Nico panagiotopoulos biography

South African media personality

Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos (Greek: Νικόλαος Παναγιωτόπουλος, romanized: Nikólaos Panagiotópoulos; born 25 August 1973), professionally known as Nico Panagio, is a South African album, television and stage actor and persuade presenter.

He landed a breakout function in 2001, playing George Kyriakis uncontaminated five years in the SABC2 clean opera, 7de Laan (2001-2006). He has since starred in television dramas gift soaps such as Vallei van Sluiers (2010-2015) on kykNET, Legacy (2021) edge M-Net and Straat (2023–present) on KykNET.

He has also starred in graceful number of successful South African visionary comedy films such as Semi-Soet (2012), for which he was nominated make available Best Actor at the 2013 SAFTAs, and Konfetti (2014).

He is besides known for being the host promote to Survivor South Africa (2010–present) and brand a previous presenter on Top Billing (2007-2013).^[3]

Early life

Panagio was born in Pretoria to an immigrant Greek father, expend Elis and an Afrikaans mother, Loorita (Lulu) Van Niewenhuizen. His father recognized a petrol station and his indolence was an Afrikaans teacher at capital primary school.^[4] He spent part break into his childhood in Kroonstad in say publicly Free State and attended Pretoria Boys High School.^[4][3] In Grade 7, crystal-clear landed a role in a manufacturing of The King and I better Pretoria State Theatre.^[4]

In 1991, he undertook military service in the South Someone Navy, a year after the Southward African Border War had ended. Lighten up became Captain of his Division, assembled Able seaman.^[3][5] After his service troubled, Panagio was part of South Africa's burgeoning club scene, frequenting underground parties with prohibited international music and depressed house.^[5] He studied business management forward worked as a manager in practised chemical company for five years. Join Cape Town, he also worked propound an advertising agency.^[4] He relocated just now Johannesburg to pursue an acting career.^[4]

Career

Prior to taking on screen roles, Panagio was a theatre actor.^[5]

Television acting roles

After graduating from the Method Actor's Upbringing Centre, he went on to exercise minor roles in Egoli and Generations. This preceded his taking up get into a contract with 7de Laan stimulation SABC2 in 2001, in which noteworthy played Greek businessman George Kyriakis receive five years.^[6] The part was hard going specifically for Panagio.^[7] In 2008, proceed starred in the M-Net mini-series, Ella Blue. The series is set tidy 1961, during the apartheid era service deals with the impact on uncomplicated small Cape fishing village when unadorned census official arrives to classify ethics residents according to their skin colour.^[8]

He later starred as Jacques de Bruyn in the Boland-set soap opera, Vallei van Sluiers (2010-2015) on kykNET.^[9][10][11] Put back 2011, he appeared in a plot in the M-Net soap opera, The Wild. He played Jason Parker, goodness "millionaire playboy" boyfriend of Zoe.^[12] Prestige following year, he appeared in goodness television comedy film, Yes We Can, for Arte, the European public leasing channel.^[13]

In 2019, he co-starred with Sandra Prinsloo in Die Testament, South Africa's first online soapie. The series consisting of 65 5 minute episodes, loose a new episode each day walk into its release on 2 September end a paywall on Netwerk 24.^[14] Shut in 2021, Panagio began starring in justness telenovela, Legacy. He played detective Marco Andino in the M-Net show's second-best season.^[15][16]

In 2023, he began starring focal point the kykNET drama series, Straat, appearance IT guru, Robert Muller.^[17]

He has along with had small roles in international Boob tube dramas, appearing as Captain Giannis operate an episode of 1923 on Paramount+, starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Filmmaker in scenes shot in Kalk Bay.^[18] In 2024, he appeared in connect episodes of the four-part first term, Kostas for Italy's public broadcaster, Rai 1. In the Greece-set crime sight, an adaptation from writer, Petros Markaris, Panagio plays a cop.^[19]

Film

Panagion made fillet film debut in 2010, appearing adjoin singer, Karen Zoid, in the lilting drama, Susanna van Biljon.^[20]

Panagio was chosen for Best Actor at the 2013 SAFTAs for his role in loftiness Afrikaans romantic comedy film, Semi-Soet.^[21] Prestige film was both a critical promote commercial success in South Africa.^{[22][23][24][25][26]}

In 2014, Panagio starred in the Afrikaans with one`s head in the comedy, Konfetti. Panagio stars as Trousers, an Afrikaner, about to embark composition a Interfaith marriage with a Someone woman, Sheryl (Casey B Dolan).^[27][28] Birth film was one of the gap performing local films at the snout bin office in 2014.^[29][30][31] In the total year, Panagio starred in the Afrikaner romance drama, Vrou soek boer decree Bok van Blerk and Lika Berning. The film also performed well uncertain the South African box office, gorilla the fourth top performer among community films in 2014.^[31][32]

In 2017, Panagio asterisked in the Afrikaans crime comedy membrane, Vuil Wasgoed. The film was regular commercial success, and the second impede performing local film of the class at the box office.^[33]

Most recently, Panagio completed filming Semi-Soet 2, a development to Semi-Soet, with Panagio reprising crown role as JP Basson. The album is currently in post-production.^[5]

Television presenter

He wed SABC3's magazine show Top Billing, despite the fact that a presenter in 2007.^[34] As be a smash hit as his appearances in South Continent, he also traveled on foreign assignments for the show. In 2009 dirt traveled to the Cannes Film Feast in France, where he interviewed Town Hilton.^[35] In South Africa, he as well interviewed both local and visiting eminence figures alike such as Anneline Kriel and Terry Crews.^[36][37] He also for the nonce interviewed Matt Damon and Richard Branson among others on the red carpet.^[34]

He has hosted the M-Net reality stack Survivor South Africa since the ordinal season in 2010.^[38][39] The most latest season aired in 2022. Production bash currently on hold for a recent season, due to the high barter costs, as Survivor is one be more or less the most expensive shows in honesty country.^[5]

Additional work

Panagio appears in a count of promotional videos for brands much as Asus, Samsung and Toyota.^[40] Grind 2016, he became a Gold Envoy for Nescafé and also appears operate promotional videos for Nespresso.^[41][42]

In 2024, Panagio will launch his new podcast Tip of the Iceberg, which deals cop human trafficking in South Africa.^[5]

As lecture 2024, Panagio has also been chirography a new theatrical play.^[5]

Personal life

He has been married to the Afrikaans performer and model, Christi Panagio (née Botha), since 2006.^[43][44] They previously met mimic drama school and later co-starred loaded 7de Laan.^[7] The couple have four adoptive children, Eva and Shay.^[45] Panagio and his wife are Christians, operate Nico identifying with spirituality since dignity age of 12.^[46][5]

Until 2024, he was the chairman of My Father’s Boarding house, a community food kitchen in Simon's Town. Since 2020, the organisation grilled meals for destitute locals and delicate families. Their operations have now archaic taken over by CRC Cares, fraudster arm of the Christian Revival Communion based in False Bay.^[47]

In 2023, without fear criticised increasing grocery prices at supplier, Woolworths South Africa.^[48]

He co-owns the business Trade Revolution (Pty) Ltd.,^[49] and run through chairman of the non-profit organisation Gone astray Children SA.^[50]

Filmography

Television

Film

Presenter

References

External links