Irene Papas began her career as a variety performer and started appearing in Greek films in the early 1950s. She made her US debut in "Tribute to a Bad Man" (1955) and established her international reputation with Michael Cacoyannis' "Zorba the Greek" (1965). Her dark, intense features are well suited to tragic roles; she made an indelible impression as the widow of the slain political activist in Costa-Gavras' "Z" (1968).