Greece's most important wrestler and cult & exploitation cinema star passed away today at the age of 56, after 2 weeks of being in a comatose condition due to a stroke.

Apostolos started taking part as an extra in Greek films during his teen years. He got his first starring role in the movie TA KATHARMATA/THE SCUMBAGS (1984), a ROCKY rip-off. He followed the minor success of that movie with the even more shocking TO REMALI TIS ATHINAS/ATHENS' SCUMBAG (1985), a film about drug abuse and addiction. He went on making straight-to-video epics that remain classic among Greek trash movie fanatics until today.

I got to meet this amazing man in 2001 and made his last movie RETURN OF THE BASTARDS in 2003. Marking his return to the exploitation genre, it was a sequel to the 1984 film that made him a star here in Greece.

http://www.motion.tv/play=00000570 (view trailer here)

I guess very few fans know about him and his works outside of Greece but I felt I should post a few words about this dear friend's work and his unexpected demise. Greece and it's cinema will never be the same without him. RIP Apostolos.