Spiros Focas, ‘Rambo 3’ and ‘Jewel of the Nile’ Greek actor dies at 86
Greek actor Spiros Focas worked in a string of Italian and well known Hollywood movies
Spiros Focas, a Greek actor died Friday at the age of 86.
The news of the actor’s death, who also starred in Rambo 3 and Jewel of the Nile, was confirmed by his family.
Focas's widow said on Facebook that he passed away in a rehabilitation facility outside of Athens.
Paying homage, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described Focas as one of the "best known and most loved" actors in the nation.
Focas, whose real name is Spyros Androutsopoulos, was born in the port city of Patras in 1937. He moved to Italy in 1959 to pursue a four-decade career in film and television.
Focas, a famous director who collaborated with Luchino Visconti and Vincente Minnelli, was a striking resemblance of the Egyptian star Omar Sharif. Focas starred in Visconti's 1960 masterpiece Rocco and his Brothers.
His most famous roles were in the 1980s, when he starred alongside Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito as the villain Omar in Jewel of the Nile and as an Afghan Mujahideen warrior in Rambo 3.
He battled poor health and financial difficulties while residing in the city of Corinth in recent years. In July, he had to evacuate his home due to flames nearby, and he was admitted to the hospital.
"Fate was good to me, but in the end I did not get to roll double sixes," he told Star TV three years ago.
Focas left behind his wife and daughter.
-
Reese Witherspoon goes 'boss' mode on 'Legally Blonde' prequel
-
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky open up about raising their three children in Australia
-
Michael Douglas breaks silence on Jack Nicholson's constant teasing
-
'Kryptonite' singer Brad Arnold loses battle with cancer
-
Gabourey Sidibe gets candid about balancing motherhood and career
-
Katherine Schwarzenegger shares sweet detail from early romance days with Chris Pratt
-
Last part of Lil Jon statement on son's death melts hearts, police suggest mental health issues
-
Laura Dern reflects on being rejected due to something she can't help