The award-winning actor Dimitris Imellos passed away at the age of 57 after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in acting. He was one of the most talented and versatile artists in contemporary Greek theater, television, and cinema.

Born on June 12, 1967, in Kypseli, Athens, with roots from Naxos on both his parents’ sides, Dimitris Imellos grew up in a large family with one brother and two sisters. During his childhood, he spent time in a boarding school, an experience he described as “unique,” saying, “I spent three years in a boarding school. It was a very special situation for me, coming from a large family. But I always liked leaving the narrow confines of home. It was a boarding school for studies.”

Dimitris Imellos: His Life, Talented Son, and Great Career in Theater
In September 2022, during the performance of Sophocles’ Ajax at the Vrachon Theater

Dimitris had a son, Phoebus, whom he always referred to as his creative motivation. Phoebus, who stood by him during his final moments, is also an actor and director. He has a degree in Film Studies from Greenwich University and a Master’s in Directing from Bolton University, having worked on many short and feature films.

In a 2022 interview, Dimitris spoke about his son following his career path: “My son works as a film director. I don’t give him advice because I’m not his teacher; I’m his father.”

Personal Life
In interviews, Dimitris described his views on relationships: “I don’t like commitments. I was married and divorced many years ago. That was a commitment for as long as it lasted. I don’t care for signatures. Even though I divorced when Phoebus was 8, the commitment to my son remains. That’s a lifelong commitment, not a piece of paper. From the moment I decided to have a child, that was my choice, not a burden.”

His Love for Acting
Dimitris Imellos’ passion for acting began during his studies at the Athens Law School, where he joined the Theatrical Workshop of Vasilis Diamantopoulos. Later, he graduated from the Drama School of Diomidis Fotiadis and continued his studies at the Moscow Academy of Theatre Arts under director Leonid Heifetz.

When he left law school for acting, his father disapproved of the decision. “My father couldn’t believe it and said what I was doing was pointless. Acting was like love at first sight—it was instant. I didn’t care about its practicality.”

Imellos collaborated with top directors and participated in prominent theater productions such as Iphigenia in Tauris, Oedipus at Colonus, The Persians, and Tartuffe. A major milestone in his career was his time at the Experimental Stage of the National Theatre (2001-2007) under Stathis Livathinos’ direction.

In 2001, Dimitris Imellos became the first actor to receive the Dimitris Horn Award for his performance in The Illusion, and in 2005, he won the Best Male Performance Award from the readers of Athinorama for his role in Molière. Reflecting on the Horn Award, Imellos said, “It coincided with me being the first recipient. It helped me because my father was against my career choice. Near the end of his life, he told me, ‘You did well.’”

Theater and TV Career
His television career included roles in popular series such as To 10, Karyotakis, Sasmos, and Saint Paisios. In cinema, he appeared in films like Aliosa by Thanasis Skroubelos (1999), Beautiful People by Nikos Panagiotopoulos (2001), Almost, Barely, Just About by Stella Theodoraki (2002), Delivery by Nikos Panagiotopoulos (2004), Sweet Memory by Kyriakos Katzourakis (2005), Bank Bang by Argyris Papadimitropoulos (2008), From the Bones Out by Sotiris Goritsas (2011), Merry Christmas by Christos Georgiou (2017), Her Job by Nikos Labot (2018), and Tailor by Sonia Liza Kenterman (2020).

Dimitris Imellos: His Life, Talented Son, and Great Career in Theater
At the 2010 Horn Awards with Iro and Stefania Goulioti

Imellos’ artistic contributions left a lasting mark on Greek culture, with his work becoming a reference point for theater, television, and cinema.