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Corinna Tsopei

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Corinna Tsopei
Κυριακή Τσοπέη
A smiling young woman with olive skin and dark hair, wearing a tiara and sash, and drop earrings
Kiriaki Tsopei, from a 1964 publication of the United States Air Force
Born
Kyriaki Tsopei

(1944-06-21) 21 June 1944 (age 80)
Spouses
Steven Zax
(m. 1968; div. 1978)
(m. 1981; died 2007)
Children3
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Star Hellas 1964
Miss Universe 1964
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
Major
competition(s)
Miss Star Hellas 1964
(Winner)
Miss Universe 1964
(Winner)

Kyriaki "Corinna" Tsopei (Greek: Κυριακή (Κορίννα) Τσοπέη; born 21 June 1944) is a Greek actress, model and beauty queen who won Miss Universe 1964.

Career

[edit]

On 20 June 1964, Tsopei was crowned Miss Star Hellas by Miss Star Hellas 1963, Despina Orgeta. She moved on to represent Greece at the Miss Universe 1964 pageant in Miami, Florida, where she beat out Miss England, Miss Israel, Miss Sweden, and Miss Republic of China to be crowned Miss Universe,[1] bringing the title to Greece for the first time. She has since returned several times to judge the pageant.

After completing her reign as Miss Universe, she went on to pursue a brief movie career, making five uncredited or minor appearances (including "Girl in Cage" in Caprice, "Telethon telephone operator" in Valley of the Dolls, and "Tennis Girl" in The Sweet Ride) in 1967 and 1968, before appearing in her only prominent role as the love interest of the lead character in A Man Called Horse (1970). Tsopei also guest-starred in a 1967 episode of the television series Lost in Space ("Castles in Space") and a 1968 episode of Daniel Boone.

Apart from her beauty pageant work and acting career, Tsopei also is a chair of an organisation for children with leukemia.

Family

[edit]

Tsopei was born on June 21, 1944, to George and Maria Tsopei. Her father, George (1914–1997), was a Greek Army major, originally from Mani in the Peloponnese. She has one brother, Basil, and one sister, Despina.[2]

Tsopei was married twice. Her first marriage was to Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven Zax, from 1968 to 1978.[3] Tsopei's three sons were born to the couple during this marriage: Andrew, Steven, and Paris Zax.[2][4]

Tsopei's second marriage was to Hollywood theatrical agent and movie producer Freddie Fields, brother of band leader Shep Fields, from 1981 until his death from lung cancer in December 2007.[5][6]

Tsopei resides in Los Angeles, California, but pays frequent visits to Greece to visit relatives.

References

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  1. ^ Miss Universe list Archived 2011-01-18 at the Wayback Machine, accessed December 2010
  2. ^ a b Lisanti, Tom (25 September 2007). Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood: Seventy-Five Profiles. McFarland. ISBN 9780786431724 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Dr. Steven Zax's Obituary on Houston Chronicle". Houston Chronicle.
  4. ^ "Corinna Tsopei Miss Universe 1964". 23 June 2015.
  5. ^ Fox, Margalit (2007-12-13). "Freddie Fields, Hollywood Talent Agent, Dies at 84". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
  6. ^ Welkos, Robert (2007-12-13). "Veteran Hollywood talent agent and studio executive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Universe
1964
Succeeded by