Michael Greco (actor)
| Michael Greco | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Godfather |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Born | 12 November 1970 (age 46) |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 4 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | 170th, 2009 |
| European Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 6 |
Michael Greco (born 12 November 1970) is a British actor and poker player.
Biography
Greco was educated in Surrey, England at St. Bede's School in Redhill and afterwards at Reigate College where his acting talent was noticed and gained him admission into the prestigious Guildford School of Acting in London. It was here he gained his acting diploma in 1992.
Greco played Beppe di Marco in EastEnders from 1998 to 2002. He also played Billy Flynn in the London West End's Chicago.
Internet rumours claim he was born in Dunbar, Scotland, but Greco says that he grew up in London.[1]
In 1999 and 2000 Greco won the British Soap Award for the Sexiest Male for his role on Eastenders. In July 2004 Greco was voted the sexiest male soap star ever by readers of the Radio Times and he was ranked number 66 in the 100 Greatest "EastEnders" (1985) Characters of All Time for his performance as Beppe di Marco (2010).
Greco now lives in Los Angeles and has recently appeared alongside Kevin Costner in the three-part film Hatfields & McCoys.
Television
Greco is best known his role as Beppe di Marco in the British soap opera EastEnders, from 1998 to 2002.
Film
In summer 2006 he finished filming the leading role in the independent feature film Naked in London, opposite another ex-EastEnder Jake Maskall.
Theatre
Greco starred in a modernised pop musical version of Aladdin, as the villain "Abanazar", at Poole's Lighthouse Theatre during the 2007 Christmas and New Year Season.
Other television work
Greco appeared in Celebrity Love Island in 2005. He was a contestant on ITV's Soapstar Superstar in January 2006, and played in the Rest of the World team versus England in the Soccer Aid match in 2006.
Greco was the voiceover person on the TV documentary show America's Hardest Bounty Hunters, on the Australian pay-TV Crime and Investigation channel (FOXTEL).
Poker
Greco is also a keen poker player (he was mentored by "Mad" Marty Wilson). He started off playing ring games, but now concentrates on poker tournaments. He has commented that his skills as a trained actor have enabled him to give false tells that he learned from Mike Caro's Book of Poker Tells.
He went on to appear in the 2005 Poker Million, World Speed Poker Open and Monte Carlo Millions, as well as for Team Italy in the PartyPoker.com Football & Poker Legends Cup.
Greco made the Grand Final of the 2006 Showbiz Poker event. He finished second when his K♦ Q♦ made two pair on the 8♦ Q♥ K♠ flop, but the 4♥ 10♣ that followed allowed Norman Pace to complete his straight from his A♦ J♣ hole cards. He also finished second to Pace in the semi-final round and in the celebrity heat of the PartyPoker.com World Open.
In 2005 he appeared on the chatshow Heads Up with Richard Herring to discuss his life, career and love of poker.
Greco walked away with £100,000 following the climax of the third round of the Grosvenor Poker Tour at the Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay, during the early hours.
European Poker Tour Cashes
- Season 2 – Dublin - €4,000 buy in - 7th Place (from 248 players) - winning €39,800
World Series of Poker Cashes[2]
- 2007 – $2,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em - 30th Place - winning $14,350
- 2008 – $2,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Hold'em - 9th Place - winning $22,972
- 2009 – $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em - 3rd Place - winning $248,555
- 2009 Main Event – $10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold'em - 170th Place (from 6496 players) - winning $36,626
His total live tournament winnings exceed $680,000.[3]
Trivia
- In the late 1990s, Greco had a 15-month relationship with topless model Linsey Dawn McKenzie, to whom he was briefly engaged.[4] McKenzie twice became pregnant during their relationship, but miscarried both times.[5]
- Greco is also a huge Chelsea football supporter.[6]
References
- ↑ "I’m no Scot" - poker star Michael Greco confesses Holyrood PR, 15 August 2008.
- ↑ Michael Greco World Series of Poker
- ↑ Michael Greco Hendon Mob Poker Database
- ↑ Grant, Clare (29 August 1998). "EastEnders Star to Wed Linsey Dawn McKenzie". The Mirror.
- ↑ Grant, Clare (11 June 1999). "EastEnder Loses Baby". The Mirror.
- ↑