Greek Americans

A Greek American is a citizen of the United States who has significant Greek heritage. According to the 2000 U.S. Census Report, there were 1,153,295 people of Greek heritage living in the United States that year. 365,435 Americans spoke Greek at home. Greek Americans have a heavy concentration in New York City (most notably in Astoria) and Chicago. Tarpon Springs, Florida is also home to a large Greek-American community.

History

The first Greek known to have arrived on U.S. soil was a man named Don Theodoro, who landed on Florida with the Narváez expedition in 1528 [1][2]. He died during the expedition, as did most of his companions.

In 1768, about 500 Greeks from Smyrna, Crete and Mani settled in New Smyrna, Florida (near present-day New Smyrna Beach). The colony was unsuccessful, and the settlers moved to St. Augustine, Florida in 1776, where their traces were lost to history.[3][4]

The first significant Greek community to develop was in New Orleans during the 1850s. By 1866 the community was numerous and prosperous enough to have a Greek consulate and the first Greek Orthodox church in the United States.[5]. During that period, most Greek immigrants to the New World came from Asia Minor, and those Aegean islands still under Ottoman rule. By 1890, there were almost 15,000 Greeks living in the U.S.

Immigration picked up in the 1890s, mostly because of the displacement caused by the hardships of Ottoman rule, the Balkan Wars and World War I. 450,000 Greeks arrived to the States between 1890 and 1917, many as hired labor for the railroads and mines of the American West; another 70,000 arrived between 1918 and 1924. Changes in immigration laws after 1924 significantly reduced the immigration rate; less than 30,000 arrived between 1925 and 1945, many of whom were "picture brides" for single Greek men.[6]

Greeks again began to arrive in large numbers after 1945, fleeing the economic devastation caused by World War II and the Greek Civil War. From 1946 until 1982, approximately 211,000 Greeks emigrated to the United States.

After the 1981 admission of Greece to the European Union, numbers fell to an average of less than 2,000 annually. In recent years, Greek immigration to the United States has been minimal; in fact net migration has been towards Greece. Over 72,000 U.S. citizens currently live in Greece (1999); most of them are Greek Americans.

The predominant religion among Greeks and Greek-Americans is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. There are also a number of Americans who descend from Greece's large Sephardic and Romaniote Jewish communities.

Popular culture

Marvel Comics superhero Elektra Natchios.

• The popular 1970s show Kojak featured Telly Savalas as Greek-American police detective Theo Kojak, and his brother George as Detective Stavros. Kojak was originally supposed to be Polish (hence the name), but this was changed to match Savalas' profile.
• The 2002 comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding portrayed the love story of a Greek-American woman (portrayed by Greek Canadian Nia Vardalos) and a non-Greek-American man. It also examines the protagonist's troubled love/hate relationship with her cultural heritage and value system. The movie spawned an unsuccessful TV series, My Big Fat Greek Life.
• The Famous Teddy Z was a acclaimed but short-lived TV series about a fictional talent agent named Teddy Zakalakis, portrayed by Jon Cryer.
• The TV series Full House was about a family that included Greek-American Uncle Jesse, portrayed by John Stamos. Jesse's Greek dad was also recurring character.
• The Greek Restaurant was a recurring sketch in the early years of Saturday Night Live. More recently, Tina Fey has often joked about her Greek heritage on the show.
• Tom's Restaurant, a Greek-American owned business, has become one of the symbols of urban New York life.
• Elektra Natchios is a Marvel Comics superhero, portrayed by Jennifer Garner in the 2005 movie Elektra.

Major Greek-American organizations

There are hundreds of regional, religious and professional Greek-American organizations. Some of the largest ones include:

• The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) is the largest community organization of Greek Americans. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in bla bla bla bla ur mom1922 during a period of anti-Greek attacks by the Ku Klux Klan. Its current membership exceeds 18,000.

• The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the religious organization most closely associated with the Greek-American community. It was established in 1921, and is under the leadership of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople. The church operates the Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA), the largest Greek youth group in the United States.

• The Council of Hellenes Abroad is a Greek government sponsored umbrella organization for Greek immigrant organizations worldwide. Then everyone died.

The End

List of notable Greek Americans

Harry "the Golden Greek" Agganis1, football and baseball player Spiro Agnew1, former Vice President of the United States (Greek father) Art Agnos, former mayor of San Francisco Helene Alexopoulos, former New York City Ballet prima ballerina Ernie Anastos, WNYW-New York co-anchorman LaVerne Andrews1, performer, one of the Andrews Sisters (Greek father) Maxene Andrews1, performer, one of the Andrews Sisters (Greek father) Patti Andrews, performer, one of the Andrews Sisters (Greek father) Jennifer Aniston, actress (Greek father) John Aniston, actor Phil Angelides, state treasurer of California Peter Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles George Argyros, US ambassador to Spain Hank Azaria, actor, sephardic-jewish parents from Greece Constantine Balanis, scientist Dave Bautista, wrestler (Greek mother) Shelley Berkley Member of Congress (Greek Shephardic Jewish mother) Jeff Bezos, president and CEO of Amazon.com (by adoption). Michael Bilirakis, congressman from Florida. Vasili Bogazianos, actor. John Brademas Member of Congress, Academic Maria Callas1, one of the greatest opera sopranos of all time. Jimmy Carson, NHL hockey player, (Original family surname Kyriazopoulos) Gabrielle Carteris, actor (Romaniote Greek) Tom Carvel1, founder of the Carvel franchise John Cassavetes1, movie director Nick Cassavetes, movie director (Greek father) George Chakiris, actor, West Side Story Peter Chakos, tv editor & director Chris Chelios, NHL hockey player Michael Chiklis, actor, The Shield Ed Christofoli , NHL hockey player George Christopher1, former mayor of San Francisco Kelly Clarkson, first American Idol winner (Greek-American mother) Michael Constantine, actor George Pan Cosmatos1, film director, Tombstone, Rambo: First Blood Part II Bob Costas, NBC sportscaster (Greek father) Christos Cotsakos, co-founder of E*Trade Nick "the Greek" Dandolos1, gambler Tara Dakides, Pro Snowboarder and Champion from California Rae Dalven1, author and academic (Romaniote - Greek Jewish) Marion Davies1, actress (Greek father) Cleon Daskalakis, NHL player for Boston Bruins Peter Diamandis, founder of the International Space University Frank Dicopoulos, actor Gracia Dura Bin1, wife of Dr. Andrew Turnbull Michael Dukakis, former governor of Massachusetts; 1988 Democratic Presidential Candidate Olympia Dukakis, actress Jeffrey Eugenides, author (Greek father) Chris Farasopoulos, football player, played for the NY Jets Tina Fey, comedienne, head writer of Saturday Night Live (Greek mother) Michael Flessas, actor Calista Flockhart, actress (Greek great-grandmother) Elena Ford, Ford Motor Company executive. (Greek Father) Mike Galanos, CNN/Sports Illustrated anchor George Gekas, congressman from Pennsylvania Christopher Georges1, journalist, the Wall Street Journal Kristi Lauren Glakas, Miss Virginia 2006, (Greek parents), cousin of C.I.A. Director George Tenet Vanessa Grigoriadis, contributing editor, the New York Times Laird Hamilton, surfer born Laird John Zerfas, (Greek father) Angie Harmon, actress, model, Law & Order (Greek mother) Erika Harold, Miss America 2003 (Greek/Welsh/German father) Anemona Hartocollis, journalist, the New York Times Constantinos Hastopolis, Disc Jockey, WRCQ, Rock 103, Fayetteville, NC Arianna Huffington, author and columnist Iakovos1, former Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Melina Kanakaredes, actress Paris Kanellakis1, computer scientist George Kariotis, businessman, ran against Michael Dukakis for governor of Massachusetts in 1986. Dean Karnazes, ultramarathon champion, writer, businessman Robert Karvelas1, actor; portrayed Larrabee on Get Smart Andreas Katsulas, actor Mike Karakas, NHL Player for the Islanders 1935-1946 Alex Karras, actor Eric Karros, Major League Baseball batter for Dodgers Elia Kazan1, movie director Chris Kratt, television star Martin Kratt, television star Patricia Lake1, actress (Greek maternal grandfather) Charles Lederer1, writer/director (Greek maternal grandfather) Alexi Lalas, soccer player Tommy Lee, heavy metal drummer (Greek mother) Ted Leonsis Vice Chair of AOL Greg Louganis (Greek by adoption; ethnically Samoan and Swedish), athlete Constantine Makris, TV Director, Law and Order Nick Mamatas. author Andy Manatos, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce Constantine Maroulis, singer, stage actor, and American Idol finalist Demetri Martin, comedian Debbie Matenopoulos, journalist, talk show host Maria Menounos, journalist, tv presenter Dimitris Nanopoulos, theoretical physicist John Negroponte, United States Director of National Intelligence Nicholas Negroponte, scientist Gus Niarhos, Major League Baseball Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox, Phillies Johnny Otis, rhythm and blues musician Alexander Pantages, vaudeville and early motion picture producer and impresario John Allen Paulos, mathematician Alexander Payne, Academy award winning movie director Lonnie Paxton, NFL New England Patriots long-snapper 01/02/03 seasons(half Greek) George Pelecanos, author Elizabeth Perkins, actor, (Greek father - Original family surname Pisperikos) Peter Peterson First Greek American Cabinet Officer, Head of Blackstone Group Jack Pierce1, acclaimed make up artist John G. Proakis, scientist. John Rigas, founder of Adelphia Communications Corporation Liz Ryder, musician,(Greek mother) Pete Sampras, tennis player (3/4 Greek, 1/4 Sephardic Jewish) Chris Sarandon, actor Paul Sarbanes, U.S. Senator representing the state of Maryland George Savalas1, actor Telly Savalas1, actor Amy Sedaris, actress, comedienne David Sedaris, essayist and radio contributor Jamie Lynn Sigler, actress, plays Meadow Soprano (Greek Sephardic paternal grandmother) Spyros Skouras1, movie magnate, president of 20th Century Fox Fred Smerlas1, football player for Buffalo Bills & New England Patriots Olympia Snowe, Republican Senator from Maine Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder1, sports commentator Alex Spanos, owner of the San Diego Chargers John Stamos, actor (Greek father) Frank Stams, NFL player - Notre Dame and Rams George Stephanopoulos, political commentator, Former White House Communications Director Matt Stover, NFL player, kicker for Baltimore Ravens Mena Suvari, actress (Greek mother) TAKI 183, graffiti artist George Tenet, former director of the U.S. CIA Tiffani Thiessen, actress, German Father, Greek/Turkish/Welsh Mother Craig Titus, American bodybuilder (Greek father) Frances Townsend, assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor (Greek father) Paul Tsongas1, former senator from Massachusetts Jim Verraros, singer/actor, finalist on the 1st American Idol Rita Wilson, actress (Greek mother) Yanni, musician Billy Zane, actor Lisa Zane, actress

File:Agnew.jpg Spiro Agnew File:Bob Costas.jpg Bob Costas File:Tinafey cropped.jpg Tina Fey File:Elia Kazan.jpg Elia Kazan File:Kojak.jpg Telly Savalas File:Olympia Snowe.jpg Olympia Snowe File:George Tenet.gif George Tenet File:Ritawilson.jpg Rita Wilson

Notes: [1] Deceased.

See also

• Hyphenated American