Christos Valavanidis, the acclaimed Greek actor, passed away at the age of 82 on the evening of Friday, March 6, 2026, casting a deep sense of loss across Greece’s artistic community.
Funeral Details
His funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 11, at 12:30 PM at the Rizona Crematorium in Athens. Actor Spyros Mpimpilas announced the details on Sunday, correcting an earlier time reference — the service is at 12:30 PM, not 9:30 PM as initially misstated.
A Beloved Figure in Greek Television
For many years, Valavanidis faced serious health challenges, yet remained a cherished presence on screen — most notably for his leading role in the popular Greek television series Oi Aftairetoi (“The Unauthorized”). His warm, authentic performances earned him widespread affection from audiences nationwide.
Tributes and Memories
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Spyros Mpimpilas wrote: “We will bid farewell with sorrow and deep respect to our beloved and distinguished Christos Valavanidis on Wednesday at 12:30 PM at the Rizona Crematorium. I’m sharing this photo from the height of the coronavirus crisis — a time when Christos, alongside his beloved wife Aspasia Krali, brought freshly baked loaves of bread to the offices of TASEH (the Greek Actors’ Union), to distribute among fellow performers. The bread was kneaded and baked by them at home. Safe travels, Christos…”
The post, published by @spyrosmpimpilas, was shared one day after actors Antonis Kafetzopoulos, Kaiti Finou, and Mpimpilas publicly paid tribute to Valavanidis.