Giorgos Papadakis, the veteran journalist who defined Greek morning television for more than three decades as the host of “Kalimera Ellada,” died Sunday after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 74.
Mr. Papadakis collapsed in the Kolonaki district of central Athens and was rushed to Laiko General Hospital.
Emergency responders arrived minutes after the 5:15 p.m. call but found him without a pulse. Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts en route and at the hospital, doctors were unable to revive him.
Mr. Papadakis was a titanic figure in Greek media, widely credited with inventing the modern morning news format in the country.
Born in Athens in 1951, he began his career in print journalism before transitioning to television in the 1980s.
He rose to national prominence in 1992 as the anchor of “Kalimera Ellada” (Good Morning Greece) on ANT1.
For 32 years, his booming voice and combative yet empathetic style became the soundtrack of the morning for millions of Greeks. He helmed the show until his retirement last year, transitioning to a role as a commentator on the network’s evening news.
ANT1 paid tribute to its longest-serving star in a statement, noting that Mr. Papadakis “left an indelible mark on Greek television” by combining journalistic rigor with a deep sense of public responsibility.
Political leaders and colleagues expressed shock at the sudden loss, hailing Mr. Papadakis as a mentor and a pioneer who reshaped how Greeks consume daily news.