Contact: Michael Russell

 (310) 939-9024                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OBITUARY  

YANI BEGAKIS – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Member

Yani Begakis, a five-time President and a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for 48 years, passed away at Cedars Sinai on August 12. He had been hospitalized and in critical condition since returning from a press junket in Athens at the beginning of July. He was 81.

Begakis was born to Greek parents in Constantinople (Istanbul) on October 16, 1926. He lost his father at the age of five and grew up with his mother, sister and older brother. While going to school, he worked at the local movie theatre where he learned English by watching American movies even though “live” theatre was his first love.

After two years in the army, he started working in a travel agency. His life changed when he got a job organizing a press junket for the opening of the Istanbul Hilton in 1955, where he met two fellow Greeks, famous film director Elia Kazan (who had also been born in Constantinople) and president of 20^th Century Fox studios Spyros Skouras. Later, Begakis began writing for a local newspaper through which he met Hollywood journalists Hedda Hopper and John Cameron Swayze, as well as Louella Parsons and Cole Porter. Meeting the Americans had a profound impact on young Begakis.

Skouras, impressed with Begakis’ writing, invited him to Hollywood where he worked at Fox Studios. Skouras also helped Begakis with his immigrant status, making him a permanent resident of the United States. While at Fox, Begakis began writing for a home newspaper and then began a long association writing for Japan’s SCREEN magazine.

Also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Begakis appeared in various small roles over the years. Along with his sister and his late niece, he founded the non-profit organization the Hellenic Society of Constantinople. His awards included the International Media Award from the Publicist Guild of America.  

Yani is survived by his sister, Kleo Lee, his nephew Alex Kazanegras, first cousin Danae Dame, nephews Nick Begakis, and Mike Begakis, and their families. Services will be held at Saint Sophia’s Cathedral at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19.