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Taso N. Stavrakis is a Actor, Special Effects Makeup Artist and Makeup Effects American born on 12 july 1957 at Canton (USA)
Taso Nicholas Stavrakis (born July 12, 1957) is an American film and television actor and stunt performer best known for his appearances in the George A. Romero films Dawn of the Dead, Knightriders, and Day of the Dead. Recruited by his good friend and Carnegie-Mellon University classmate Tom Savini, Stavrakis assisted with stunts and special makeup effects on several seminal 1980s horror productions, including the original Friday the 13th, in which he portrayed "The Prowler" (as the unidentified killer was initially referred to in Victor Miller's screenplay). Romero frequently joked that Stavrakis should be included in the Guinness Book of World Records for having appeared as the most zombies in his Dead series (5 in Dawn and 4 in Day).
Post-college gigs in New York included numerous off-Broadway plays and commercial jobs, including the first human incarnation of the Captain Morgan character for a rum advertisement and Battlestar Galactica's Lucifer character for an automobile commercial.
Offered the opportunity to portray villain Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Part 2, Stavrakis turned down the role as his friend Savini had declined to create the film's makeup effects. He instead took an opportunity to create special makeup effects for He Knows You're Alone, an early thriller by Armand Mastroianni (and incidentally Tom Hanks's first feature film), with whom Stavrakis would work again on the 2006 cinematic adaptation of The Celestine Prophecy.
Despite this early emphasis on makeup, Stavrakis eventually gravitated almost exclusively toward stunt work, serving as stunt coordinator on Day of the Dead and the Romero-scripted Creepshow 2 (1987), while his acting work during this period included a brief stint on As the World Turns as Stavros, a Greek interpreter.
A tournament fencer and seasoned equestrian, Stavrakis is a founding member of the Hanlon-Lees Action Theater, an American entertainment company which pioneered the art of theatrical jousting. He also performed for several years with the Big Apple Circus during the mid-1990s as a variety of characters (including "Captain Coney," a Coney Island-inspired superhero), and remains a member of BAC's Clown Care unit, providing entertainment and encouragement to children in hospital.
His more recent film work includes appearances in Martin Campbell's The Mask of Zorro, Gore Verbinski's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (in a "Tortuga Island" sequence which was edited from the first film but utilized in the sequel) and Michael Mann's 2006 Miami Vice redux, as well as wrangling duties on pictures such as Jackass Number Two and the Seth Green road-trip comedy Sex Drive.
In 2010, Stavrakis returned to his roots, appearing as a featured zombie in the pilot episode of the AMC Network series The Walking Dead.
(1998)
(Stunts)
(2004)
(Stunt Driver)
(1980)
(Special Effects Makeup Artist)
Source : Wikidata
Taso N. Stavrakis
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Post-college gigs in New York included numerous off-Broadway plays and commercial jobs, including the first human incarnation of the Captain Morgan character for a rum advertisement and Battlestar Galactica's Lucifer character for an automobile commercial.
Offered the opportunity to portray villain Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Part 2, Stavrakis turned down the role as his friend Savini had declined to create the film's makeup effects. He instead took an opportunity to create special makeup effects for He Knows You're Alone, an early thriller by Armand Mastroianni (and incidentally Tom Hanks's first feature film), with whom Stavrakis would work again on the 2006 cinematic adaptation of The Celestine Prophecy.
Despite this early emphasis on makeup, Stavrakis eventually gravitated almost exclusively toward stunt work, serving as stunt coordinator on Day of the Dead and the Romero-scripted Creepshow 2 (1987), while his acting work during this period included a brief stint on As the World Turns as Stavros, a Greek interpreter.
A tournament fencer and seasoned equestrian, Stavrakis is a founding member of the Hanlon-Lees Action Theater, an American entertainment company which pioneered the art of theatrical jousting. He also performed for several years with the Big Apple Circus during the mid-1990s as a variety of characters (including "Captain Coney," a Coney Island-inspired superhero), and remains a member of BAC's Clown Care unit, providing entertainment and encouragement to children in hospital.
His more recent film work includes appearances in Martin Campbell's The Mask of Zorro, Gore Verbinski's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (in a "Tortuga Island" sequence which was edited from the first film but utilized in the sequel) and Michael Mann's 2006 Miami Vice redux, as well as wrangling duties on pictures such as Jackass Number Two and the Seth Green road-trip comedy Sex Drive.
In 2010, Stavrakis returned to his roots, appearing as a featured zombie in the pilot episode of the AMC Network series The Walking Dead.
Best films
(1998)(Stunts)
(2004)(Stunt Driver)
(1980)(Special Effects Makeup Artist)
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Filmography of Taso N. Stavrakis (13 films)
Actor
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Miami Vice (2006)
, 2h12Directed by Michael Mann
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films
Actors Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li, Naomie Harris, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ciarán Hinds
Roles Long-Haired Sniper (uncredited)
Rating60%
While working an undercover prostitute sting operation in a nightclub to arrest a pimp named Neptune, Miami-Dade Police detectives James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs receive a frantic phone call from their former informant Alonzo Stevens (John Hawkes). Stevens reveals that he's leaving town, and, believing his wife Leonetta to be in immediate danger, asks Rico to check on her. Crockett learns that Stevens was working as an informant for the FBI but has been compromised. Crockett and Tubbs quickly contact FBI Special Agent in Charge John Fujima (Ciarán Hinds) and warn him about Stevens' safety. Tracking down Stevens through a vehicle transponder and aerial surveillance, Crockett and Tubbs stop him along I-95. Stevens reveals that a Colombian cartel had become aware that Russian undercovers (now dead) were working with the FBI, and had threatened to murder Leonetta via a C-4 necklace bomb if he didn't confess. Rico, learning of Leonetta's death by telephone call, tells Alonzo that he doesn't have to go home. Hearing this, the grief-stricken Stevens commits suicide by walking in front of an oncoming semi truck.
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
, 1h40Directed by Zack Snyder
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Horror, Crime
Themes Medical-themed films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Zombie films, Films about viral outbreaks, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer, Kevin Zegers, Ty Burrell
Roles Car Driver (uncredited)
Rating71%
After finishing a long shift, nurse Ana returns to her suburban neighborhood and her husband, Luis. Caught up in a scheduled date night, they miss an emergency news bulletin. The next morning, a neighborhood girl enters their bedroom and kills Luis, who immediately reanimates as a zombie and attacks Ana. She flees in her car but crashes and passes out. Upon waking, Ana joins with Police Sergeant Kenneth Hall, electronics salesman Michael, petty criminal Andre and his pregnant wife, Luda. They break into a nearby mall and are attacked by a zombified security guard, who scratches Luda. They are also confronted by three living guards — C.J., Bart, and Terry — who make them surrender their weapons in exchange for refuge. They split into groups to secure the mall and then go to the roof, where they see another survivor, Andy, who is stranded alone in his gun store across the zombie-infested parking lot.
, 1h29Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Horror
Themes Comedy horror films
Actors Jake Dengel, Beverly Penberthy, Veronica Hart, Shawn Elliott, Don Brockett, Michael Fairman
Roles Semmet Cairo
Rating49%
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
, 1h25Directed by Tom Savini
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Horror
Themes Medical-themed films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Zombie films, Films about viral outbreaks, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors Tony Todd, Patricia Tallman, Tom Towles, Bill Moseley, Heather Mazur, McKee Anderson
Roles Zombie (uncredited)
Rating68%
Siblings Barbara and Johnnie visit their mother's grave in a remote Pennsylvania cemetery. During their visit, Barbara is attacked by a zombie. Her brother comes to her defense but is killed. Barbara flees the cemetery and discovers what at first seems to be an abandoned farmhouse. She seeks shelter there, only to find another pack of zombies. Shortly after, a man named Ben arrives, and the two clear the house of the dead and begin the process of barricading the doors and windows.
Day of the Dead (1985)
, 1h42Directed by George A. Romero
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Comedy, Action, Horror
Themes Medical-themed films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Zombie films, Films about viral outbreaks, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors Lori Cardille, Joseph Pilato, Terry Alexander, Richard Liberty, Jarlath Conroy, Sherman Howard
Roles Torrez
Rating70%
Cannibalistic zombies have overrun the entire world. The remaining fragments of the U.S. government and military hide out in fortified military bases and colonies, attempting to find a solution to the zombie pandemic. Sarah, Private Miguel Salazar, radio operator William "Bill" McDermott, and helicopter pilot John fly from their base to Fort Myers, Florida, in an attempt to locate additional survivors. They encounter a large horde of the undead, and return to their army base in the Everglades, where a small group of scientists, supported by a skeleton crew of soldiers, is searching for a way to stop or reverse the re-animation process.
Knightriders (1981)
, 2h25Directed by George A. Romero
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Horror
Themes Transport films, Motocyclette
Actors Ed Harris, Tom Savini, Patricia Tallman, Martin Ferrero, Scott Reiniger, Brother Blue
Roles Ewain
Rating62%
Billy (Ed Harris) leads a traveling troupe that jousts on motorcycles. "King William", as he styles himself, tries to lead the troupe according to his Arthurian ideals. However, the constant pressure of balancing those ideals against the modern day realities and financial pressures of running the organization are beginning to strain the group. Billy is also plagued by a recurring dream of a black bird. Tensions are exacerbated by Billy's constantly pushing himself despite being injured and the arrival of a promoter named Bontempi (Martin Ferrero), who wants to represent the troupe.
Maniac (1980)
, 1h27Directed by William Lustig
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Horror, Slasher
Themes Serial killer films
Actors Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro, Tom Savini, Gail Lawrence, Kelly Piper, Rita Montone
Roles Porn-o guy (uncredited)
Rating63%
The film starts with a young couple lying on a beach, unaware that they are being watched by an unseen person. The woman asks the man to get some firewood, and as he leaves, the unseen man approaches the woman and slits her throat with a utility razor. The man returns to the campfire and is attacked from behind. The killer wraps wire around the man's neck and pulls, killing him.
Cannibal Apocalypse (1980)
, 1h36Directed by Antonio Margheriti
Origin Italie
Genres Thriller, Horror, Crime
Themes Medical-themed films, Films about viral outbreaks, Catastrophe épidémiologique, Disaster films
Actors John Saxon, Renzo Marignano, Venantino Venantini, Ramiro Oliveros, Taso N. Stavrakis
Roles Citizen (uncredited)
Rating55%
The film opens with a flashback to the Vietnam War, where Norman Hopper (Saxon) is bitten by a U.S. POW Charlie Bukowski (John Morghen), who is infected with a virus which leaves people with a craving for human flesh. In Atlanta, Georgia, some years later, Hopper wakes up from a nightmare about this incident, and then receives a phone call from Bukowski, who invites his old comrade out for a drink. The call came in at an inopportune moment, as a young neighbour girl, Mary (Cindy Hamilton), was trying to seduce him, so he turns down the invitation. Hopper falls for her charms and as they are about to engage in oral sex, he bites her. After hearing from his concerned wife that a Vietnam vet barricaded himself in a mall, he gets into his car. Just as he is about to leave, Mary reveals that she enjoyed the bite. After arriving on the scene, he convinces Bukowski to surrender to the police. While being hauled away to the hospital, Bukowski bites a police constable.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
, 1h57Directed by George A. Romero, Dario Argento
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Action, Horror, Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Themes Medical-themed films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Transport films, Motocyclette, Films set in the future, Zombie films, Films about viral outbreaks, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, James A. Baffico, David Early
Roles Motorcycle Raider
Rating77%
The United States is devastated by a mysterious phenomenon which reanimates recently deceased unburied human beings as flesh-eating zombies. Despite the best efforts by the U.S. government and local authorities to control the situation, society is beginning to collapse and the remaining survivors are given to chaos. Some rural communities and the military have been effective in fighting the zombies in open country, but cities are helpless and largely overrun. Confusion reigns at the WGON television studio in Philadelphia by the phenomenon's third week, where staff members Stephen Andrews and Francine Parker are planning to steal the station's traffic helicopter to escape the zombies. Meanwhile, police SWAT officer Roger DiMarco and his team raid an apartment building where the residents are defying the martial law of delivering their dead to National Guardsmen. Some residents fight back with handguns and rifles, and are killed by both the overzealous SWAT team and their own reanimated dead. During the raid, Roger meets Peter Washington, part of another SWAT team, and they partner up together. Roger tells Peter that his friend Stephen intends to take his network's helicopter, and suggests that Peter come with them. The matter is decided when they are informed of a group of zombies sheltered in the basement, which they execute with grim determination.
Costume and makup
Friday the 13th (1980)
, 1h32Directed by Sean S. Cunningham
Origin USA
Genres Horror, Slasher
Themes Transport films, Serial killer films, Road movies
Actors Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Kevin Bacon, Rex Everhart
Roles Special Effects Makeup Artist
Rating63%
In the summer of 1958, two camp counselors, Barry and Claudette, sneak away from a campfire to have sex. An unknown assailant follows them and is recognized before brutally attacking and killing them.
Team
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
, 1h40Directed by Zack Snyder
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Horror, Crime
Themes Medical-themed films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Zombie films, Films about viral outbreaks, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer, Kevin Zegers, Ty Burrell
Roles Stunt Driver
Rating71%
After finishing a long shift, nurse Ana returns to her suburban neighborhood and her husband, Luis. Caught up in a scheduled date night, they miss an emergency news bulletin. The next morning, a neighborhood girl enters their bedroom and kills Luis, who immediately reanimates as a zombie and attacks Ana. She flees in her car but crashes and passes out. Upon waking, Ana joins with Police Sergeant Kenneth Hall, electronics salesman Michael, petty criminal Andre and his pregnant wife, Luda. They break into a nearby mall and are attacked by a zombified security guard, who scratches Luda. They are also confronted by three living guards — C.J., Bart, and Terry — who make them surrender their weapons in exchange for refuge. They split into groups to secure the mall and then go to the roof, where they see another survivor, Andy, who is stranded alone in his gun store across the zombie-infested parking lot.
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
, 2h16Directed by Martin Campbell
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Romance, Western
Themes Films about slavery, Medical-themed films, Prison films, Films about racism, Superhero films, Films about disabilities, Heist films, Personne sourde ou muette, Zorro
Actors Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matt Letscher, L. Q. Jones
Roles Stunts
Rating67%
In 1821, Don Diego De La Vega (Anthony Hopkins) fights against the Spanish in the Mexican War of Independence as Zorro, a mysterious swordsman who defends the Mexican peasants and commoners of Las Californias. Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson), the governor of the region, learns of De La Vega's alter ego, and attempts to arrest him. De La Vega's wife is killed during the scuffle. Montero imprisons De La Vega and takes his infant daughter, Eléna, as his own. Twenty years later Montero returns to California as a civilian, alongside Eléna (Catherine Zeta Jones), who has grown into a beautiful woman. Montero's reappearance coincides with De La Vega's escape from prison. He encounters a thief, Alejandro Murrieta (Antonio Banderas), who, as a child, once did Zorro a favor. De La Vega decides that fate has brought them together, and agrees to make Alejandro his protégé, grooming him to be the new Zorro. Murrieta agrees to undergo De La Vega's training regimen in order to be able to take revenge on Captain Harrison Love (Matt Letscher), Montero's right-hand man, who was responsible for killing Murrieta's brother, Joaquin.
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
, 1h25Directed by Tom Savini
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Horror
Themes Medical-themed films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Zombie films, Films about viral outbreaks, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors Tony Todd, Patricia Tallman, Tom Towles, Bill Moseley, Heather Mazur, McKee Anderson
Roles Stunts
Rating68%
Siblings Barbara and Johnnie visit their mother's grave in a remote Pennsylvania cemetery. During their visit, Barbara is attacked by a zombie. Her brother comes to her defense but is killed. Barbara flees the cemetery and discovers what at first seems to be an abandoned farmhouse. She seeks shelter there, only to find another pack of zombies. Shortly after, a man named Ben arrives, and the two clear the house of the dead and begin the process of barricading the doors and windows.
Creepshow 2 (1987)
, 1h32Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Horror
Actors Lois Chiles, George Kennedy, Dorothy Lamour, Joe Silver, Tom Savini, Holt McCallany
Roles Stunt Coordinator
Rating60%
A delivery truck pulls up to a newsstand in a small town where a young boy named Billy (named after and confused with the boy from Creepshow) arrives eagerly waiting for it. The truck's back shutter opens to reveal a sinister figure who drops off a package onto the sidewalk — the latest issue of Creepshow, much to Billy's delight. As the film momentarily turns into an animation, the package opens of its own accord, (revealing the cover of the comic is the same as the cover in the final scene of the previous film). As Billy begins to read, the delivery man reveals his true identity as the Creepshow Creep.
Day of the Dead (1985)
, 1h42Directed by George A. Romero
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Comedy, Action, Horror
Themes Medical-themed films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Zombie films, Films about viral outbreaks, Political films, Dystopian films, Disaster films
Actors Lori Cardille, Joseph Pilato, Terry Alexander, Richard Liberty, Jarlath Conroy, Sherman Howard
Roles Stunts
Rating70%
Cannibalistic zombies have overrun the entire world. The remaining fragments of the U.S. government and military hide out in fortified military bases and colonies, attempting to find a solution to the zombie pandemic. Sarah, Private Miguel Salazar, radio operator William "Bill" McDermott, and helicopter pilot John fly from their base to Fort Myers, Florida, in an attempt to locate additional survivors. They encounter a large horde of the undead, and return to their army base in the Everglades, where a small group of scientists, supported by a skeleton crew of soldiers, is searching for a way to stop or reverse the re-animation process.