Introduction
Christos Theofilou or Christopher Theophelus (Greek: Χρήστος Θεοφίλου; January 2, 1897 – August 19, 1975), better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos, was a Greek American professional wrestler.
Londos was one of the most popular stars on the professional wrestling circuit in the 1930s and 1940s.
Career
Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece, as the youngest of thirteen children. At age thirteen he ran away from home and eventually emigrated to the United States. Working whenever he could, Theofilou took several odd jobs including cabin boy, construction jobs, and posing nude for figure drawing classes. Theofilou landed a job as a catcher in a carnival acrobatic act. It was during this period that he was exposed to professional wrestling and began training.
Londos' first matches were as "The Wrestling Plasterer" Christopher Theophelus, a gimmick that saw him coming to the ring in overalls. After a number of years, he dropped this in favour of wrestling under the name Jim Londos and being a no-nonsense professional wrestler.
To compensate for his lack of wrestling ability, Londos traded on his good looks and well-muscled physique. He capitalized on this by having himself matched up against the ugliest opponents he could find. This worked very well and Londos became one of the most popular wrestlers in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Londos was considered a national hero in Greece. When he traveled there, one of his matches drew a crowd estimated as nearly 100,000 fans.
Retirement
Londos retired in 1953. He spent the rest of his life working for charitable organizations. His favorite charity was Greek war orphans of World War II. He was honored by both United States President Richard Nixon and King Paul of Greece for his philanthropic efforts.
Londos died of a heart attack August 19, 1975 and is buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, California.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Armbar
- Boston crab
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling Association
- NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- New York State Athletic Commission
- NYSAC World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – unified with NWA World Heavyweight Championship
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2002 (Pioneer Era)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (class of 1996)
- Other championships
- World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles version) (1 time)
- World Heavyweight Championship (Maryland version) (2 times)
- World Heavyweight Championship (Minneapolis version) (1 time)
- World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version) (1 time)
- ^
- Gary Will and Royal Duncan (2006). "(United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- Gary Will and Royal Duncan (2006). "(New York: New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- Malnoske, Andrew. "Jim Londos". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
- "Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- Gary Will and Royal Duncan (2006). "(California) Los Angeles: World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- Gary Will and Royal Duncan (2006). "(Maryland): World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- Gary Will and Royal Duncan (2006). "(Minnesota) Minneapolis: World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- Gary Will and Royal Duncan (2006). "(United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) World Heavyweight Title (first)". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.