| George Kapiniaris | |
|---|---|
George Kapiniaris, Radu Catrina and Simon Palomares in 2008. |
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| Born | 27 July 1961 |
| Occupation | Actor and Comedian |
George Kapiniaris is Greek Australian television actor, stage actor and comedian.
Kapiniaris broke through in the stage show Wogs Out of Work with Nick Giannopoulos. He then starred in the Melbourne based television sitcom Acropolis Now with Giannopoulos, Simon Palomares and Mary Coustas. His character "Memo" was known to refer to women by the term "chicky babe", a phrase later stolen by Bruno Lucia.[1] Since that show's cancellation, he has continued stand-up comedy and has produced a few stage performances, as well as emceeing events such as weddings. Some of his songs include a parody of Knockin' on Heaven's Door, called "Gnocchi on Heaven's Door".[2]
In 1988, Kapiniaris joined the cast of the drama series The Flying Doctors as Dimitrios "D.J." Lonniadis. In 2007, Kapiniaris starred in the television comedy series Kick on SBS as Takis Mavros. George also appeared on the television soap opera Neighbours in 2007, in a guest role as a celebrity chef. Kapiniaris appeared in the controversial 2008 mini series Underbelly.[3] He plays a real life character: George Defteros, the lawyer to Melbourne's underworld. In 2009 he appeared as Ricardo in Broken Hill --an inmate who became part of a jail band--playing the guitar. With fellow comedians Joe Avati, Nish Selvadurai and Simon Palomares have joined forces for a national tour Il Dago.[4]
Kapinaris has also had minor stints in Paul Fenech comedies such as Pizza,the Fat Pizza Movie as Ronnie McDoggle, Swift and Shift Couriers as a marriage celebrant and 2011 comedy Housos as a minor role.
Kapiniaris has appeared in a series of comedic commercials for automotive repairer and insurance broker RAA, featuring Kapiniaris talking to a confidante, a worker named 'Trev' at a coffee shop. Kapiniaris created a his own website based on the RAA ads called Georgesays.com.au.[5] He also created a Today Tonight segment entitled The Dummies, poking fun at politicians through the use of puppets. In 2008 Kapiniaris and Acropolis Now costar Simon Palomares made consecutive appearances on successful Channel 31 show, the Deakin TV produced TheatreGames LIVE. Kapiniaris is a big fan and narrated the soccer club Sydney Olympic.[6]