Meet the most famous ‘tourist’ in Greece: Scott ‘the American.’ From serving in the US Air Force back in the late 1980s to starring in Greece’s latest Eurovision music video by Marina Satti, Scott has an amazing story of falling in love with Greece (and a Greek woman) and making the country his permanent home!
When he arrived in Greece he realized that he had come “somewhere special. I fell in love with the food, the people, the beaches,” he tells Greek Reporter.
Scott the American tells the story of how he was accepted in Greek society. He learned the language fluently, he listened to Greek music, and he read newspapers. All these opened new doors to him.
“I tell everyone when they come to Greece, the best way to integrate is to listen to Greek music. That pretty much opens you up to having a great time, especially in the evening.”
The reason he came back to live in Greece after retirement as he explains is because he is an immigrant of love. “I fell in love with a Greek woman, I have a daughter…this is my own Greek love story,” he says.
Scott the American says his favorite place in Greece is the Ionian islands. He mentions the little island of Kalamos and Lefkada. “If I had to pick a place to live in it would be the Ionian Islands,” he tells Greek Reporter.
Greece has two types of tourists he says. You have the tourists who come to Athens to see the Acropolis, the museums, and the ancient architecture. Then you have the tourists that go to the islands and the beaches, people who want a summer vacation.
Scott the American’s acting career in Greece
Despite his recent fame, Scott says that he is not a professional actor but he enjoys playing in commercials and music videos mostly as hobby. Several years ago a modeling agency in Athens, included him in their roster.
“Who will want me,” he then told the agent, “I’m fat and funny looking.” But, to his surprise, he was chosen to star in Aegean’s advertising campaign, in a spot entitled “Zeibekiko ala Greek”, where a waiter teaches the Greek dance to an American tourist. His performance captured the audience and led to more offers for acting jobs.
The Tourist on Marina Sati’s Greece Eurovision Entry ‘To Zari’
His latest project in his acting career is an appearance in the official video clip of Greece’s Eurovision song “Zari” by Marina Satti
“I have been a fan of Marina Satti since I first met her in 2016 when she played Maria in ‘West Side Story’ at the Athens Concert Hall,” he said in a recent interview.
I had no idea who she was, but my daughter really liked her. So we took a picture with her and I said, ‘You know, we’re American and we really liked your performance’. After that we went to almost every concert of hers,” Scott ‘the American’ recalls.
“She always remembered us and I think she had me in mind from the Aegean commercial and, when she thought of the video clip [for Eurovision], she looked me up and found me.
“Who can say no to Marina Satti?” Scott said.
