Born in Kalamata in southern Greece. Worked as a stage designer in productions at the National Opera House (Lyriki Skini), the National Theatre, and the State Theatre of Northern Greece, as well as in Europe and the United States. His work was characterised by a "semiological" approach, and what initially set him apart from other art directors was the way he could perceive the undercurrents and subtleties of a script and transfer them to his sets, essentially creating a set from zero. Besides his work in ALEXIS ZORBA / ZORBA THE GREEK (1964), which won three Academy Awards, he had also created 75 sets for Elia Kazan's acclaimed 1963 film AMERICA, AMERICA. His name was removed from the film's credits, and when Fotopoulos asked why, Kazan replied: "But who would believe that these scenes were made by a Greek boy?" AMERICA, AMERICA received the Oscar® for Art Direction, which went to Gene Callahan (the man who signed the work of the "unknown Greek"). In 1966 he collaborated with Frances Ford Coppola as the art director in the film YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW, the first breakthrough for the noted Italian-American director.  Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black & White) 1964: ALEXIS ZORBA (ZORBA THE GREEK) - Art Direction 1 nomination, 1 Award