Nico Minardos dies at 81

Actor appeared in films, TV

Actor Nico Minardos, who appeared in film and television during a three-decade career and was the subject of a 2010 documentary, died of natural causes on Aug. 27 in Los Angeles. He was 81.

Minardos was a contract player at 20th Century Fox, making his first (uncredited) film appearance in 1952’s “Monkey Business” with Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant. Film credits also include “Istanbul,” with Errol Flynn; 1960’s “Twelve Hours to Kill,” in which he starred opposite Barbara Eden; “It Happened in Athens,” with Jayne Mansfield; and 1977’s “Assault on Agathon,” which he produced and starred in with Marianne Faithfull and John Woodvine.

Minardos also made appearances on dozens of TV shows starting in 1956. Credits included “Maverick,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Perry Mason,” “The Flying Nun,” “Mod Squad,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Ironside,” “Alias Smith and Jones” and “The A-Team.”

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He was also the subject of Owen Prell’s 2010 feature documentary “Finding Nico.”

Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Minardos attended the Sorbonne in Paris and graduated from UCLA.

He was briefly married to Deborah Jean Smith, who later married Tyrone Power.

Minardos is survived by his second wife, Julie Minardos; son George Minardos; daughter Nina Aloni, who is married to CAA agent Dan Aloni; and three grandchildren.

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Martina Birk

Update: 2024-10-07

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