Sent to London to read for the Bar, Cacoyannis gravitated instead to the Old Vic stage school. He had a short stage career under the name "Michael Yannis" before deciding he wanted to direct films.
Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 176-180. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1959
Founded the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in 2003; an institution for the performing arts.
Was one of four children.
His father, Panayotis, was a lawyer and member of the Cyrpus legislative and executive councils who was knighted by the British in 1936.
Studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and learned stage direction at the Old Vic. Made his theatrical debut in 1946 as Herod in "Salome" by Oscar Wilde.
During World War II, he worked as a producer for the Greek service of the BBC.
Directed two different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Anthony Quinn and Lila Kedrova. Kedrova won for her role in Alexis Zorbas .
