George Costacos

Ellhnika

Fansite with various information about the actor and author.

DO YOU KNOW THAT:

* GEORGE was born in Athens, and not New York!

* GEORGE studied Musical Drama and Dance in the City University of New York.

* They "baptized" him "George Best" because in his first show he used to walk about repeating "I want to do my best! I want to do my best!"

* GEORGE needed a special declaration years later in order to claim his authentic Hellenic name, because with publicity he had become known by everyone with the artist name they gave him in America.

* Two years after GEORGE's public official name change, a well-known American network... continues to show regularly all over America his station endorsement, as George Best.

STEPS ON A JOURNEY:

* GEORGE is the first (and until now the only) actor for whom the official pan-American union of professional stage actors (Actors' Equity) publishes a special article in its national newspaper, about his induction as a member.

* GEORGE is the only actor whom the French newspaper Le Monde requests to comment on the historical strike of Broadway which closed all the theatres in New York and cost over 5 million dollars lost revenue to the city.

* GEORGE becomes the first artist in the history of legendary oratorio "Axion Esti" to be cast for a revolutionary double interpretation in the 20th American Premiere Anniversasy Celebration Concert : He performs text AND solo songs for the emotionally moved audience in New York.

* GEORGE gives a Special Honorary Recitation from his Poetry Collection "The Fifth Season" in celebration of the first "Hellenic Month" established by the Goveror of the State of New York, George Pataki -- (Another George!)

* GEORGE is the only actor that the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) selects to appear live at the station in New York during the broadcast of the documentary "The Greek Americans."

* GEORGE's arrival for "The Greek Americans" puts him in the exclusive publication Celebrity Bulletin... together with Robin Williams, Michael Caine, Kenneth Brannagh, Tim Robbins, Olympia Dukakis, Billy Zane, John Stamos, Tom Hanks, Leonardo Di Caprio and Melanie Griffith.

* With the success of the first broadcast, PBS invites GEORGE to appear in the second live broadcast. Both broadcasts re-broadcast on tape 4 times.

* The Greek Cultural Center in the heart of the Hellenic community of New York, decides to produce for their 25th Anniversary the extremely difficult dramatic play "The Emigrants," only if GEORGE accepts to star in it.

ITEMS OF INTEREST:

* Sex and the City - "Kiss and Tell" Book
GEORGE's visit to the shoot of "Sex and the City" is captured for the book "Kiss and Tell," sold all over the world. Two years after the success of the hardcover, it gets expanded and republished on paperback.

* "The Confidence Man" - CD
GEORGE is the only actor from the Original World Premiere Cast to sing on the CD of the musical "The Confidence Man," by the Oscar-nominated writer Ray Errol Fox and the rock legend, Broadway composer Jim Steinman.

* Dalai Lama - "Live in a Better Way" - Audiobook
Losang Gyatso interprets the answers of the spiritual leader Dalai Lama to George's questions, in the audiobook "Live in a Better Way" by the large publishing house Simon & Schuster.

VARIOUS OTHER:

* Aside from the success of GEORGE's play "Greek Gifts," he has written over 1000 songs, plays, one-acts, articles, musical plays and poems that have been performed, recorded, published, read and circulated in America and the world. Countless quotations from GEORGE have become catchphrases and slogans, which even Oprah has said on the air.

* GEORGE regulary promotes Hellenic literature in America by contributing to readings and presentations in various forums outside the theatre, such as the largest American bookstore Barnes & Noble.

* GEORGE attends an African-American gospell concert in Harlem, and they ask him to go onstage from the audience, to sing.

* Another similar incident happens in the central station at Times Square, on a day that GEORGE was going to the theatre.

* Before he even goes to school GEORGE wants to become an Actor. Afterwards, they change his mind and he decides to become a... dentist. After numerous plays and musical appearances as a leading man in the American theatre, GEORGE's first role in Hellenic theatre is the protagonist in the comedy of Dimitris Psathas "The Naive One" ...where GEORGE finally becomes a... "dentist."

* The monthly issue of "Georgie" that he first started in school, circulates today in over 15 countries.

SOURCES:
Various magazines and newspapers, radio and television shows, company archives, research on the Internet and the official artist unions, as well as the official website of GeorgeCostacos.com -- This fansite from manosellas is (c) 2004 except from the photographs.