I thought I should share this about George Foundas, the great, Greek actor on the anniversary of his passing. These days celebrating giants is rare. We’re so inundated with inclusion, that celebrating trailblazers and history-makers like Foundas is being lost.

I had the honour to be taken under his wing for one night in Athens. I was a young director in need of direction. Foundas was a legend who wanted to talk.

In 1995, I was invited to the inaugural Athens Opening Nights Film Festival with my first film, Everynight…Everynight. The morning after the screening, my cousin, an architect by trade was working with Foundas’ son-in-law, who mentioned he went to the festival to see my film. Within a few hours the opportunity came up for me to meet with George Foundas for a night out.

I was nervous entering a musty, old establishment in Pireaus, when I saw a magnetic man in black with a beret seated at a table with waiting staff at his beck and call. We greeted one another and a glass of scotch appeared as if from nowhere.

We started a conversation which lasted the whole night. He spoke and I listened, mostly. I’m glad I didn’t say much. What he told me was gold and what I had to offer wasn’t much; just a healthy constitution for liquor; and a hybrid version of Greek which I think he found both bizarre and charming. We stayed at this establishment for several hours and when it was time to leave the whole bar called out their farewells. We didn’t pay. I wanted to pay but was ushered out the door by the starstruck owner.

Foundas then led me to our next venue, eager to share its historical relevance and to continue our conversation.

In the golden years of Greek cinema, movie stars didn’t make a lot of money. They gained fame, but not much fortune compared to their Hollywood counterparts. Foundas, I imagine wasn’t a wealthy man, but he didn’t need money that night. I found it curious no matter where we went, we didn’t pay. Years later I came to realise, Foundas had already paid those shopkeepers, taxi drivers and restauranteurs by just being Foundas. He was loved and adored by the public and had paid them many, many times over with his movies. Everyone wanted to do their bit to show their appreciation, to thank and honour him. This is what we Greeks call, philotimo.

We talked about lots of things. But mostly, Foundas told his stories. His face would light up with joy recalling funny moments and darken like a thundery cloud at some sad thought. His eyes would flicker away emotion as if wiping the slate clean. He spoke candidly. There was something in my demeanour that reminded him of himself. I think. A young man in pursuit of an artistic career, eager to learn.

Foundas was adamant to tell me he started with nothing and therefore had nothing to lose. He believed he was genuinely lucky.

Somewhere in Plaka he mentioned his mother whom he loved and was very close to. He told me about the premiere of Stella in Greece, it was in 1955, a very ritzy affair with the who’s who of Athenians in attendance. Foundas was proud of his work in the film and took his mother as his date. She had never seen him on screen and was kind of mesmerized by all the fuss. They were seated together in the cinema. When the movie started, his mother thought it was real. She was shocked. When, in the film, Foundas steals a kiss from Melina Mercouri, she smacked and berated him loudly for being a paleo paitho, and yells at him to leave the girl alone! Foundas sunk in his seat, mortified. For the rest of the screening, he waited fearfully for the ending where he stabs Melina Mercouri in the back. I told him at the premiere of my film, my father spent the evening apologizing to all the afterparty attendees for the bad language they had to endure. Foundas laughed out loud.

George Foundas performing opposite fellow screen icon Melina Mercouri in Michalis Cacoyannis’ film ‘Stella’. Photo: AFP / Collection Christophel © Millas Film

We moved on to more places. No matter where we landed Foundas was greeted by friends, old acquaintances, and strangers. He had time for everyone. He was a living, national treasure.

Foundas talked about Zorba the Greek and his relationship with director Michalis Kakogiannis. I asked him what it was like working with Anthony Quinn. He paused and told me Quinn was really running the show. He recalled a big scene between Foundas and Quinn he thought was fantastic. During the rushes, Quinn told Kakogiannis to cut the scene and so it never appeared in the movie. Foundas felt betrayed and suspicious of Quinn’s motives. Whilst the movie went on to become a huge hit, Foundas never really pursued a career outside of Greece. He had no aspirations to do so except for once.

Foundas was called to audition for James Bond in 1968 and found himself on a plane headed for London. It was laden with Bond hopefuls and Foundas was seated next to the Australian actor, George Lazenby. Foundas was recommended by Sergio Leonie to the producers, but no one knew he couldn’t speak English. Lazenby spoke to Foundas but Foundas had to explain, in the little language he knew, that he didn’t speak English and that the producers didn’t know. Foundas was worried that it was a waste of their time and money. Lazenby laughed and quipped, “don’t worry about it mate, they don’t know I can’t act.” Lazenby showed Foundas around London until Foundas’ cover was blown and he was sent home. Lazenby won the role of James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Foundas never forgot, Lazenby, “o kalos o Afstralos.”

George Foundas in 2002. Photo: Eurokinissi

When the night came to an end, we shook hands and I kissed him on both cheeks like you would a father or an uncle. He wished me success in my career and was curiously proud because he loved young Greeks making their way in the world. He considered me a Greek before anything else which I have never forgotten.

Sadly, I never saw Foundas again.

Over the years, whenever I mention my meeting with Foundas to people, I feel incredibly privileged. When he passed away in 2010 and all of Greece mourned, I thought about him, and how this generous man gave me passage through the laneways of old Athens. He was leading me along a well-worn path of many, great Greek artists such as himself. I didn’t realise it at the time, but it was to be the beginning of a spiritual quest that would last a lifetime.

Thank you Foundas.