Frequently works with director Giorgos Lazaridis
From 1948 to 1950 he was exiled in the island of Makronisos due to his political beliefs. On Makronisos he met director Nikos Koundouros who was also exiled there. Nikos Koundouros later gave him his debut movie role in The Magic City (1954).
He always did his scenes without using a stunt even for the most dangerous ones.
He served his compulsory military service on Makronisos from 1948 to 1950 because his parents supported the communist party.On Makronisos he met film director Nikos Koundouros who was exiled there.
In 2000,he survived a car accident involving a collision with a train. He later participated in advertisements promoting road safety.
In 2008 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias.
On 9 June 2000 he had a car accident while crossing the train lines. A train crashed on his car and he and his wife went to hospital with a few injuries. He then filmed a TV-spot warning the drivers not to cross the train lines without looking first
On 9/2/2002 the municipal theatre of Korydallos was named "Thanasis Vengos".
Supported Panathinaikos.
The characters he plays are usually named "Thanasis".
The documentary "Enas anthropos pantos kairou" (2004) is about him