Nikos Galanos, who passed away yesterday at the age of 80 after a brave three-year fight against cancer, embodied an unwavering spirit of joy and passion for life. His passing marks the end of an era, as he was the last jeune premier from the golden age of Greek cinema.
However, his journey was not without challenges. Coming from a humble background, he experienced firsthand the harsh realities of life:
“We only ate meat once a week, and I got my first pair of long pants at 16, thanks to a friend of my brother’s who brought them from America. I remember walking around with my friends, dreaming of a motorcycle or a car passing by—things that seemed completely unattainable back then. Sure, it saddened me at times, but I believe those experiences shaped my character,” he shared during an interview on Nikos Chatzinikolaou’s show “Enwpios Enwpiw.”
Rather than being deterred by adversity, Nikos found motivation in it, taking charge of his life at a young age. At just 16, he left home to live independently, drawn by a desire for freedom. Before long, he was sharing the screen with some of the greatest talents in cinema and theater, including Karezi, Vougiouklaki, and Kourkoulos.
He allowed life to unfold naturally, attracting opportunities rather than chasing after them. He made instinctive choices in his personal life, including marrying at just 18, despite having a sense that marriage might not be for him, and even remarrying later on.
Yet, he held no regrets about his decisions, viewing each as an invaluable part of his journey.
The Unforeseen Cancer Diagnosis
Fear first gripped him 25 years ago during a routine doctor’s appointment, where he learned he had an aggressive cancer.
“The toughest moment for me was in 2001 during an exam when the doctor told me I had only months to live. Thankfully, it turned out well, but I faced death for the first time then,” he revealed in an interview with Yiannis Pantazopoulos for Lifo.
After the initial shock, he drew from a deep well of strength, hoping for a miracle—one that ultimately came to pass. To cope with his diagnosis, he kept it to himself, checking into the hospital under a pseudonym. Defying the odds, he emerged victorious, mentally sealing that chapter away.
Sadly, nearly 20 years later, the illness returned. Yet he remained undeterred, drawing from his previous experience to face the new diagnosis without letting it drastically change his life. He continued treatments while actively participating in TV shoots and enjoying time with friends, preserving his signature elegance and charm.
In his final year, however, his health declined, prompting him to step back from public life. He spent his last months alternating between the hospital and home, confronting his greatest fear: being fully conscious yet unable to act, as he had previously shared.
The Demands of Filmmaking with Nikos Kourkoulos
Nikos Galanos loved his craft and put everything into his roles, often pushing his limits for the sake of authenticity.
Some of the toughest moments came from filming two projects with Nikos Kourkoulos in 1970.
In “Astrapiogiannos,” he portrayed the sinister brother of Kourkoulos’ love interest, played by Niki Triantafyllidi.
“For a fight scene, Kourkoulos asked if I could take a slap. I said yes, and he slapped me so hard my cheek swelled. I couldn’t go to the shoot the next day,” Galanos recounted.
A few months later, he faced Kourkoulos again, this time in the heat of a steel mill for the film “Visibility: Zero” (“Oratotis Miden”).
“The script required us to wrestle on a hill of hot metal shavings. Kourkoulos was dressed, but I had to go shirtless. I went home covered in burns and scratches; it took days for me to wear a shirt again,” he recalled.
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