George Kotsonaros ( el, Γεώργιος Κωτσονάρος; October 16, 1892 in

Nafplio Nafplio ( ell, Ναύπλιο) is a coastal city located in the Peloponnese in Greece and it is the capital of the regional unit of Argolis and an important touristic destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in the ...

, Greece – July 13, 1933 in

Eutaw, Alabama Eutaw ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,937. The city was named in honor of the Battle of Eutaw Springs, the last engagement of the American Revolutionary War ...

) was a

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

-born professional wrestler and film actor. He acted mostly in silent pictures. His original name was Giorgios Demetrios Kotsonaros. He emigrated to the United States in July 1910. His swarthy, menacing face—and pugilist's rearranged nose—got him many roles as a tough guy or a prizefighter at a time when boxing movies were a flourishing subgenre due to the sport's huge popularity with the public. Most of Kotsonaros's films are today considered lost. Later, Kotsonaros began a career in professional wrestling. On July 13, 1933, Kotsonaros was driving through Alabama when his car overturned, killing him."Kotsonaros Dies in Auto; Actor-Wrestler Killed In Alabama; John Paul Jones Badly Hurt", ''New York Times'', July 14, 1933; Tim Hornbaker, ''National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling'' (ECW Press, 2007), p. 194

Filmography

*'' Honeymoon Lane'' (1931) as Nolay *'' Dangerous Paradise'' (1930) as Pedro
''Two Against Death'' (USA: alternative title) *'' The Body Punch'' (1929) as Paul Steinert * ''The Shakedown'' (1929) as Battling Roff *''

We Faw Down ''We Faw Down'' is a silent short subject directed by Leo McCarey starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on December 29, 1928. It was remade in part with their film '' Sons of the Desert'' in 1933. Plot ...

'' (1928) as One-Round Kelly (uncredited)
a.k.a. ''We Slip Up'' (UK) *''

Beggars of Life ''Beggars of Life'' is an American film directed by William Wellman and starring Wallace Beery and Richard Arlen as hobos, and Louise Brooks as a young woman who dresses as a young man and flees the law. The film is regarded as Brooks's best Ame ...

'' (1928) as Baldy (uncredited) *'' Street of Sin'' (1928) as Iron Mike *'' The Fifty-Fifty Girl'' (1928) as Buck (the Gorilla Man) *'' The Love Mart'' (1927) as Fleming Henchman (uncredited) *''

The Private Life of Helen of Troy ''The Private Life of Helen of Troy'' is a 1927 American silent film about Helen of Troy based on the 1925 novel of the same name by John Erskine, and adapted to screen by Gerald Duffy. The film was directed by Alexander Korda and starred Marí ...

'' (1927) as Hector
a.k.a. ''Helen of Troy'' (USA) *''

The Wizard Wizard, the wizard, or wizards may refer to: * Wizard (fantasy), a fictional practitioner of magic * Wizard (supernatural), a practitioner of magic Art, entertainment and media Fictional characters * Wizard (Archie Comics), a comic book supe ...

'' (1927) as The Gorilla * ''King of the Jungle'' (1927, serial) *'' Catch-As-Catch-Can'' (1927) as Butch *'' The Tender Hour'' (1927) as The Wrestler *'' When a Man Loves'' (1927) as Convict Prisoner (uncredited)
a.k.a. ''His Lady'' (UK) *'' While London Sleeps'' (1926) as The Monk *'' Cupid's Knockout'' (1926) * ''

The Fighting Doctor ''The Fighting Doctor'' is a 1926 action film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring Frank Merrill, Edward Cecil and George Kotsonaros.Munden p.240 Cast * Frank Merrill as Dr. Frank Martin * Edward Cecil as George Stafford * J.C. Fow ...

'' (1926) *''Vanishing Millions'' (1926)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kotsonaros, George 1892 births 1933 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Greek male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors Road incident deaths in Alabama People from Nafplion Greek emigrants to the United States 20th-century Greek Americans