis – National Public Radio
- Paul Glastris – editor-in-chief of The Washington Monthly
- Nick Gregory – WNYW New York meteorologist for over twenty years
- Chris Hondros – photojournalist
- Elaina Athans – WTVD reporter
- Soterios Johnson – WNYC- morning anchor
- Demetria Kalodimos – anchorperson for WSMV-TV Nashville, Tennessee [18]
- Ernie Manouse – TV anchor/producer, PBS
- Debbie Matenopoulos – television host, journalist, and lifestyle expert
- Maria Menounos – correspondent for Today and Access Hollywood
- John Metaxas – WCBS New York radio correspondent
- Ike Pappas – former CBS News correspondent
- Nicole Petallides – Fox business reporter
- Kopi Sotiropulos – meteorologist in Fresno, CA for KMPH-TV
- Andrea Stassou – reporter for WCBS-TV in New York
- George Stephanopoulos – host of ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos
- Andrea Tantaros – Former Fox News commentator and host. Conservative political pundit.
- Vicki Liviakis – journalist
- Betty White - Actress and comedian
Radio
[edit]- Chris Douridas – DJ and actor in Los Angeles market.
Art and entertainment
[edit]Comedy
[edit]- Charlie Callas
- Tina Fey
- Zach Galifianakis
- Demetri Martin[19]
- Amy Sedaris – father was of Greek descent[20]
- Nia Vardalos
- Betty White
- Stavros Halkias – ex co-host of comedy podcast Cum Town and current host of Stavvy's World Podcast
Dance
[edit]Choreography
[edit]Pop
[edit]- Corky Ballas – retired dancer, Dancing with the Stars father to Mark Ballas
- Mark Ballas – professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars
- Steve Condos – tap dancer
- Natalie Fotopoulos - dance teacher, contestant on the Fox reality show So You Think You Can Dance
Tango
[edit]- Homer Ladas – Argentine tango dancer and teacher
- Karina Smirnoff – dancer Dancing with the Stars, Forever Tango. Her mother is Russian; her father is Greek.[21]
Film and theater
[edit]Actors
[edit]- Jack Angel – actor, who has worked on many radio programs, animated television series, movies and video games
- John Aniston – actor, born Yannis Anastasakis, father of actress Jennifer Aniston[22]
- Ant (Anthony Steven Kalloniatis) – Last Comic Standing comedian
- Lou Antonio – actor, best known for performing in the films Cool Hand Luke and America America
- Hank Azaria – actor, know foremeost for his work on animated television series the Simpsons, he has worked on many television series and movies.
- Dave Bautista – former WWE professional wrestler (Greek mother and Filipino father) and actor
- Ted Beniades – character actor of screen and stage who was best known for appearing in Brian De Palma's Scarface as Siedelbaum
- Abraham Hercules Benrubi – actor
- Dennis Boutsikaris
- Charlie Callas – comedian and actor
- John Cassavetes – movie director, actor
- Paul Cavonis – TV and movie actor
- George Chakiris – Academy Award winner "Best Supporting Actor" for West Side Story (1961 film)
- Michael Chiklis – of 3/4 Greek descent[23]
- John Considine – grandson of vaudeville and film producer Alexander Pantages on his mother's side, and nephew on his father's side to writer Bob Considine. Brother to actor/writer Tim Considine. Notable for his role as a writer for the 1960s American television series Combat! as well as appearances as an actor in series like Knight Rider and Murder, She Wrote.
- Tim Considine – actor, writer and photographer, grandson of vaudeville and film producer Alexander Pantages.[24] Noted for his writing work on the American TV series Combat!, along with his brother John Considine, and his starring role as Jamie Frederick in My Three Sons.
- Michael Constantine – actor, born Constantine Ioannides, son of Greek immigrants.
- Nick Dennis – actor, known for playing ethnic types in films such as Kiss Me Deadly, Sirocco and A Streetcar Named Desire
- Chris Diamantopoulos (born 1975) – Canadian-born actor
- Dimitri Diatchenko (1968–2020) – actor, of partial Greek descent[25]
- Michael Flessas – actor, Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) winning film Dancer in the Dark at the Cannes Film Festival. Paternal grandparents both born in Greece.
- Zach Galifianakis – father is of Greek descent
- Tony Ganios – actor, probably best known for his role as Anthony 'Meat' Tuperello in the 1982 hit comedy Porky's and its sequels
- Christopher George – "The Rat Patrol" (1966–1968)
- Demetrius Joyette – actor
- John Kapelos – Canadian-born actor of film and TV
- Ron Karabatsos – actor
- Robert Karvelas – actor who is notable for his role as the Chief's dense assistant, Larrabee, on the 1960s sitcom Get Smart
- Andreas Katsulas[26]
- Nick Kiriazis – actor [27]
- Nikos Kourkoulos – Greek stage and film star who also appeared on Broadway.
- Elias Koteas – Canadian/US movie actor
- Peter Lupus – bodybuilder and actor, best remembered for the role of Willy Armitage in the original Mission: Impossible television series in the 1960s
- Ralph Macchio – father is of half-Italian and half-Greek descent [28]
- George Maharis[29]
- Rami Malek – American movie actor of partial Greek descent.[30]
- Jason Mantzoukas – American actor, comedian, and writer.[31]
- Adoni Maropis – star of 24 among other titles.[32]
- Constantine Maroulis[33]
- David Mazouz – actor, his mother is of Greek-Jewish descent
- Andy Milonakis
- Nico Minardos
- Ryan Pinkston – TV and movie actor; model, mother is of Greek descent
- Chris Sarandon[34]
- George Savalas[35]
- Telly Savalas[36]
- Stelio Savante – actor, producer and writer whose credits include Ugly Betty, Running For Grace, My Super Ex Girlfriend and No Postage Necessary
- Zachary Scott – actor who was most notable for his roles as villains and "mystery men"
- Alexander Scourby – actor and narrator, played 'Old Polo' in Giant, James Dean's last film
- Alek Skarlatos – US Army National Guard soldier awarded the Soldier's Medal from US President Barack Obama and the Legion of Honor by French President François Hollande for his participation in the thwarting of terrorist train attack on the 2015 Thalys train attack. Portrayed himself in Clint Eastwood's film The 15:17 to Paris (2018).
- Ted Sorel – actor whose numerous credits included Guiding Light, Law & Order and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- John Stamos – father was of Greek descent[38]
- Gus Trikonis – actor appeared in West Side Story along with his sister, Gina Trikonis. 1st husband of Goldie Hawn.
- Dan Vadis – actor famous for his lead roles in many Italian films made in the 1960s
- Titos Vandis – Greek stage and film star. Later starred on Broadway and in Hollywood. Character actor in over 100 U.S. TV shows and dozens of U.S. films.
- Jimmy Workman – actor
- Billy Zane – actor and director, best known for his role as Caledon Hockley in the film Titanic.[39]
Actresses
[edit]- Jennifer Aniston – father is Greek, Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award-winning film/television actress, best known for her role as Rachel Green on the sitcom Friends, daughter of actors John Aniston and Nancy Dow.[40] [40]
- Paula Cale[41]
- Dimitra Arliss – actress
- Gabrielle Carteris – actress, best known for her role as Andrea Zuckerman on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 (father was of Greek descent)[42]
- Jessica Chastain – Academy Award-winning actress (distant origin on her father's side)
- Katie Chonacas[43]
- Margia Dean – former American beauty queen and actress
- Nancy Dow – actress, mother of actress Jennifer Aniston, is said to have some Greek ancestry[44]
- Olympia Dukakis – Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress.[45]
- Tina Fey – mother is of Greek descent[46]
- Heather Goldenhersh – Tony Award nominated actress
- Xenia Gratsos
- Sasha Grey – content creator-presenter/former adult star; mixed Greek, Irish and Polish ancestry
- Angie Harmon – maternal grandparents were of Greek descent[47]
- Lindsay Hartley – mother is of part Greek descent[48]
- Marilu Henner[41]
- Melina Kanakaredes – actress, best known for Providence and CSI: NY[49]
- Kym Karath – actress, best known for her role as Gretl in The Sound of Music
- Zoe Kazan – actress, paternal grandfather, Elia Kazan, was Greek
- Melia Kreiling – actress, Greek mother
- Lauren Lapkus-actress, screenwriter Greek-Serbian mother.
- Maria Menounos[50]
- Sofia Milos
- Alexa Nikolas
- Elizabeth Perkins – father was of Greek descent[41]
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler – father is of Greek Jewish and Romanian Jewish descent[51]
- Marina Sirtis[52] - played Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- Tracy Spiridakos – actress, born in Canada by Greek-born parents, best known for her role as Charlotte "Charlie" Matheson in the NBC post-apocalyptic science fiction series Revolution.
- Mena Suvari – actress, best known for her roles in the films American Pie and American Beauty, maternal grandmother was of Greek descent[53]
- Gina Trikonis – actress who appeared in West Side Story along with her brother Gus Trikonis.
- Nia Vardalos – actress. From My Big Fat Greek Wedding; Canadian-born
- Gloria Votsis – actress. She is known for her small roles in several TV series such as Hawaii Five-0, The Gates, CSI, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, and Suburgatory. Votsis also had a starring role in the film The Education of Charlie Banks alongside Jesse Eisenberg. She also recurred as Alex Hunter on the USA drama White Collar.
- Betty White – maternal grandfather was Greek[54] - actress
- Rita Wilson – actress, film producer and singer, mother is of Greek descent[55]
- Tiffani Thiessen – actress
- Ariel Winter – actress
- Shanelle Workman – voice actress for various video games and animated TV shows, mother is of Greek descent
- Elena Kampouris – actress
- Haley Pullos – actress
- Lisa Zane – actress and singer, sister of actor Billy Zane.[56]
Art direction, costume design, set design
[edit]- George Barris (auto customizer) – designer and builder of many famous Hollywood custom cars, including The Batmobile for the Batman (TV series).
- Anna Louizos – Tony award nominated scenic designer and art director
- Dean Tavoularis – Academy Award winner for Best Art Direction (The Godfather Part II)[57]
- Mary Zophres – costume designer, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the 2010 film True Grit
Choreography
[edit]Cinematography
[edit]- Chris Condon – cinematographer and 3D pioneer
- Michael Gioulakis – cinematographer
- Phedon Papamichael – director, cinematographer
- Harris Savides – cinematographer
Directors
[edit]- Juliet Bashore – cult film & television director, Kamikaze Hearts, The Battle of Tuntenhaus
- Alexandra Cassavetes – director, daughter of John Cassavetes
- John Cassavetes – movie director, actor
- Nick Cassavetes – movie director[41]
- Tom Cherones – director and producer of several TV series. His most well-known directing work is on Seinfeld
- George Pan Cosmatos1, film director, Tombstone, Rambo: First Blood Part II
- Milton Katselas – director, Hollywood acting teacher
- Elia Kazan – movie director, two-time Academy Award winner for Gentleman's Agreement and On the Waterfront, A Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata, East of Eden
- Tony Leondis – film director, writer and voice actor of animation
- Dimitri Logothetis
- Gregory Markopoulos – film director, New American Cinema of the 1960s
- Nico Mastorakis – film and TV director
- Melina Matsoukas
- Andrew Moskos – producer/owner of Boom Chicago
- Alexander Payne – Academy Award winning movie director
- Nikos Psacharopoulos – theater producer, director, and educator
- Andy Sidaris – film director of cult B-movie films
- Penelope Spheeris – director (Wayne's World)
- Greg Yaitanes – television and film director
- Billy Zane – actor, director[39]
Makeup and special effects
[edit]- Karen Goulekas – visual effects artist
- Jack Pierce – designer of makeup and costumes for all of Universal Studios's iconic movie monsters, including: Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man, et al.
- Patrick Tatopoulos – special effects and creature designer[58]
- Petro Vlahos – Oscar-awarded Hollywood special effects pioneer
Producers
[edit]- Jean Doumanian – born Jeannine Karabas. Early associate producer of Saturday Night Live and briefly replaced Lorne Michaels as Executive Producer; Producer of seven Woody Allen films. Tony Award-winning producer of several Broadway plays.
- Sid Ganis
- Laeta Kalogridis – screenwriter, TV and film producer
- Tom Kapinos
- Anthony Katagas – film producer
- Nicholas Kazan – screenwriter, film producer, director. He is the son of director Elia Kazan and his first wife, playwright Molly Kazan
- Nico Mastorakis – film and TV producer
- Dino Stamatopoulos – television comedy writer, actor and producer who has worked on Mr. Show, TV Funhouse, Mad TV, Moral Orel, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Ted Sarandos – chief content officer at Netflix
- David Brookwell - TV and film producer. Mother of Greek descent
Props
[edit]- George Barris (auto customizer) – designer and builder of many famous Hollywood custom cars
Sound
[edit]- Mildred Iatrou Morgan – sound editor and audio engineer, nomination for the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing at the 89th Academy Awards
Magicians
[edit]Musicians
[edit]Composer
[edit]- Marco Beltrami – film composer
- John Cacavas – composer, conductor
- Dinos Constantinides - composer
- Andreas Makris - composer, conductor
- Basil Poledouris – film composer[59]
- Christopher Theofanidis - composer
- George Tsontakis - composer
- James Yannatos - composer, conductor
Conductor
[edit]- Maurice Abravanel – conductor of classical music
- John Cacavas – composer, conductor
- Alexander Frey – conductor, pianist, organist, composer, recording artist
- Donald Johanos – conductor and music director with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra
- Steven Karidoyanes – composer, broadcaster and conductor with Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra[60]
- Dimitris Mitropoulos – world-renowned symphony conductor[61]
Producers
[edit]- George Drakoulias – music producer
- Dino Fekaris – Grammy awarded composer (I will survive)
- Nick Venet – record producer
Classical
[edit]- Lefteris Bournias – clarinetist
- William Masselos – classical pianist
- Murray Perahia – concert pianist and conductor with roots in Thessaloniki
Country & western
[edit]- Kostas Lazarides – songwriter for many top C&W artists including: Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, George Strait, and Travis Tritt.
- Lane Brody – singer. Born "Eleni Voorlas" in Chicago area. Brody and Johnny Lee wrote lyrics to and recorded the theme music for the 1983–1984 NBC television show, The Yellow Rose. The theme song of the same name became a No. 1 hit on the U.S. country singles chart on April 21, 1984.
Dark cabaret
[edit]- Lola Blanc – singer, songwriter; her father is Greek-American.
Disco
[edit]- Lourett Russell Grant – singer and record producer
New age
[edit]- Chris Spheeris – new age multi-instrumentalist, composer, recording artist, collaborated on several albums with Paul Voudouris[62]
- Paul Avgerinos – composer, performer and producer of new-age music
- Yanni – new-age musician[63]
Opera
[edit]- Maria Callas – considered one of the greatest opera sopranos of all time[64]
- Tatiana Troyanos – mezzo-soprano[65]
Pop
[edit]- The Andrews Sisters – singers[66]
- Kelly Clarkson – American Idol (Season 1) winner[67]
- Kalomoira – pop singer [68]
- George Michael Pop singer and songwriter
- Nick Noble (singer) – pop singer, popular in the mid-1950s and best known for his recordings of The Tip of My Finger and Moonlight Swim
- Tony Orlando – singer. Half Greek and half Puerto Rican.[69]
- Chris Trousdale (born 1985) - singer, former Dream Street member[70]
- Jim Verraros (born 1983) - singer, entertainer, one of the top 10 finalists in the first season of American Idol[71]
Rock and metal
[edit]- Art Alexakis – singer/songwriter/guitarist, member of Everclear
- Teddy Andreadis – keyboardist
- Johnny Antonopoulos – singer/guitarist
- Seven Antonopoulos – rock drummer
- Tommy Clufetos – session drummer
- Warren Cuccurullo – rock musician and long-term member of Duran Duran
- Greg Dulli – musician[72]
- The Fiery Furnaces – indie rock band[73]
- Tomas Kalnoky – lead singer/guitarist and songwriter of the bands Streetlight Manifesto and Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution
- Wayne Kramer – guitarist for Motor City Five[74][75]
- Tim Lambesis – lead singer of Metalcore band As I Lay Dying
- Tommy Lee – heavy metal drummer[76]
- Jim Matheos – guitarist and the primary songwriter for the progressive metal band Fates Warning
- Vicky Psarakis – vocalist of Canadian metal band The Agonist.
- Jim Sclavunos – drummer for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds[77]
- Derek Sherinian – virtuoso rock and jazz fusion keyboardist
- Jim Tasikas – primary songwriter and guitarist for progressive death metal band Contrarian (band)
- Alex Varkatzas – lead singer of Hard Rock/Metalcore band Atreyu
- Frank Zappa – composer
Rap
[edit]- Peter Anastasopoulos (MadClip) - singer
- Arizona Zervas – rapper, singer and songwriter
- Andy Milonakis - streamer, actor, comedian and rapper
Rock and roll
[edit]- Sarah Aroeste – Manhattan-based[78] Jewish Ladino musician with roots in the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki.[79]
- Annette Artani – singer-songwriter[80]
- Amalia Bakas – singer of Greek traditional and rembetiko songs with a successful career in the United States.
- Sylvia Constantinidis – Venezuelan-born pianist, conductor, writer, music educator and composer.
- Nickitas J. Demos – composer of contemporary classical music drawing from Greek inspiration.
- Tatiana von Fürstenberg – rock singer
- Diamanda Galás – performance artist, vocalist, and composer[81]
- Nick Gravenites – blues, rock and folk singer-songwriter
- Fran Jeffries – singer, dancer, actress, and model
- James J. Kellaris - award-winning composer of contemporary classical music drawing from Greek and Byzantine themes.
- Paul Lekakis – singer
- Jessie Malakouti – singer
- Athan Maroulis – singer, producer, musician, older brother of American Idol Season 4 finalist Constantine Maroulis
- Constantine Maroulis – singer, stage actor, American Idol (Season 4) finalist[82]
- Dimitri Minakakis – original singer and founding member of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan
- Ted Nichols – composer conductor, arranger, educator, minister of music
- Becky O'Donohue – singer and American Idol (Season 5) semi-finalist[83]
- Johnny Otis – rhythm and blues musician[84]
- Shuggie Otis – rock, blues & funk guitarist and songwriter[85]
- Jimmie Spheeris – singer-songwriter in the 1970s
- The Vanity Set – alternative/rebetiko rock band[86]
Visual arts
[edit]Comics, cartoons
[edit]- Chris Eliopoulos – cartoonist and letterer of comic books
- Christos Gage – DC/Marvel Comics/Wildstorm and Law & Order writer[87]
- Nicholas Galifianakis – cartoonist and artist who draws satirical cartoons
- Bill Jemas – former publisher of Marvel Comics & former executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment Group
- Stephan Pastis – cartoonist and the creator of the comic strip Pearls Before Swine
- George Roussos – comic book artist best known as one of Jack Kirby's Silver Age inkers
- Bob Rozakis – comic book writer and editor known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics
- Mark Alan Stamaty – cartoonist and children's book writer and illustrator
- Aliki Theofilopoulos – cartoonist and director
Graffiti
[edit]- Alex Martinez – graffiti artist, illustrator, muralist (Greek mother)
- Taki 183 – original artist who spawned the Graffiti craze in New York City of 1960s-70s. Demetrios/Demetraki ("Taki") hailed from 183rd Street in Washington Heights, hence his moniker "Taki 183".
Illustrators
[edit]- Constantinos Coconis – illustrator
- Cleo Damianakes – etcher and illustrator of 1920s book dust jackets for Hemingway and Fitzgeralds
- Basil Gogos – horror painter/illustrator
- George Stavrinos – illustrator (Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame)
Painters
[edit]- William Baziotes – painter, a contributor to Abstract Expressionism
- Constantino Brumidi – Congressional Medal of Honor for paintings inside U.S. Capitol building.
- Thomas Chimes – painter
- Lillian Delevoryas – artist whose career spanned six decades
- Dino Kotopoulis – artist
- Ethel Magafan – painter and muralist
- William Spencer Bagdatopoulos – painter and commercial artist
- Theodoros Stamos – painter, a contributor to Abstract Expressionism, member of The Irascibles
- Theo Stavropoulos - painter
- Anthony Velonis – painter and designer, who helped introduce the public to silkscreen printing in the early 20th century
- Jean Xceron – abstract painter
Performance artists
[edit]- Mary Ashley – video artist, performance artist, and painter
Photography
[edit]- Marie Cosindas – photographer, best known for her evocative still life and color portraits
- Chris Hondros – Pulitzer Prize-nominated war photographer
- James Karales – Pulitzer Prize awarded photographer
- Christopher Makos – photographer for Calvin Klein, Esquire and Andy Warhol
- Constantine Manos – photographer (Leica Medal of Excellence in 2003)
- Tod Papageorge – art photographer
- Ithaka Darin Pappas – photographic artist and celebrity portraitist i.e.: NWA Straight Outta Compton, Marlee Matlin, Giancarlo Esposito, Takashi Murakami etc.
- Andrew Prokos – architectural and fine art photographer
- Popsie Randolph – photographer
- George Tames – photographer for The New York Times from 1945–1985
- Paul Vathis – photojournalist for the Associated Press for 56 years (Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1962)
Sculptors
[edit]- Stephen Antonakos – sculptor
- Peter Forakis – abstract geometric sculptor
- Zenos Frudakis – figurative sculptor
- Chryssa – sculptor
- Lynda Benglis – sculptor and visual artist
- Dimitri Hadzi – sculptor
- Nicholas Legeros – bronze sculptor
- Peter Voulkos – sculptor, ceramics art innovator
- Electros Vekris – Sculptor kinetics
Unfiled
[edit]- Michael Janis – glass artist, one of the directors of the Washington Glass School, known for his work on glass using the exceptionally difficult sgraffito technique on glass
- Kimon Nicolaides – art teacher, author and artist, who developed the widely used method of teaching drawing "The Natural Way to Draw"
- Ithaka Darin Pappas – multi-disciplinary artist, creator of The Reincarnation of a Surfboard, credited with being the founder of the Contemporary Surf Art movement
Military
[edit]- Gus George Bebas – naval aviator and a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross
- LTG Peter G. Burbules – retired United States Army Lieutenant General. U.S. Army Ordnance Hall of Fame.
- Matthew Bogdanos – colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves
- Chris Carr – United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
- Alden Partridge Colvocoresses – developer of the first satellite map of the United States
- George Colvocoresses – commander of the Saratoga during the American Civil War[88]
- George Partridge Colvocoresses – led a distinguished military career rising to the rank of Admiral
- George Dilboy – first Greek-American to receive Medal of Honor
- Andrea Dimitry – Greek-American soldier in the War of 1812 fought in the Battle of New Orleans
- George Doundoulakis – Greek-American soldier who worked under British Intelligence during World War II and served with the OSS in Thessaly, Greece. Later becoming a physicist, he is known by his twenty-six US patents in the fields of radar, electronics, and narrowband television.
- Helias Doundoulakis – served in the United States Army and the Office of Strategic Services — the OSS — as a spy during the Battle of Crete in WWII. Later becoming a civil engineer, he worked on many elite projects for the U.S. Navy and NASA as project leader at Grumman Aerospace. Brother of George Doundoulakis.
- Michel Dragon (1739–1821) Greek American Lieutenant in the American Revolution fought in the Siege of Pensacola.
- Photius Fisk (1809–1890) American abolitionist, Chaplain U.S.N., lobbied to abolish flogging in the U.S. Navy
- Jack H. Jacobs, Vietnam War veteran. Medal of Honor recipient (of Romaniote Jewish descent).
- James G. Kalergis – U.S. Army officer who played a significant role in the post-Vietnam era reorganization of the U.S. Army
- George Marshall (1781–1855) served in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812, he was a Master Gunner and wrote Marshall's Practical Marine Gunnery.
- James Megellas – retired United States Army officer, the most decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, received a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, and been nominated for the Medal of Honor
- Charles Moskos – leading military sociologist in the US Military. Author of Greek Americans: Struggle and Success.
- William Pagonis – retired three-star U.S. Army General and chairman of the board for RailAmerica
- Steve Pisanos – (November 10, 1919 – June 6, 2016) aka "The Flying Greek" - flying ace who served as a fighter pilot with the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and later in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. He retired in 1974 from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel.
- Andrew P. Poppas – United States Army lieutenant general currently serving as the director of the Joint Staff
- George Sirian – served in the US Navy with distinction for nearly fifty years
- Alek Skarlatos – US Army National Guard soldier awarded the Soldier's Medal from US President Barack Obama and the Legion of Honor by French President François Hollande for his participation in the thwarting of terrorist train attack on the 2015 Thalys train attack. Portrayed himself in Clint Eastwood's film The 15:17 to Paris (2018).
- James G. Stavridis – retired USN admiral, Supreme Allied Commander Europe July 2, 2009 - May 13, 2013
- Peter G. Tsouras – retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army
- Commander Demetries Grimes - is a combat decorated former US naval officer, aviator, SECDEF Executive Fellow, and diplomat. He served as US Naval Attache to Israel and Greece, deputy commander of the US military base in Crete, Combined Joint Inter-Agency 435 (CJIATF-435), and adviser on Ukraine and non-NATO partners to NATO's Maritime Commander in London, UK.
Politicians
[edit]Federal
[edit]Ιncumbent politicians
[edit]- Gus Bilirakis – U.S. Representative from Florida, Republican co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues
- Chris Pappas – U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
- Dina Titus – U.S. Representative from Nevada
- John Sarbanes – U.S. Representative from Maryland
- Nicole Malliotakis – U.S. Representative from New York, former New York State assemblywoman (2011–2021)
- John Podesta – Senior Advisor to the President under President Biden, former White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton and campaign director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run.
Former politicians
[edit]- Spiro Agnew – former Vice President of the United States, former governor of Maryland, first Greek-American governor in U.S. history
- Michael Dukakis – former Governor of Massachusetts, 1988 Democratic presidential nominee
- Paul Sarbanes – former U.S. Senator from Maryland; co-sponsored the Sarbanes–Oxley Act on corporate accounting
- Olympia Snowe – former U.S. Senator from Maine, former First Lady of Maine
- Paul Tsongas – former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
- John E. Sununu – former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, former U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
- John Brademas – former House Majority Whip, former U.S. Representative from Indiana, former president of New York University, former chair of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
- John H. Sununu – former White House Chief of Staff under President G.H.W. Bush and former Governor of New Hampshire
- Reince Priebus – former White House Chief of Staff under President Trump, former Chair of Republican National Committee
- Jen Psaki – 34th White House Press Secretary under President Biden, former U.S. Department of State spokesperson under President Obama.
- John Negroponte – U.S. Director of National Intelligence, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
- George Tenet – former U.S. Director of Central Intelligence
- Sylvia Mathews Burwell – former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Obama, former U.S. Director of the Office of Management and Budget, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and president of American University
- Peter Peterson – former U.S. Secretary of Commerce – first Greek-American cabinet officer, head of Blackstone Group
- George Stephanopoulos – political commentator, former Senior Advisor to the President under President Clinton, former White House Communications Director.
- Brian Bulatao – former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Management under President Trump.
- Andrew Manatos – former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce under President Carter
- Michael Bilirakis – former U.S. Representative from Florida.
- Nick Galifianakis – former U.S. Representative from North Carolina
- Peter Kyros – former U.S. Representative from Maine
- Skip Bafalis – former U.S. Representative from Florida
- Nicholas Mavroules – former U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, former mayor of Peabody, Massachusetts
- Gus Yatron – former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, and boxer
- George Gekas – former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
- Zack Space – former U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Suzanne Kosmas – former U.S. Representative from Florida
- Ron Klink – former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
- Michael James Pappas – former U.S. Representative from New Jersey
- Charlie Crist – former U.S. Representative from Florida, former governor of Florida (2007–2011), former Florida attorney general (2003–2007)
- William Antholis – former White House and State Department official, studies the presidency at the University of Virginia
- Jon Favreau – former White House Director of Speechwriting
- George Argyros – former U.S. Ambassador to Spain
- James Costos – former U.S. Ambassador to Spain under Barack Obama.
- Alexander Dimitry – diplomat, linguist and scholar who worked as a U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua
- George T. Kalaris[89] - CIA head of Counter-intelligence Staff and chief of the Soviet-East Europe Division
- Tom C. Korologos – U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Reagan lobbyist
- Gregory Anthony Perdicaris – first U.S. Consul to Greece
- Tasia Scolinos – Justice Department director of public affairs
- Frances Townsend – former assistant to the president and homeland security advisor
- Viron Vaky – former U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, Colombia and Venezuela
State
[edit]Incumbent politicians
[edit]- Michael Gianaris – New York State Senator (2011 to present) from Astoria, NY
- Andrew Gounardes – New York State Senator (2019 to present) from Bay Ridge Brooklyn, NY
- Chris Sununu – 82nd Governor of New Hampshire
- Eleni Kounalakis – Lieutenant Governor of California and former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (2010–2013)
- Susan Bysiewicz – Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, former Secretary of the State of Connecticut (1999–2011)
- Stavros Anthony – Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, Las Vegas Councilman
- Alexi Giannoulias – Illinois Secretary of State-elect, former Illinois State Treasurer (2007–2011), 2010 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate
- Jimmy Patronis – Chief Financial Officer of Florida, former Florida State Representative (2006–2014)
- Bruce Tarr (Tamvakologos) - Minority Leader of Massachusetts Senate, Massachusetts State Senator, former Massachusetts State Representative (1991–1995)
- John Velis – Massachusetts Senate, Massachusetts State Senator
- Diane DiZoglio – Massachusetts Senate, Massachusetts State Senator
- Steven Xiarhos – Massachusetts Senate, Massachusetts State Representative
- Tami Gouvela – Massachusetts Senate, Massachusetts State Representative
- Denise Garlick – Massachusetts Senate, Massachusetts State Representative
- Sandy Pappas – Minnesota State Senator representing St. Paul, former President of the Minnesota Senate (2013–2017) and former Minnesota State Representative (1985–1991)
- Leonidas Raptakis – Rhode Island State Senator, former Rhode Island State Representative (1993–1997)
- Michael Gianaris – Deputy Majority Leader of New York State Senate, New York State Senator and former New York State Representative (2001–2010)
- James Skoufis – New York State Senator, former New York State Representative (2013–2018)
- Andrew Gounardes – New York State Senator
- Michael Tannousis – New York State Representative
- John Lemondes Jr. – New York State Representative
- Daphne Jordan – New York State Senator
- Andreas Borgeas – California State Senator, former member of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors (2013–2018)
- Eleni Kavros DeGraw – Connecticut State Representative
- Nicole Klarides-Ditria – Connecticut State Representative
- Spiros Mantzavinos – Delaware State Senator
- Leon Stavrinakis – South Carolina State Representative
- Maria Tzanakis Collett – Pennsylvania State Senator
- Steve Malagari – Pennsylvania State Representative
- Phyllis Katsakiores – New Hampshire State Representative
- Efstathia Booras – New Hampshire State Representative
- Ted Gatsas – Executive Council of New Hampshire, former mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire (2010–2018), former member of New Hampshire Senate (2000–2009)
- Stephan Pappas – Wyoming State Senator
- James C. Condos – Vermont Secretary of State, former Vermont State Senator (2000–2008)
- Michael F. Easley Jr. – United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
Former politicians
[edit]- Phil Angelides – former California State Treasurer (1999–2007), 2006 Democratic nominee for governor of California
- Nick Theodore – former Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina (1987–1995)
- George Chanos – former Nevada Attorney General (2005–2007)
- Stephanie Kopelousos – former Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (2007–2011)
- Dean Skelos – former New York State Senate member (1985–2015) and the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate (2008, 2011–2015)
- Harry Meshel – former President of the Ohio Senate (1983–1984), former Ohio State Senator (1971–1993)
- Dean Alfange – former Deputy New York Attorney General and founding member of the Liberal Party of New York
- Jim Dabakis – former Utah State Senator (2012–2019), former chairman of the Utah Democratic Party
- Themis Klarides – former Connecticut State Representative, former Minority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives (2015–2021)
- Adeline Jay Geo-Karis – former Illinois State Senator (1979–2007), former naval officer
- Theodore Kanavas – former Wisconsin State Senator from Brookfield, Wisconsin (2001–2011)
- John Pappageorge – former Michigan State Senator (2007–2014), former Michigan State Representative (1999–2004), former Oakland County, Michigan Commissioner (1989–1992)
- Phil P. Leventis – former South Carolina State Senator (1980–2012)
- Leah Vukmir-Papachristou – former Wisconsin State Senator (2011–2019), former Wisconsin State Assemblywoman (2002–2011)
- Gale D. Candaras – former Massachusetts State Senator (2007–2015)
- Samuel C. Maragos – former Illinois State Senator (1976–1980), former Illinois State Representative (1969–1976), former Judge of Cook County Circuit Court (1992–1995)
- Johnny Joannou – former Virginia State Senator and Virginia State Delegate (1976–2016)
- Nick Rerras – former Virginia State Senator (2000–2008)
- Harry Meshel – former Ohio State Senator (1971–1993)
- Nicholas C. Petris – former California State Senator (1966–1996)
- Jim Aslanides – former Ohio State Representative (1999–2008)
- Nicholas Kafoglis – former Kentucky State Senator (1988–1998), former Kentucky State Representative (1972–1976)
- Lou Papan – former California State Assemblyman (1996-2002, 1973–1986)
- Dimitri Polizos – former Alabama State Representative (2013–2019)
- Demetrius Atsalis – former Massachusetts State Representative (1999–2013)
- James Bacalles – former New York State Assemblyman (1995–2010)
- Elaine Alquist – former California State Assemblyman (1996-2002, 2004–2012)
- Larry Chatzidakis – former New Jersey Assemblyman (1997–2008)
- Frank Skartados – former New York State Assemblyman (2012-2018, 2009–2010)
- Theodore J. Sophocleus – former Maryland State Delegate (1999-2018, 1993–1995)
- Joyce Spiliotis – former Massachusetts State Representative (2003–2012)
- Sandra M. Pihos – former Illinois State Representative (2003–2015)
- Matthew Mirones – former New York State Assemblyman (2002–2006)
- Theodore C. Speliotis – former Massachusetts State Representative (1979-1987, 1997–2021)
- Gery Chico – former Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education (2011–2015)
- Mary P. Easley – former First Lady of North Carolina (2001–2009)
Local
[edit]- Dean Trantalis – mayor of Fort Lauderdale, former city commissioner for Fort Lauderdale (2013–2018)
- Bill Saffo – mayor of Wilmington, North Carolina
- Maria Pappas – Cook County treasurer.[90]
- Ted Venetoulis – former Executive of Baltimore County
- Art Agnos – former mayor of San Francisco
- George Christopher – former mayor of San Francisco
- Mike Pantelides – former mayor of Annapolis
- John Rousakis – former mayor of Savannah, Georgia
- Helen Boosalis – former mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska
- P. Pete Chalos – second-longest-serving mayor in the history of Terre Haute, Indiana
- George Cretekos – former mayor of Clearwater, Florida
- George Harlamon – former mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut
- David Scondras – former member of the Boston City Council
- George Pandely former New Orleans assistant alderman (1853, 1868–1870) and locomotive supervisor
Science and academia
[edit]Academic administration
[edit]- Dennis Assanis – academic administrator, scientist, engineer and author, 28th president of the University of Delaware
- Constantine W. Curris – educator, former president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
- James S. Economou – physician-scientist and university officer, currently the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of California, Los Angeles
- Peter Liacouras – former president of Temple University
- C. L. Max Nikias – engineer and president of the University of Southern California[91]
- Constantine Papadakis – president of Drexel University
- Symeon C. Symeonides – current dean of Willamette University College of Law
- Armand Paul Alivisatos – chemist, 14th president of the University of Chicago
- Arthur C. Vailas – 12th president of Idaho State University
Anthropology
[edit]- Dorothy D. Lee – anthropologist, author and philosopher of cultural anthropology
Biology - genetics
[edit]- Constantine John Alexopoulos – mycologist
- Manolis Kellis – genomics, computational biology, AI
- Tom Maniatis – biologist
- Aristides Patrinos – geneticist, biological, electrical and chemical engineer, human genome project
- George Yancopoulos – biomedical scientist, chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
- Panayiotis Zavos – geneticist
Chemistry
[edit]- Paul Anastas – chemist
- Paul Alivisatos – nanotechnologist
- Kyriacos Costa Nicolaou – chemist
Computer science
[edit]- Saul Amarel – artificial intelligence pioneer
- Sebastian Condyles - Computer Science student in the engineering school at the University of Virginia
- Michael Dertouzos – innovator and director of the M.I.T. LCS
- Paris Kanellakis – computer scientist
- Christos Papadimitriou – professor of computer science at University of California, Berkeley
- Katia Sycara – professor in the Robotics Institute, School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University
- Demetri Terzopoulos – computer scientist
- Mihalis Yannakakis – computer scientist
Economics-management
[edit]- Chris Argyris – distinguished lifetime contributor to theory and practice of management
- John Geanakoplos – economist, James Tobin Professor of Economics at Yale University
- Dimitri B. Papadimitriou – economist, author, and college professor
Engineering
[edit]- Constantine A. Balanis – electrical engineer
- John Baras – electrical engineer
- George Doundoulakis – physicist and soldier who worked under British Intelligence during World War II and then served with the OSS in Thessaly, Greece. He is known by his twenty-six US patents in the fields of radar, electronics, and narrowband television.
- Helias Doundoulakis – civil engineer who was employed at Grumman Aerospace Corporation for over thirty five years and group leader on many USAF and NASA projects. These included the Apollo space missions and the Lunar Excursion Module, the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, and the Space Shuttle. His design of the oxygen tanks on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission was instrumental in the return of the Apollo 13 crew, for which Doundoulakis was given a plaque by Captain James Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert. Served in the United States Army and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) — as a spy during the Battle of Crete in WWII.
- John Dugundji - aeronautical engineer, professor at MIT
- Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos – chemical engineer
- Peter Karter – nuclear engineer and one of the pioneers of the modern recycling industry
- Ares J. Rosakis – engineer
- George Tchobanoglous – civil and environmental engineer, professor at University of California, Davis
- Michael Tsapatsis – chemical engineer and materials scientist
English, debate, speech
[edit]- Helena Zachos (March 5, 1856 – February 28, 1951) - American college professor and elocutionist, who was on the faculty at Cooper Union from 1897 to 1939. Daughter of educator and abolitionist Professor John Celivergos Zachos.
- John Celivergos Zachos (December 20, 1820 – March 20, 1898) - worked as Library Curator and Professor of English Language at Cooper Union from 1872 until his death in 1898. In 1861 was named the first superintendent of the Port Royal Experiment where freed slaves were educated on the liberated islands off of Charleston, SC.
Law
[edit]- George Anastaplo – professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law
- George C. Christie – James B. Duke emeritus professor of law at Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina
- Nicholas Tsoucalas – United States Judge of the United States Court of International Trade
Mathematics
[edit]- Tom M. Apostol – analytic number theorist and professor at the California Institute of Technology
- Persi Diaconis – mathematician
- James Dugundji – mathematician, professor of mathematics at the University of Southern California
- George Karniadakis – applied mathematician and engineer
- Panayotis G. Kevrekidis – applied mathematician
- Spyros Simos Magliveras - mathematics and computer science
- George C. Papanicolaou – mathematician
- Athanasios Papoulis – engineer and applied mathematician
- John Allen Paulos – mathematician
- Thaleia Zariphopoulou – mathematician
Medicine
[edit]- George Canellos – oncologist and cancer researcher
- John Ioannidis – physician
- Albert Levis – psychiatrist and philosopher
- Christos Socrates Mantzoros – physician scientist, internist - endocrinologist, Harvard Medical School professor and the editor-in-chief of the journal Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental
- George Papanicolaou – created the pap test, and more generally, the field of cytopathology
Philosophy
[edit]- Diogenes Allen – professor of philosophy
- Alexander Nehamas – professor of philosophy
Physics
[edit]- George A. Economou – optical systems expert
- John Joannopoulos – physicist
- Menas Kafatos – quantum physicist
- Paul Kalas – astronomer
- Stamatios Krimigis – space physics and instrumentation
- Nicholas Metropolis – physicist
- Andreas Gerasimos Michalitsianos – NASA astrophysicist
- Dimitris Nanopoulos – professor of theoretical physics at TAMU
- Costas N. Papanicolas – physicist
- Costas Soukoulis – professor of physics at Iowa State University
- Maria Spiropulu – experimental physicist, member of the CMS collaboration that found the Higgs boson particle
- Tom Ypsilantis – physicist
- Cosmas Zachos – physicist
- Eleni Iatrou – philanthropist
Psychology
[edit]- Richard Boyatzis - organizational theorist and Distinguished University Professor in the Departments of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University. He is considered an expert in the field of emotional intelligence, behavior change and competence.
- Leda Cosmides – psychologist[92]
- Matina Horner – psychologist, sixth president of Radcliffe College
Sociology
[edit]- John Asimakopoulos – professor of sociology at the City University of New York-Bronx
- Nicholas A. Christakis – sociologist and physician
- Panos Bardis – sociologist
Various
[edit]- George Avery (professor) – professor for German Studies at Swarthmore College
- Gust Avrakotos – political adviser
- Kyriacos A. Athanasiou – biomedical engineer
- Lambros D. Callimahos – NSA cryptanalyst
- Harry J. Cargas – scholar, author, and teacher best known for his writing and research on the Holocaust, Jewish-Catholic relations, and American literature
- Alexander Coucoulas – inventor, research engineer, and author
- Raphael Demos – Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy and Civil Polity, emeritus, at Harvard University
- Deno Geanakoplos – renowned scholar of Byzantine history, Bradford Durfee professor emeritus at Yale University.[93]
- Sabine Iatridou – linguist
- Ernest Lagarde - chair of modern languages and English literature at Mount St. Mary's University (1869-1914)
- Nicholas Negroponte – scientist, MIT Media Lab founder and director; architect
- C. A. Patrides – academic and writer, and "one of the greatest scholars of Renaissance literature of his generation"
- Nicholas A. Peppas – chaired professor in engineering, University of Texas at Austin
- Mary Tsingou – physicist and mathematician, known for being one of the first programmers on the MANIAC computer at Los Alamos National Laboratory
- William V. Spanos – distinguished Professor of English and comparative literature at Binghamton University
- Marius Vassiliou – computational physicist and aerospace executive
Sports
[edit]Aquatics
[edit]- Greg Louganis – Olympic diving champion (Greek by adoption; ethnically Samoan and Swedish)
- Christina Loukas – Olympic diver
Baseball
[edit]- Harry "the Golden Greek" Agganis – Boston University's first-ever football All-American and professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox.
- Peter Angelos – MLB owner of the Baltimore Orioles and former basketball player.
- Alex Anthopoulos – GM of Atlanta Braves and former GM of Toronto Blue Jays.
- Annastasia Batikis – played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1945
- Clay Bellinger – MLB played for the New York Yankees and Anaheim Angels
- Cody Bellinger – All-Star Outfielder for Los Angeles Dodgers and National League Rookie of the Year in 2017.
- Cole Bellinger – Pitcher. 2017 draft pick of San Diego Padres
- Peter Bourjos – MLB outfielder for Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves.
- Al Campanis – MLB player and executive of the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Ria Cortesio – professional baseball umpire
- Alex Grammas – MLB manager and infielder for St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs.
- Eric Karros – former MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and now a baseball broadcaster
- Bobby Kingsbury – MLB player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
- George Kontos – MLB pitcher with the San Francisco Giants
- Paul Kostacopoulos – Head baseball coach at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD
- George Kottaras – catcher for 7 MLB teams including: Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians.
- Chris Lemonis – Head coach of Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball.
- Kay Lionikas – played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1948–1950
- Billy Loes – MLB Pitcher for the Dodgers and other teams
- Nick Markakis – MLB outfielder who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves[94]
- Tino Martinez – former MLB first baseman for the N.Y. Yankees (Greek mother)
- Aaron Miles – MLB player for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and Colorado Rockies (paternal grandmother)
- Mike Moustakas – MLB player for the Kansas City Royals
- Gus Niarhos – MLB Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox, Phillies
- Erik Pappas – MLB catcher for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Milt Pappas – MLB pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds and other teams
- June Peppas – All-American Girls Professional Baseball League 1948–1954
- Lou Skizas – MLB player for NY Yankees (1956), Kansas City Athletics (1956–57), Detroit Tigers (1958), Chicago White Sox (1959)
- George Theodore – MLB outfielder for the New York Mets
- Gus Triandos – MLB player for the Baltimore Orioles and other teams
- Clint Zavaras – MLB pitcher with the Seattle Mariners in 1989
Basketball
[edit]- Giannis Antetokounmpo – Professional player in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, 2019 MVP.
- Zach Auguste – Notre Dame Fighting Irish college and also professional basketball player
- Michael Bramos – basketballer, member of the Greek national basketball team
- Nick Calathes – former Florida Gators basketball player, and professional player
- Pat Calathes – professional basketball player
- Pavlos Diakoulas – former professional basketball player
- Tyler Dorsey (born 1996) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Angelo Drossos – owner of the San Antonio Spurs basketball team from 1973 to 1988 (NBA Executive of the Year Award in 1978)
- Nick Galis – former professional basketball player, played in Europe (where he is known as Nikos Galis), and regarded as one of Europe's all-time basketball greats
- Steve Giatzoglou – former professional basketball player
- George Kastrinakis – former professional basketball player in Greece
- John Korfas – former professional basketball player
- Kosta Koufos – professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA and the Greece men's national basketball team
- Steve Lappas – former college basketball coach at Villanova and UMass
- Ted Manakas – shooting guard for the Princeton Tigers men's basketball team under coach Pete Carril; played briefly in NBA for Kansas City-Omaha Kings
- Nick Paulos – professional basketball player
- Kurt Rambis – former NBA professional basketball player, won 4 championships with the L.A. Lakers (birth name Kyriakos Rambidis)
- Chris Roupas – former Greek American Professional Basketball Player, First Penn State Nittany Lion to play professional basketball in Greece[95]
- David Stergakos – former professional Greek basketball player
- Jake Tsakalidis – former NBA player for Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets.
- Lou Tsioropoulos – former NBA professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics
Body building and fitness training
[edit]- John Sitaras – fitness professional, creator of the Sitaras method and founder of Sitaras Fitness in New York City
- Craig Titus – American bodybuilder
- Christos Nikitas Poulis - athletic trainer
Boxing
[edit]- Anton Christoforidis – professional boxer, NBA World Light Heavyweight Champion 1941
- Michael Katsidis – (born in Australia) current boxer
Football
[edit]- Harry "the Golden Greek" Agganis1 - college football star and 1st-ever All-American at Boston University. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns but turned down the offer to play baseball for the Boston Red Sox.
- Steve Alexakos – played OL in college for San Jose State and then NFL for Denver Broncos (1970) and New York Giants (1971).
- Dee Andros (born Demosthenes Konstandies "Dee" Andrecopoulos) - American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. Brother of Plato Andros.
- Plato Andros (Plato Gus Andrecopoulos) - college All-American guard for the University of Oklahoma. He played four years in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals. Brother of Dee Andros.
- Zach Collaros – quarterback for the University of Cincinnati football team
- Jim Eliopulos – NFL player for the New York Jets
- Chris Farasopoulos – NFL player, played for the New York Jets
- Alex Holmes – NFL tight end for the St. Louis Rams, mother is Greek
- George Karlaftis - NFL player with the Kansas City Chiefs
- Alex Karras – NFL player with the Detroit Lions, wrestler and actor
- Lou Karras – NFL player with the Washington Redskins, eldest brother of Alex Karras
- Ted Karras – NFL player with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Won NFL championship with 1963 Bears. Older brother of Alex Karras
- Ted Karras Jr. - NFL player and Super Bowl champion for 1987 Washington Redskins
- Ted Karras III - Center for Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots. Played in 3 consecutive Super Bowls for Patriots, winning 2 championships (2016 & 2018).
- Jim Karsatos – Ohio State QB in 1980s
- Niko Koutouvides – NFL linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots
- Bill Mackrides – QB for the Philadelphia Eagles. He led them to 2 NFL championships in 1948 and 1949.
- Chris Maragos – NFL safety for two Super Bowl champions: 2013 Seattle Seahawks and 2017 Philadelphia Eagles.
- Archie Matsos (Archimidis Matsos) - All-American linebacker at Michigan State in 1950s. Played in the AFL (pre-merger) for the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers.
- Joe Panos – NFL player with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills 1994–2000 (birth name Zois Panagiotopoulos)
- Petros Papadakis – host of various sports shows on radio, former college football tailback and team captain at USC 1996–2000.
- Tony Pashos – former NFL offensive lineman for six teams, including with the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Lonie Paxton – NFL New England Patriots long-snapper 2001–2003
- Peter Philipakos – Soccer player, formerly of Olympiacos F.C.
- Pete Pihos – NFL player with the Philadelphia Eagles (Pro Football Hall of Fame). Is the only NFL player to have been named All-Pro on both offense and defense in the same year.
- Gene Rossides – Star QB who presided over the Golden Era of Columbia Football of 1945–48. Drafted by [New York Giants] in 1949. Protégé of Sid Luckman.
- Fred Smerlas – NFL player for the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots
- Alex Spanos – NFL owner of the San Diego Chargers
- A. G. Spanos – named President of Business Operations for the San Diego Chargers in 2015. Grandson of Alex Spanos.
- Dean Spanos – President and CEO of San Diego Chargers. Son of Alex Spanos.
- Frank Stams {Stamoulis} - defensive lineman for University of Notre Dame, including their 1988 National Championship team. He was converted to linebacker in the NFL, where he played for the Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.
- Matt Stover – NFL player, kicker for Baltimore Ravens
- Harry Theofiledes – backup QB for Washington Redskins in 1968.
- Garo Yepremian – NFL player (Greek Cypriot origin)
- Gust Zarnas – NFL player with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers 1938–1940
John Mellekas- NFL player Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles
Gambling, bookmakers, poker
[edit]- Steve Billirakis – Bracelet winner in the World Series of Poker
- Nick "the Greek" Dandolos1 - one of the most famous players in the history of poker
- Sam Mastrogiannis – Bracelet winner in the World Series of Poker
- Billy Pappas – poker player and world champion foosball player
- Athanasios Polychronopoulos – Bracelet winner in the World Series of Poker
- Chris Tsiprailidis – Bracelet winner in the World Series of Poker
- Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder James George Snyder Sr. (born Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos, September 9, 1918 – April 21, 1996) - American sports commentator and Las Vegas oddsmaker.
Goalball
[edit]- Eliana Mason - American goalball bronze medalist
Hockey
[edit]- Tom Anastos – Head Hockey Coach, Michigan State University
- Andreas Athanasiou – currently plays Center for the Detroit Red Wings.
- Adam Burish – NHL player with the Dallas Stars
- Jimmy Carson – NHL hockey player (original family surname Kyriazopoulos)
- Chris Chelios – Hockey Hall of Fame hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings.
- Jake Chelios – NHL hockey player. Son of Chris Chelios.
- Cleon Daskalakis – NHL goaltender for Boston Bruins 1984–87.
- Peter Douris – played in NHL 1985 to 1998 for the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Dallas Stars.
- Nick Fotiu – NHL 1973–1990, played for the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers.
- Bob Halkidis – Between 1985 and 2001 he played for six NHL Teams.
- Krys Kolanos – NHL center for Phoenix Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and Calgary Flames.
- Chris Kontos – former NHL player known for his prolific scoring in the play-offs
- Tom Kostopoulos – NHL hockey player for six teams including the Los Angeles Kings
- Chris Kotsopoulos – NHL defenseman between 1978 and 1990. He played for New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
- Nick Kypreos – played in NHL (1986–1997) for the Washington Capitals, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs
- George Parros – NHL hockey player
- Steve Staios – NHL hockey player
- Nikos Tselios – AHL hockey player. Cousin of Chris Chelios.
- Trevor Zegras – made his NHL debut with Anaheim Ducks on February 22, 2021.
Mixed martial arts
[edit]- John Critzos II – martial arts fighter, champion, and instructor
- Alex Karalexis – professional fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Christos Giagos - professional fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Motor sports
[edit]- Art Arfons – world land speed record holder
- George Constantine – racing driver
- Chris Karamesines – drag racer and one of NHRA's early pioneers
- Danny Kladis – race car driver
- Andy Papathanassiou – pit crew coach
- Alex Tremulis – industrial designer of the Tucker (Automobile Hall of Fame)
- Alex Xydias – influential figure in the early days of the auto racing sport involving hot rods
- Emanuel Zervakis – NASCAR driver and team owner
Soccer / association football
[edit]- Andreas Chronis – professional football player
- George John – soccer player, currently with Major League Soccer club New York City FC[96]
- Gus Kartes – former Chicago Storm footballer
- Frank Klopas – retired soccer player, formerly of AEK, Apollon, Kansas City Wizards, Chicago Fire and the U.S. national team
- Alexi Lalas – retired soccer; played for the L.A. Galaxy and U.S. national team
- John Limniatis – Canadian retired professional soccer player. He played 44 times and scored one goal for the Canadian national team, also captaining and later becoming the head coach of the Montreal Impact.
- Peter Skouras – retired soccer player, formerly of Olympiakos F.C., PAOK Thessaloniki, San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League, and United States Youth National Teams
Surfing
[edit]- Laird Hamilton – Big wave surfer. Born Laird John Zerfas. Greek father.
- Caroline Marks – World Surf League professional surfer (ranked No. 8 internationally in 2018)
Tennis
[edit]- Eleni Rossides
- Pete Sampras – tennis player, considered one of the best tennis players in history
Track and field
[edit]- Dean Karnazes – ultramarathon champion, writer, businessman
- Bob Mathias - decathlete. Won 2 Olympic gold medals: London (1948) and Helsinki (1952). Became younger gold medal winner (age 17) in 1948.
- Tom Pappas – track & field decathlete, 2003 world decathlon champion and 2-time Olympian.
Winter sports
[edit]- Tara Dakides – pro snowboarder and champion from California
- Themistocles Leftheris – American pair skater, 2007 U.S. National Pairs bronze medalist
Wrestling
[edit]- David Batista (Bautista) - former WWE professional wrestler (Greek mother and Filipino father) and actor
- Dixie Carter (wrestling) – President of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
- Maria Kanellis – professional wrestler who has worked with WWE, TNA, and ROH. Former contestant on Celebrity Apprentice
- Jim Londos – champion wrestler during the 1930s-50s. Birth name Christos Theophilos.
- Helen Maroulis – freestyle wrestler
- George Metropoulos – Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestler
- Tom Packs – professional wrestling promoter - one of the top promoters over the first half of the 20th century
- Dawn Marie Psaltis (Dawn Marie) - former WWE wrestler
- Trish Stratus – WWE wrestler
- George Tragos – champion wrestler in Greece and trainer of American champion Lou Thesz. Co-founder of Wrestling Hall of Fame.
- George Zaharias – sports promoter and professional wrestler in the 1930s (birth name Theodore Vetoyanis). Husband of Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
Sports journalism
[edit]- Bob Costas – NBC sportscaster
- Spero Dedes – (born February 27, 1979) is an American sportscaster. He is currently employed by CBS Sports, calling the NFL, NBA, and college basketball. Previously worked play-by-play for the Los Angeles Lakers (radio) and New York Knicks (radio & TV).
- Jimmy Cefalo – sportscaster & former NFL wide receiver for Miami Dolphins.
- Mike Galanos – CNN/Sports Illustrated anchor
- Harry Kalas – sports announcer
- John Manuel – co-editor in chief, Baseball America magazine
- Rory Markas – sports announcer
- Petros Papadakis – former USC Trojans running back, sports talk show host
- Ted Sarandis – sports announcer
- Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder – James George Snyder Sr. (born Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos, September 9, 1918 – April 21, 1996), was an American sports commentator on CBS' The NFL Today from 1976 to 1988 and Las Vegas oddsmaker.
Criminal figures
[edit]- Gus Alex (April 1, 1916 – July 24, 1998) - high-ranking associate of the Chicago Outfit
- Peter "Pete the Greek" Diapoulas - body guard of NYC mobster Joe Gallo, was present the night of Gallo's assassination.
- Fotios Geas – mobster involved with the Genovese crime family and murderer of Whitey Bulger in Hazelton (WV) Federal Penitentiary
- Tom Kapatos – New York City mobster, also known as "The Greek"
- Dr. George C. Nichopoulos – personal physician to Elvis Presley from 1970 to 1977 (Presley's death). Although exonerated in the death of Presley, Dr. Nichopoulos was later stripped of his medical license due to overprescribing medications to many other patients in the state of Tennessee.
- Michael Thevis - mobster
- Peter Kourakos "Pete The Greek" - founder of Greek-American organized crime in Astoria, Queens, New York.
- Spyredon "Spiros" Velentzas – Spiros Velentzas, aka "Sakafias", expanded the activities of the Kourakos crime family in New York City in the 1980s-1990s.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Green, Penelope (July 11, 2018). "Margaret Hoover and John Avlon on their Post-Partisan Marriage". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
Mr. Avlon, who grew up in New York City, is a grandchild of Greek immigrants. Their experiences have made him, he said, a proud patriot.
- ^ "Feature Articles". www.helleniccomserve.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-29.
- ^ a b "TNH's 50 Wealthiest Greek-Americans 2017 List". The National Herald. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "Madoff Whistleblower: SEC Failed To Do The Math". National Public Radio. March 2, 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "The Most Popular Person in Buffalo with Courage, Daring and a Touch of Magic, Sabres Owner John Rigas Reminds Us How to Dream". November 1998. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "John Sitilides: fact-driven foreign policy fuels this Washington insider". September 22, 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "From 'Project Runway' to Dressing Beyoncé: 5 Things To Know About Designer Michael Costello".
- ^ "Social Diary 4/22/05 - When Too Much of Too Much Is Still Not Enough". Newyorksocialdiary.com. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ [1] "Greek-born couturier James Galanos"
- ^ [2] Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine "Greek American, originally from Springfield, Massachusetts"
- ^ a b [3] "To show in Milan is 'the top' according to the Greek American who decided to leave the catwalks of New York and head for those here in Milan."
- ^ [4] Archived 2006-10-09 at the Wayback Machine " I’m half Greek and half Venezuelan, and I speak fluent Spanish and Greek."
- ^ "American Idol: Interview With Becky O'Donohue". Fansofrealitytv.com. 2006-02-26. Archived from the original on 2006-03-04. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ [5] Archived April 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Films of Andy Sidaris". Mondo-digital.com. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ [6] Archived 2014-01-21 at the Wayback Machine "Eugenides is himself Greek-American, Detroit-born, suburb-raised--all sources of inspiration for his second novel."
- ^ [7] Archived 2008-04-06 at the Wayback Machine "How I was both Spiderman and a tiny unathletic Greek boy..." [8] "As the son of Greek immigrants, he participated in the familiar first generation event of multiple identities"
- ^ "Death Notice: MICHAEL GEORGE KALODIMOS". Chicago Tribune. 2008-10-30.
- ^ a b [9] "The son of a Greek Orthodox priest (note: Orthodox priests can marry prior to ordination) and a nutritionist, Martin grew up with his brother and sister in Toms River, New Jersey. His parents co-owned a Greek diner with his grandparents and uncle. Martin, the prototypical "good Greek boy," served as an altar boy at church and bused tables at the restaurant."
- ^ a b [10] "As far as religion goes, we were raised Greek Orthodox..." [11] "My father's mother, our grandmother, lived with us for a while. She didn't speak any English. She was all Greek and she was freaky. She had long hair, which she wore in braids..." [12] Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Karina Smirnoff Wants To Dance With Somebody | Interview".
- ^ [13] Archived 2016-08-09 at the Wayback Machine " Born on the island of Crete in Greece, Yanni Anastasakis, aka John Aniston, and his family moved to the United States when he was a child. His father promptly changed the family name to Aniston."
- ^ [14] [15] Archived 2006-05-14 at the Wayback Machine "Chiklis got his acting talent from his mother, Kate... his flamboyance from his father, Charlie, a macho second-generation Greek-American who runs a hair salon in the Boston suburb of Lowell, where Chiklis was born."
- ^ [16] Archived 2019-05-29 at the Wayback Machine "Tim's mother, Carmen, was an heiress to the theatre chain founded by her father, Alexander Pantages, who immigrated to the United States from Greece around 1885."
- ^ "Dimitri Diatchenko, Actor, Musician and Video Game Voiceover Artist, Dies at 52". The Hollywood Reporter. May 1, 2020. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ [17] Archived 2006-04-27 at the Wayback Machine "Andreas Katsulas, whose striking Greek visage..."
- ^ "Nick Kiriazis". IMDb.
- ^ "Q&A with Executive Producer Ralph Macchio | National Geographic Channel". Archived from the original on 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ^ [18] "Maharis was a Kerouac look-alike, a good looking Greek kid from Queens"
- ^ Rami malek's Greek heritage
- ^ Jones, Patty (2012-05-10). "The Dictator wields a comic arsenal | Vancouver, Canada". Straight.com. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
- ^ Papapostolou, Anastasios (20 November 2010). "24" Greek-American Star Adoni Maropis Plans Screenplay in Crete!". Hollywood Greek Reporter. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Constantine Maroulis - NY, New York - Rock / Pop". MySpace.com. 2005-02-25. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ [19] "It never occurred to me that Chris Sarandon is Greek (for those that don't know, Tarpon Springs is an ethnic Greek community located just north of St. Petersburg), until I thought about it - he very much looks Greek, later explaining that his father was from a "Greek village in Turkey"."
- ^ [20] "Greek-American actor George Savalas"
- ^ [21][22] Archived 2007-05-29 at the Wayback Machine "Born to Greek parents, Savalas served in World War II after he dropped out of Columbia University..." You should not trust yurunalists, Columbia lists him as having graduated in 1950 from their "adult" General Studies school after the army. [23]
- ^ [24][25] Archived 2007-05-29 at the Wayback Machine "Born to Greek parents, Savalas served in World War II after he dropped out of Columbia University..." You should not trust yurunalists, Columbia lists him as having graduated in 1950 from their "adult" General Studies school after the army. [26]
- ^ a b [27][permanent dead link ] "John is also Greek and part Irish." [28] "John Stamos' original family name is Stamopolous, which was shortened by his grandparents when they came to America from Greece."
- ^ a b c "Billy Zane Interview"BloodRayne"Movie: Tim Nasson". Wildaboutmovies.com. 2005-12-27. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ a b [29] "Her father John Aniston was born on the island of Crete in Greece. Her mother Nancy Dow is partly Greek." (1930-present)
- ^ a b c d "Greek News - Hellenic Times 15th Anniversary Gala". Greeknewsonline.com. 2006-05-13. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ [30] "Her father, Ernest J. Carteris, was of Greek descent."
- ^ "Katie Chonacas: Running with success". 16 February 2011.
- ^ [31] "Nancy Dow is Scottish, Irish, Italian and Greek."
- ^ a b [32] "Olympia Dukakis, Greek-American stage and film actress... will discuss the impact of her Greek-American heritage on her career, as well as past performances, particularly her lead role in the ancient tragedy "Hecuba."" [33] "The daughter of Greek immigrants..."
- ^ a b [34] "Fey's mother is Greek-American and her father is German-Scottish, but she's wary of claiming an ethnic identity. "I’ve said a few things about being Greek, and now every Greek organization wants to adopt me," Fey told me." [35] "Because of the Greek-girl thing, I have, like, boobs and butt."
- ^ [36] Archived 2006-08-15 at the Wayback Machine "Angie Harmon: "It would be shaping my eyebrows. Being half Greek and half American Indian, I have the unibrow. So once I started working on them, I really did see a change. You create another kind of beauty.""
- ^ [37] "Her (Real) Heritage: "I'm Greek, Italian and Jewish. In TV Guide they wrote that I was French, Greek and Jewish. I am mostly Greek. I don't know where French came from."
- ^ [38] Archived 2006-05-10 at the Wayback Machine "My grandfather always told me, "You know you're American first, but you're a Greek-American, which makes you a better American.""
- ^ [39] Archived 2006-03-21 at the Wayback Machine "The stunning Maria Menounos had no problem getting her Greek on for our photo shoot, but her heritage hasn’t always been easy for her. "My dad was very strict," she says. "A guy would call the house and he would say, ‘I have a gun, and I will use it!’"... My parents said I had to marry a Greek boy. I dated them, but they weren’t for me. They want slaves. I want someone to be my slave! My mom still puts my dad's socks on him when she wakes him up in the morning."
- ^ [40] "Sigler is half-Cuban and half-Greek (Jewish)"
- ^ [41] Archived 2006-08-04 at the Wayback Machine "A raven haired beauty who is equal parts Greek passion and English reserve"
- ^ "Mena Suvari Interview - Mena Suvari on Rumor Has It, Jennifer Aniston, and Rob Reiner". Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2007-11-25. "Well we’re both [she and Jennifer Aniston] Greek, which is a shoe-in right there." [42][permanent dead link ] "Mena, the world traveler: Part Estonian and part Greek, Suvari was named for her godmother, who was born in the Mena House, a hotel at the base of the Pyramids in Egypt." [43] "Brought up in South Carolina, her Estonian father is a retired psychiatrist and her Greek mother a nurse."
- ^ [44] Grandfather Nicholas Cachikis was born in Greece.
- ^ [45] "...Rita Wilson's parents - her father was Bulgarian, while mother Dorothy was Greek - changed their surname to Wilson after moving to the United States." "My mother is Greek and my father is Bulgarian. I am a first-generation American and native Los Angeleno. I was born and raised in Hollywood. I would go to school and be American and then come home and be Greek." [46] "...her producers include actor Rita Wilson, who is half Greek...".
- ^ [47] "...Greek-American entertainer Lisa Zane..."
- ^ [48] Archived 2008-02-25 at the Wayback Machine "Greek-American production designer Dean Tavoularis"
- ^ [49][50] "My father is a Greek from Macedonia. I don’t know his roots exactly."
- ^ "7/14/04: Basil Poledouris Interview". Archived from the original on 2006-10-23. Retrieved 2006-03-23. "The other element that influenced me early on had to do with my Greek Orthodox raising where I used to sit in church and just be enthralled with the choir. So, there are a lot of Gregorian modal ideas in my music that go back to that."
- ^ [51][permanent dead link ] "I'm Greek and my wife and I will cook a Greek dinner for eight for the winner. That is a Greek."
- ^ [52] "Greek conductor and composer"
- ^ "About Chris". Chrisspheeris.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
Born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Chris spent his summers in Greece, the land of his heritage...
- ^ [53] Archived 2006-06-28 at the Wayback Machine "his Greek musician's claims to fame" [54] Archived 2006-06-16 at the Wayback Machine "He divides his time between L.A. and the Seattle, WA area, and is now an American citizen."
- ^ [55] Archived 2006-06-27 at the Wayback Machine "renowned Greek opera singer whose personal life enthralled Greece in the 1950s and 1960s"
- ^ [56] "This website is dedicated to preserving the musical memory of the late, great, Tatiana Troyanos, Greek-American Mezzo-Soprano"
- ^ [57] Archived 2018-12-15 at the Wayback Machine "Called upon to help support their Greek-Norwegian family when their father's business was wiped out by the Depression"
- ^ [58] "I'm Greek, so we have pretty big booties in my family." [59] "I'm Greek and Irish, but I don't know Greek. I just have the booty, that's the only part I got of it, that's the curve of it all."
- ^ [60] Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine "Kalomira Sarantis is missing the second semester of her first year in college. She is pursuing her lifetime dream – a career as a professional singer – in a very unorthodox way, as a contestant on the Antenna TV program "Fame Story" in Greece."
- ^ [61] Archived 2006-05-12 at the Wayback Machine "the half-Greek, half-Puerto Rican kid"
- ^ Trousdale - "Feeling the Vibe || Chris Trousdale Interview Page 2". Archived from the original on 2006-10-16. Retrieved 2006-06-23. "Half and half? Yeah I think…my dad is full Greek and my mom's Black Irish."
- ^ [62] "Jim Verraros: My father was born in Greece, so I am mostly Greek. My mother is German, Irish, French and English."
- ^ [63][permanent dead link ] "Mr. Greg Dulli (he's Greek, ya know...)"
- ^ [64] Archived 2006-06-30 at the Wayback Machine "We were baptized Greek Orthodox, so we are Greek Orthodox", Matt says. "If you're baptized Greek Orthodox, you're in for good. That's it."
- ^ "Interview:Wayne Kramer (MC5, solo)". 12 April 2012.
- ^ [65]"I am French/Greek"
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{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) "Markakis, who is half Greek and half German, led the Greek Olympic team..." - ^ It's All Greek "Basketball" To Chris Roupas, Kevin Forsythe, The York Daily Record, May 1, 1983
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