Theodoros Charitopoulos, longtime personal aide and butler to Konstantinos Karamanlis, has passed away at the age of 88. His journey began in Mykonos, where he worked as a chef before being taken under Karamanlis’ wing in the 1960s. Over the decades, he became a trusted figure in the former Greek Prime Minister’s household, without ever engaging in politics himself.

A Life Dedicated to Karamanlis

Karamanlis first met Charitopoulos during a visit to Mykonos in the early 1960s. Impressed by a meal he had at the Leto Hotel, he asked to meet the chef—only to be introduced to Charitopoulos’ mother. When she declined Karamanlis’ offer to become his personal cook in Athens, she suggested her son instead. At just 20 years old and serving in the navy at the time, Charitopoulos joined Karamanlis’ household and remained by his side until the statesman’s passing in 1998.

When Karamanlis exiled himself to Paris in 1963, Charitopoulos followed him, becoming a key figure in managing his household on Boulevard de Montmorency. During this time, he met and married Piga, one of Karamanlis’ house staff, with whom he had three children.

A Loyal and Discreet Confidant

Despite being an ever-present figure in Karamanlis’ life, Charitopoulos never involved himself in politics. He was deeply trusted by the statesman, who even insisted on vacationing in Mykonos—especially in the Ornos Bay area—at Charitopoulos’ suggestion, despite the island’s growing popularity.

Known for his unwavering discretion, he once remarked in a rare interview:
“I don’t know anything, I didn’t hear anything, I didn’t see anything.”
He never leaked information or commented on Karamanlis’ decisions, earning him a reputation as “The Sphinx.”

A Pop Culture Icon

Charitopoulos’ devotion to Karamanlis turned him into a public figure, even inspiring a fictionalized version of himself in Greek pop culture. He became a character in Lakis Lazopoulos’ satirical TV series “10 Mikroi Mitsoi”, where he was portrayed by Tasos Palantzidis as the ever-present butler to Lazopoulos’ parody of Karamanlis as President of Greece.

Final Years and Legacy

In his later years, Charitopoulos remained active in Mykonos, where he ran a business with his brother, served as a local council member, and was president of the New Democracy party’s local branch.

After battling cancer for the past year, he passed away at GNA Hospital in Athens and will be laid to rest in his beloved Mykonos.