Alex Minotis

Alexis Minotis (Greek: Αλέξης Μινωτής), born Alexandros Minotakis on August 8, 1900, in Crete, was a renowned Greek actor and director whose contributions to the theatrical world spanned several decades until his passing on November 11, 1990.

Minotis made his stage debut as a Chorus Leader and subsequently as the Messenger in Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus. Between 1925 and 1930, he collaborated closely with the celebrated actress Marika Kotopouli, performing in notable Shakespearean roles such as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, and Macbeth, and he became the first to portray Hamlet in Greece. His repertoire also included Ibsen's Ghosts and Peer Gynt, as well as directing classical works like Hecuba and Antigone.

In 1940, he married actress Katina Paxinou, with whom he starred in numerous productions at the National Theatre of Greece, established in 1930. His Hollywood career began in 1946 when he appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious alongside Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, later featuring in films such as Boy on a Dolphin and Land of the Pharaohs.

Minotis directed a celebrated production of Hecuba in 1955, starring Paxinou at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, and he gained international acclaim for his work on Oedipus at Colonus. He also directed Maria Callas in several notable productions, including Medea and Norma, solidifying his legacy in both Greek and international theatre.