Alexis Minotakis, known as Alexis Minotis (Greek: ?????? ?????????/???????), was born 8 August 1898 or 1899 in Deliana (???????), Chania, Crete and died on 11 November 1990 in Athens, Greece.Minotis was a distinguished Greek actor and director. He first appeared on stage in his native Crete as Chorus Leader and later as Messenger in Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus. From 1925 until 1930, he worked in close collaboration with the famous Greek actress Marika Kotopouli in her own theatre. During this period, he appeared in the great Shakespearan roles in The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Macbeth and played the title role in Hamlet, the first time the play had been staged in Greece. Other roles in the classical repertoire were Ibsen's Ghosts and Peer Gynt. He expanded his talents by directing ancient Greek tragedies such as Hecuba, Antigone, The Phoenissae, Prometheus Bound, Oedipus at Colonus, as well as Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock, Strindberg's The Father and Brecht`s Mother Courage.In 1940, he married the actress Katina Paxinou and together they appeared in many productions at the National (Royal) Theatre in Athens, since its founding 1n 1930 by Minister of Education George Papandreou.In 1946, he went to Hollywood to appear in Sir Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious with Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains. In the same year, he also appeared with Robert Cummings and Michèle Morgan in The Chase. His other films include Siren of Atlantis (1949) with Maria Montez, Boy on a Dolphin (1957) with Sophia Loren, and Land of the Pharaohs (1955) with Joan Collins.In 1955, he directed Katina Paxinou in Euripides' Hecuba for the National Theatre of Greece at The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and starred in Oedipus Rex as well as directing. In 1956, he made his first appearance in Oedipus at Colonus. The production received great acclaim and Minotis went on a long international tour with the company.He appeared on Broadway in Electra with the Marika Kotopouli company in 1930-31 and in Oedipus Tyrannus with the National Theatre of Greece in 1952.In 1958, Minotis directed Maria Callas in a production of Medea presented in Dallas. The production was then seen at Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala and Epidaurus. He also directed the Greek National Opera production of Norma with Callas in Epidaurus in 1961.
He and his wife, the stage and film actress Katina Paxinou, were of the founding members of the National Theatre of Greece (previously named Royal Theatre). Their greatest fame came after their return to Greece from Hollywood in the 50s when they rejoined the National Theatre of Greece and participated in such acclaimed productions as "Hecuba", "Oedipus Rex" and "Medea" both in Greece and abroad.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
To theatro tis Defteras
1981
TV Series
Boy on a Dolphin
1957
Milidias Nadapoulos (as Alex Minotis)
Land of the Pharaohs
1955
Hamar, the High Priest (as Alex Minotis)
Panic in the Streets
1950
John Mefaris - Restaurant Owner (uncredited)
Siren of Atlantis
1949
Cortot (as Alex Minotis)
The Chase
1946
Lt. Acosta
Notorious
1946
Joseph (as Alex Minotis)
Gia tin agapi tis
1930
as Alex Minotis
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
To theatro tis Defteras
1981
TV Series 1 episode
Medea
1965
TV Movie
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies