George Chakiris

Film, Television & Theatre Actor

Academy Award-winning actor George Chakiris has established an international career in film, television and theater. His acting, singing and dancing credits include two-dozen films, several acclaimed mini-series in Europe and Japan, BBC performances and concert tours worldwide. But it was West Side Story that brought him into the spotlight, first as Riff, leader of the Jets in London’s West End production, and then as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks in the movie version, which won him an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting actor. The son of immigrant Greek parents, he was born in Ohio, and raised in both Arizona and California. He made his film debut at the age of 14 in MGM’s Song of Love, starring Katherine Hepburn. Other notable stars with whom he has appeared include Yul Brynner, Richard Widmark, Charlton Heston, and Lana Turner. In his spare time Chakiris has created a line of Sterling Silver jewelry, which debuted in Japan in 2008, and will be available in the U.S this fall.

Nicholas Gage

Journalist & Author

Writer and investigative reporter Nicholas Gage was born Nikos Gatzoyiannis in Epiros, Greece. He joined his father in Massachusetts following the execution of his mother Eleni Gatzoyiannis by communist guerillas. Gage began writing about his experiences in high school, and went on to win the 1963 Hearst Award as the best college journalist in the country. He has since written for the Associated Press, the Boston Herald Traveler, the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. His first book Eleni, about his mother, was a multi-award winner, and became a motion picture starring John Malkovich and Kate Nelligan. His subsequent books include A Place for Us, Hellas, and Greece, Land of Light a collaboration with photographer Barry Brukoff and Greek Fire, The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis which is also slated to be a film starring Eva Mendes. Gage has used his skills to defend Greek rights throughout the world. Founder and first president of the World Council of Epirotes, former president of the Panepirotic Federation and an active member of AHEPA, Leadership 100 and the Order of St. Andrew, Gage was made an Archon of the Patriarchate 12 years ago and given a title that reflects both his work and his life: Didaskalos Tou Genous —Teacher of Generations.

Michael Chiklis

Film, Television & Theatre Actor

Michael Chiklis is best known for his role as Detective Vic Mackey in the groundbreaking drama The Shield, a rolewhich won him the Television Critics Association Award, an Emmy and a Golden Globe. He played the title role on The Commish from 1991 — 96, and also guest starred inseveral popular series such as Miami Vice, L.A. Law, Murphy Brown, and Seinfeld.  On film, he starred as John Belushi in the controversial film Wired, and his other credits include the horror thriller Rise opposite Lucy Liu, The Tax Man, Do Not Disturb opposite William Hurt and Jennifer Tilly, Last Request and Body and Soul, Fantastic Four and it’s sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. On Broadway Chiklis starred in the one-man show Defending the Caveman.

Marilu Henner

Film, Television, Theatre Actress & Author

Actress, author, and singer Marilu Henner is best known for her Emmy winning classic TV sitcoms, first as Elaine Nardo in Taxi (1978-1983); and later as Ava Evans Newton, the wife of Burt Reynolds in Evening Shade (1990-1994). She has starred in numerous movies since the late 1970s, most recently A Tale of Two Bunnies (2000); the independent film Lost In the Pershing Point Hotel (2000); Gone But Not Forgotten (2004); Love Rules (2004); Joint Custody (2005); Governor’s Wife (2008).  On Broadway shecreated the role of Marty in the original production of Grease; Donna in Over Here with the Andrews Sisters and John Travolta; the revival of Pal Joey; and the comedy Social Security. She later starring as Roxie Hart in Chicago (1997) then played the title role in the National Tour of Annie Get Your Gun (2000) prior to returning to Broadway as the sensual seductress Lee in Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (2003). A multiple New York Times best selling author and health advocate (marilu.com), Henner has changed millions of lives from the eight books she has written on health, fitness, and lifestyle.

Kalomira

Vocal Artist

The Elios Spotlight Award will go to Kalomira, an American singer of Greek descent who has achieved major recognition in Greece, Cyprus and most of Europe. Since her success on the Greek talent show Famestory (similar to American Idol), she has released four studio albums, and represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 winning 3rd place.  Kalomira has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, Access Hollywood and has been interviewed on BBC. She won "Best New Artist" at the LifeStyle Awards in 2004, and is currently hosting the show "Big In Japan" in Greece.

Maria Menounos

Reporter, Producer, Acrtess & Television Personality

Reporter, actress and singer, Maria Menounos who will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies at the Ball, is   a special correspondent for  Access Hollywood,  the  entertainment newsmagazine. She joined  NBC in 2005 to servee as the West Coast Contributor for  Today, to report for Access and, more recently, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. She has appeared in several movies and television sitcoms, and was selected as one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful.” Menounos hosted and sang at the annual 2006 Eurovision Music Competition Awards in Athens to a European audience of 600 million viewers. Her coverage of the AIDS virus in South Africa inspired her to dedicate herself to charity work and to create the non-profit, Take Action Hollywood! (TAH!).