Ezio Greggio

Ezio Greggio (april 7, 1954) is an Italian comedian, actor, writer and movie director.In Italy he is mostly known for his long lasting appearances in TV shows like Drive In and Striscia la Notizia, while abroad he his noted for his movies and his collaboration with Mel Brooks.

TV career

Born in Cossato, a small torn near Biella, the eighteen years old Greggio begun his TV career in Telebiella, the first local emitter in Italy thanks to the help of Peppo Sacchi, founder of the emitter.

In 1978 e was hired as a comedian in RAI, appearing in "La sberla" e "Tutto compreso" of Giancarlo Nicotra and Giancarlo Magalli. His appearances in the national TV didn't gained him success, but Greggio had the chance to meet Gianfranco D'Angelo, another young comedian.

D'Angelo convinced Greggio to move to the newborn Fininvest (later Mediaset), a circuit of local TV founded in Milan by Silvio Berlusconi. They were both included in the cast of the main show of the network, "Drive In": it was a 2 hour weekly show featuring a bunch of young emerging comedians, and quickly Greggio became spotlight chaser of the whole show.

Drive In was a very innovative show, and had great success giving national fame to almost all the actors involved, like Enrico Beruschi, Giorgio Faletti, Teo Teocoli, Francesco Salvi, Carlo Pistarino, Enzo Braschi and many others, including of course Greggio and D'Angelo.

In 1988 he followed the director Antonio Ricci to a long series of successful shows: after "Odiens", a show loosely inspired by Drive In, Greggio in 1990 and 1993 presented "Paperissima", a container for bloopers and funny homemade videos. In these shows, Greggio created his most famous recurring gags.

Since 1996 he has been the main presenter (along with D'Angelo and later Enzo Iacchetti) of "Striscia la notizia", a daily television news parody. He starred in the program every year for some months, from the beginning up to now.

Movie career

Greggio wrote and acted his first movie, "Sbamm!" in 1980.

He was noted by Carlo Vanzina, and was included in the cast of "Yuppies, i giovani di successo", in the 1986 sequel "Yuppies 2" and in the 1987 movie "Montecarlo Gran Casinò" with Paolo Rossi.

He appeared in many other comic/trash films, almost always directed by Enrico Oldoini.

In 1994 he debuted as director with "Il silenzio dei prosciutti", a parody movie inspired by The silence of the lambs and Psycho. The movie was shot in USA: during this work, Greggio built a strong friendship with movie director Mel Brooks and with Dom DeLuise (both appearing in the movie).

Brooks had Greggio in the cast of "".

In 1997 Greggio came back to the camera, directing "Killer per caso" and in 1999 "Svitati", with Mel Brooks as actor.

Since 2000 Greggio acted in a great number of TV productions.

Greggio moved his residence to Montecarlo, and is the director of the Montecarlo Film Festival.

As a writer

Ezio Greggio published five humor books with Mondadori:
* "Presto che è tardi" (1997)
* "Chi se ne fut-fut" (1998)
* "E lui o non è lui?" (1999)
* "E su e giù e trik e trak" (2003)
* "In una certa manieeera" (2005)

In those books, Greggio gathers anecdotes about his life as a cabaret actor and comedian.

Works

As actor

* 1981 - "Sbamm", directed by Franco Abussi
* 1985 - "Yuppies", directed by Carlo Vanzina
* 1986 - "Yuppies 2", directed by Enrico Oldoini
* 1987 - "Montecarlo Gran Casinò", directed by Carlo Vanzina
* 1989 - "Occhio alla Perestroika", directed by Castellano e Pipolo
* 1990 - "Vacanze di Natale '90", directed by Enrico Oldoini
* 1991 - "Vacanze di Natale '91", directed by Enrico Oldoini
* 1992 - "Infelici e contenti", directed by Neri Parenti
* 1993 - "The Silence of the Hams", directed by himself
* 1994 - "Miracolo italiano", directed by Enrico Oldoini
* 1995 - "Selvaggi", directed by Carlo Vanzina
* 1996 - "", directed by Mel Brooks
* 1997 - "Killer per caso", directed by himself
* 1999 - "Svitati" directed by himself
* 2001 - ""

As writer

* 1986 - "Italian Fast Food", directed by Lodovico Gasparini

External links

* [http://www.eziogreggio.it/ Sito ufficiale]
* [http://www.striscialanotizia.mediaset.it/biografia/biografia_ezio_greggio.shtml