Alex Dimitrios: Government Official with Terrorist Links
Alex Dimitrios is a Greek government official based out in the Bahamas, and he has connections with terrorist financier, Le Chiffre. He’s a character in the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale, brought to life by French actor, Simon Abkarian. He also makes an appearance in the 2008 video game, 007: Quantum of Solace.
Alex Dimitrios
Alex Dimitrios first comes to James Bond’s attention after 007 decodes a message found in Mollaka‘s mobile, a contractor working for Dimitrios and who Bond recently killed in Madagascar.
From his position at MI6 in the Bahamas, Bond learns of Dimitrios’ residence on the island and meets his wife, Solange, who’s riding a white steed along the shoreline. Later at the casino, Bond joins Dimitrios at a poker game. Their card duel intensifies upon Solange’s arrival, who receives a reprimand from her husband for her tardiness, hinting at Dimitrios’ recent losing streak.
In a bold move to recuperate his losses, Alex Dimitrios ups the ante with a check. After the dealer informs him that bets are restricted to the funds on the table, Dimitrios instead wagers his car, an Aston Martin DB5, the keys to which are already on the table.
Bond persuades the dealer to accept the car as a bet, and follows Dimitrios in going all-in. Initially, Dimitrios’ confidence in his strong hand, three kings, seems justified, but Bond ultimately triumphs with a stronger hand, three aces. Consequently, Bond claims all of Dimitrios’ cash and the coveted Aston Martin.
After the game, Alex Dimitrios consults with Le Chiffre on his extravagant yacht to receive further instructions. Meanwhile, Bond, having charmed Solange with her husband’s car, takes her back to his hotel, with the aim of extracting more information on Alex.
Dimitrios calls his wife and tells her he has to travel to Miami, she tells Bond thinking that they have all the time needed to spend time together, but Bond slips off and heads to Miami, too.
Alex Dimitrios is in Miami to equip another terrorist, Carlos, with the bomb to destroy the new Skyfleet S570 aircraft, set for unveiling at the Miami International Airport. He manages to deliver it but soon finds himself embroiled in a knife fight with Bond. Bond kills Dimitrios and leaves him sat in a chair in the busy airport.
Simon Abkarian
Simon Abkarian, a French-Armenian actor born on March 5, 1962, spent much of his childhood in Lebanon and later moved to Los Angeles to join an Armenian theater company. He relocated to Paris in 1985, studying at the Acting International school and joining Ariane Mnouchkine’s Théâtre du Soleil.
After leaving the theatre in 1993, Abkarian transitioned into cinema, gaining recognition in French filmmaker Cédric Klapisch’s films. His performance in Beast on the Moon, a play about an Armenian genocide survivor, earned him critical acclaim and the Molière Award for Best Actor.
Abkarian has acted in various genres, notably portraying Alex Dimitrios in the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale. He has also contributed his voice to the French version of Persepolis and played Armenian poet Missak Manouchian in The Army of Crime. Over his career, Abkarian has appeared in over 50 films and television shows.
