On Monday, March 16 at the Actors’ Equity Audition Center, a memorial concert will be held in honor of former Astoria resident George Best Costacos, a singer and actor who passed away at the age of 44 last November.
Born in Greece, Costacos came to the United States in 1983. Although he had always loved theatre and the movies, he did not begin exploring his interest until college.
Costacos went on to perform in dramas, musicals and concerts. However, one of the most memorable moments of his career came when he was selected to be a part of the opening ceremonies for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
“I was the only member of Actors’ Equity … to be invited to perform in the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics,” Costacos said in a July 2008 interview. “It was amazing. I’m very honored they sought me out.”
Costacos, who was also a writer, was active in working on behalf of actors’ rights.
In 2008, Costacos also said, “The win is doing your best job. That’s the win of every situation.”
While in Germany near the end of 2008, Costacos died suddenly following complications from a brain tumor. He was buried in Greece on November 23, 2008.
The March 16 memorial concert, which will run from 7 to 9 p.m., will feature, among others, Steve Ross, Seth Weinstein and Lynn Manuel.
In addition, there will be a series of concerts in the United States and Europe in honor of Costacos that will be held to benefit the Actors’ Equity Foundation and brain cancer research.
Costacos’ memory is also being kept alive in his native Greece. The mayor of his hometown of Aegina, Greece plans to name a street after him. Aegina will also host the George Best Costacos Memorial Marathon each year, which will include runners from Europe and the United States.
A posthumous award will be given in honor of Costacos by the president of the Hellenic Republic, as well.
The Actors’ Equity Audition Center is located at 165 West 46th Street, Second Floor, in Manhattan. For more information, call 212-719-9815 or visit www.actorsequity.org.
