Andreas Voutsinas Greek actor and director Date of Birth: 22.08.1932 Country: Greece

1. Early Life and Career
2. Connections with Mel Brooks
3. Actors Studio and Jane Fonda
4. Le Theatre Des Cinquante
5. Return to Greece
6. Later Years and Legacy

Early Life and Career

Andreas Voutsinas was born on August 22, 1932, in Khartoum, Sudan. He made his television debut in the American series "The Defenders" in 1963 and his film debut five years later.

Connections with Mel Brooks

Voutsinas became friends with Mel Brooks' partner, Anne Bancroft, who introduced him to Brooks. Brooks cast Voutsinas as Carmen Ghia in the 1968 comedy "The Producers." He later appeared in two more of Brooks's films: "The Twelve Chairs" (1970) and "History of the World, Part I" (1980).

Actors Studio and Jane Fonda

Voutsinas was a lifetime member of the Actors Studio from 1957. He met Jane Fonda there in 1960 and became her acting coach. He directed her in the Broadway play "Fun Couple" and later followed her to Hollywood. He worked with Fonda on several films, including Roger Vadim's 1968 "Barbarella."

Le Theatre Des Cinquante

In Paris, Voutsinas founded Le Theatre Des Cinquante, an acting workshop based on the principles of Lee Strasberg. It became a training ground for many notable French actors. He also directed and acted in various French theater and television productions.

Return to Greece

In the early 1980s, Voutsinas relocated to Greece. He worked as a director, focusing on a wide repertoire from Euripides to Tennessee Williams, primarily with the State Theater of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki. His productions were also staged at the Athens Festival and the Epidaurus Festival.

Later Years and Legacy

Voutsinas continued to work in both Greece and France, appearing in numerous films, including "Safe Sex" (1999) and "Le Grand Bleu" (1988). He passed away in Athens on June 8, 2010, at the age of 77. Voutsinas is remembered as a versatile actor, director, and mentor who made significant contributions to both American and European cinema and theater.