Michael Greco (actor)

Michael Greco
Nickname(s)	The Godfather
Hometown	London, England
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 in 1970) is an English actor and poker player. He was educated in Surrey, England at Reigate College. Internet rumours claim he was born in Dunbar, Scotland, but Greco himself states that this is false, and that he grew up in London.^[1]

Acting career

Greco's first role as a performer was as a student the University of Staffordshire; where he co-founded a Kiss tribute band called kissed. Although this wasn't a successful venture it helped him gain a place at RADA.

Television

Greco is best known his role as Beppe di Marco in the British soap opera, EastEnders from 1998-2002.

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 Christmas and New Year Season (2007).

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 voice over person in the TV documentary show America's Hardest Bounty Hunters showing on the pay TV (FOXTEL) Crime and Investigation channel (Australia).

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 allowed him to give off false tells that he learn from Mike Caro's Book of 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 2nd 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 had also finished 2nd 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 his love of poker.

Greco's flatmate, actress Chloe Bale also plays poker and appeared in the 888.com Women's Poker UK Open.^{[citation needed]}

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 - €4000 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

• Greco shares the same name as the man who is now in charge of entertainment at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas^[4]
• In the late 1990s, Greco had a 15-month relationship with topless model Linsey Dawn McKenzie, to whom he was briefly engaged.^[5] McKenzie twice became pregnant over the course of their relationship, but miscarried both times.^[6]
• Greco is also a massive Chelsea football supporter.^[7]
• Greco played a DJ set in Jimmy's Harrogate, an evening enjoyed by many revelers. His set was compared by a B Morrow, of the same town.

References

1. ^ “I’m no Scot” - poker star Michael Greco confesses Holyrood PR, 15 August 2008
2. ^ Michael Greco World Series of Poker
3. ^ Michael Greco Hendon Mob Poker Database
4. ^ Ricky's Diary: The final countdown Sky Sports, 28 April 2009
5. ^ Grant, Clare (1998-08-29). "EastEnders Star to Wed Linsey Dawn McKenzie". The Mirror. 
6. ^ Grant, Clare (1999-06-11). "EastEnder Loses Baby". The Mirror. 
7. ^ [1]

External links

• Michael Greco at the Internet Movie Database
• Bluff Magazine interview^{[dead link]}

Persondata
Name	Greco, Michael
Alternative names
Short description	Poker player
Date of birth	1970
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death