Studied television directing at Yale University's Drama School.
Was a journalist in Athens.
Father was an MP with the Liberal Party.
Graduated from law school in Thessaloniki.
Because of his political activities, he was forced into exile for seven years, following the coup of 1967.
From 1981 to 1984 he served as the director of the Greek state television channel ET1.
He has published more than 100 books, including novels, plays and poetry. His best-known work is the political novel Z (1967), which has been translated into 32 languages and was the basis of the award-winning film Z directed by Costa-Gavras.
In the 2019 Greek legislative election, he was elected MP with Syriza.
Starting in 1996 he served as Greece's ambassador to UNESCO.
He ran in the 2014 Greek local elections as a PASOK candidate for counsellor in the city of Athens.