Vangelis Ioannidis

Vangelis Ioannidis was born in Athens in 1948. His family had roots in Asia Minor. He grew up in poverty without a father, together with his sister. In 1952, when he was about four, the director Nikos Koundouros discovered him in Kolonaki, where he had gone to the reservoir with his friends. He later said that as a little boy he had freckles and long fair hair, a look that suited the cinema.

Details of his schooling have not been made public. He began working in films at about five years old and learned his craft on film sets and on stage, including theatre work with Alekos Alexandrakis when he was around nine.

His first collaboration with Lambros Konstantaras came at about five, in Tyflos angelos (Blind Angel). Around 1960 he appeared in Agnes psyches (as a boy named Lambros), Tis mias drachmis ta giasemia, Nikos Koundouros's To potami and To agrimi. In 1963 he played in Koundouros's Mikres Afrodites (Young Aphrodites), for which he was honoured, and in Stavraetoi. Further films included Monemvasia, Ena paidi choris onoma and Choris goneis ki adelfia (all 1964), Giati gennithika ftochi and To thavma tis Megalocharis (both 1965). On stage he appeared in Mia kyria atychisasa (1966).

By fifteen he had made ten films. In 1967 he played the son of Dionysis Papagiannopoulos in Gambros ap' to Londino, and in 1968 he became a household name as Babis Petrocheilos, the youngest son of Konstantaras's Leonidas Petrocheilos, in the comedy O striglos pou egine arnaki. Konstantaras's character introduced him to Maro Kontou as "the third and most poisonous one, the motorcyclist", and his scene riding a motorbike into the house became one of the film's best-remembered moments. He appeared in 25 films in total before leaving acting.

After his film career Ioannidis worked in construction, saying he enjoyed it. He was devoted to music, especially rebetiko, and recorded songs that he posted on his YouTube channel, several of them duets with Angela (Angeliki) Kardasi. He was married; Spyros Bibilas sent condolences to his wife and family. The names of his wife and other relatives have not been made public. He had long withdrawn from the theatre and lived quietly away from the cameras.

Ioannidis spoke frankly about fame. He said he had never dreamed of becoming an actor and did not much like the business. Coming from a poor family, he felt he needed a real job that paid, and he was happy to find it in construction. He remembered Lambros Konstantaras with warmth, describing him as a very good, calm man who was fond of him.

Ioannidis is remembered as one of the "child prodigies" of Greek cinema's golden age, and above all as Babis, the mischievous screen son of Lambros Konstantaras. O striglos pou egine arnaki remains one of the most re-watched Greek comedies, and its motorcycle scene and his catchphrase "Me again?" are still quoted. His early work with Nikos Koundouros in To potami and Mikres Afrodites links him to one of the landmark directors of Greek film. The actors' union TASEI dedicated its 2027 calendar album to the children of Greek cinema, with a special mention of him.

Greek media report that he was honoured for his performance in Mikres Afrodites (Young Aphrodites, 1963); the specific award has not been confirmed in the sources used here. The TASEI 2027 calendar album, prepared by Makis Delaportas, includes a special tribute to him.

Selected films: Tyflos angelos; Agnes psyches (1960); Tis mias drachmis ta giasemia (1960); To potami (1960); To agrimi (1960); Mikres Afrodites (1963); Stavraetoi (1963); Monemvasia (1964); Ena paidi choris onoma (1964); Choris goneis ki adelfia (1964); Giati gennithika ftochi (1965); To thavma tis Megalocharis (1965); Gambros ap' to Londino (1967); O striglos pou egine arnaki (1968). Stage: Mia kyria atychisasa (1966). Music: rebetiko recordings on his YouTube channel, including Oi baglamades and Polla n' akous liga na les.

No controversies involving him have been reported.

Ioannidis died on Sunday 15 November 2026, aged 78. He had been in intensive care for some time at a hospital in Aigaleo, Attica, after a serious stroke, and Greek media also reported that he had undergone heart surgery. Spyros Bibilas announced his death on Instagram after being told by actress Athina Dombrou, a close friend, and offered condolences to his wife and family. Funeral arrangements had not been made public at the time of writing.