We open today at 9:15 AM 020 8568 4499 020 8568 4499

Get in touch

Close

DON'T DELAY, secure your 2025 holiday today

This week’s post is something a little different. In celebration of all things Greek we’ve come up with a list of 5 people who are at least part-Greek and whose heritage may not be immediately obvious. Do please let us know who we’ve missed from our list!

Telly Savalas Telly Savalas

1. Telly Savalas

Known to an entire generation as Kojak, he was everybody’s favourite bald New York TV detective. While Telly may not given away too many Greek clues, his full name Aristotelis Savalas leaves no doubt as to his Greek parentage. His father owned a Greek restaurant in New York and by all accounts young Telly did not speak English until he entered high school.

Always proud of his heritage, he was known to say to his TV colleagues “Everybody should have a little Greek in them.”

2. George Michael    

Not such as surprise perhaps, but Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou may have held young George back in his early quest for fame and fortune. Fortunately for his career George’s father Kyriacos Panayiotou changed his name to Jack Michael when he arrived in London.

George has been more open about his 'Greekness' than about certain parts of his private life and he received an overwhelming welcome when he played a concert in Athens.

3. Jennifer Aniston

Born as Jennifer Joanna Anastassakis, her father quickly changed americanised the family name to Aniston before moving from California to his native Crete for a year. They then settled in New York City. A little known fact is that Jennifer’s father was best friends with Telly Savalas and Savalas is in fact her godfather.

4. Tina Fey

While her name doesn’t look that Greek on first inspection, Tina is short for Stamatina (Elizabeth Stamatina Fey) and her mother was American born but of Greek descent. Tina is very well known in the US as a actress and comedian and shot to international stardom following her performance as a Sarah Palin double. Presumably we’ll be seeing more of her in that role soon..

Nicky Clarke Nicky Clarke

5. Nicky Clarke

Hairdresser to the stars, blond haired Nicky may not strike immediately as the son of a Greek mother. His parents met during the war when his British father was stationed in Athens. His mother was Greek Orthodox and they married in Greece before coming to England. Nicky had already made up his mind on his future career by the age of 12 when his father bought him a barber’s kit.

The Sunvil Family

By The Sunvil Family

28th September 2011



The Sunvil Family
The Sunvil Family
The Sunvil Family

Sunvil's holidays are designed by passionate travellers just like you. Our reservations experts and product teams, many of whom have been with us for many years, are passionate about our destinations and, through their personal, first-hand knowledge can answer any questions that you may have. They are well qualified to advise and recommend, based on your own holiday criteria. We can point you to those special, little-known places, some not found even in guidebooks.

Call one of our experts to discuss your next holiday with Sunvil on

020 8568 4499

We open today at 9:15 AM

Make an Enquiry

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774
  • Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

* Mandatory Information
Title *
First name *
Surname *
Telephone number *
Alternative telephone number
Email address *
Confirm email address
Preferred method of communication *
If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify

Details

Preferred departure date *
Duration *
Preferred UK departure airport *
Party size *

Back

  • Adults(12+ yrs)
  • Children(2 to 11 yrs)
  • Infants(Under 2 yrs)
Budget range
Other comments:

Email newsletters

 

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774
  • Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

* Mandatory Information
Title *
First name *
Surname *
Telephone number *
Alternative telephone number
Email address *
Confirm email address
Preferred method of communication *
If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify
Booking reference number *
Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

 

Thank you for your enquiry

Thank you for your enquiry. A member of our specialist reservation teams will be in touch shortly.

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774

Your details have been saved

Feel free to continue to browse the site and add to your enquiry. Don't forget to send the enquiry before you leave!

My Suitcase

We understand that so much choice can be overwhelming which is why we have developed 'My Suitcase'. This facility allows you to save and compare your favourite holidays, and even allows you to return to your selection at a later stage.

Why not use 'My Suitcase' to compile a wish list of your future Sunvil holidays?

 

Sign in


New to Sunvil?

Create Account

 

Already have an account?

Password reset

Back

Close

Close