Katrakis was born in Kissamos, Chania, Crete. He was the youngest of
the five children of the merchant Charalambos Katrakis merchant and his
wife Irini.
In 1919 the family moved to Athens, where Manos, who had almost no
acting experience, first appeared in theatrical scene. He made his
debut aged just 18 years, with the group "Young" at work "To love." His
brio and capacity enthralled the director
Kostas Leloudas, so a year later, in
1928, he played the leading role in the silent film
To lavaro tou '21 (1929) (i.e.
"The banner of 1821").
Among his remarkable film performances are included the ones of the
title role in
Marinos Kontaras (1948) by
Giorgos Tzavellas, in
A Neighborhood Named 'The Dream' (1961) by
Alekos Alexandrakis, in
Electra (1962) by
Michael Cacoyannis, and in
Enas delikanis (1963) by
Manolis Scouloudis. Awarded at the
International Festival of San Francisco, for for his interpretation as
Creon in
Antigone (1961) by
Giorgos Tzavellas, and in the Thessaloniki
Film Festival for his performance in
A Neighborhood Named 'The Dream' (1961)." He
also participated in hundreds of events where the readings of Greek
poetry and literature with his unique voice, remained classics.
He died shortly after completing the filming of
Voyage to Cythera (1984) of
the great director
Theodoros Angelopoulos.
Ta hronia tis thyellas(1984)as Old Man
Voyage to Cythera(1984)as Spyros
Les tribulations de Manuel(1982)as LĆ©onidas
To theatro tis Defteras(1970)as Oedipus
Prosopa theatrou(1983)as Self
Tis patridas mou pali omoiothika(1979)as Narrator
Axion esti(1977)as Self
Alexandros o Megas - Anamesa stin istoria kai to thrylo(1977)as Narrator
Makarios, i megali poreia(1977)as Narrator
O efialtis(1978)
