He was born in Lamia, Greece in 1950. As a child, Vasilou worked at various jobs, along with school. Vasileiou was also playing soccer with PAS Lamia 1964 and he was goalkeeper. During 1970–71 season, he faced AEK Athens F.C. Despite the 1–4 defeat, AEK wanted to join him, but the proposal was declined by his club. That led him to retire from soccer. He studied at the Drama School of Giorgos Bellos where he graduated with honors. On 17 November 1973, during the Athens Polytechnic uprising in 1973, he met his wife, Lia Thermogianni, then a student of Athens Law School, whom he married four years later and had two children.