George Kapiniaris is an Australian stage, television and film actor and comedian. He is of Greek descent and is best known for his role in popular sitcom Acropolis Now and composed the series' theme song.
George Kapiniaris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1961 (age 62–63) Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Notable work | Acropolis Now (1989–1992) The Flying Doctors (1988–1994) Underbelly (2008) |
Career edit
Stage edit
Kapiniaris appeared in the stage show Wogs Out of Work with Nick Giannopoulos, in the 1980s.[1] In 2007, he joined forces with fellow comedians Joe Avati, Nish Selvadurai and Simon Palomares for a national tour Il Dago.[2] In late 2012, he played in the Australian stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.[3]
Television edit
In 1987, Kapiniaris joined the cast of the drama series The Flying Doctors as Demetris "D.J." Goannidis. He stayed on this role until 1991.[4] During this time, he also starred in the Melbourne-based popular sitcom Acropolis Now with Giannopoulos, Simon Palomares and Mary Coustas. 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.[citation needed] Some of his songs include a parody of Knockin' on Heaven's Door, called "Gnocchi on Heaven's Door".[citation needed]
In 2007, Kapiniaris starred in the television comedy series Kick on SBS as Takis Mavros.[5] He also appeared in the same year on the television soap opera Neighbours, in a guest role as a celebrity chef.[citation needed] Kapiniaris appeared in the controversial 2008 mini series Underbelly,[6] where he played a real life character George Defteros. Also in 2008, Kapiniaris (and his Acropolis Now co-star Simon Palomares) made consecutive appearances on successful Channel 31 show, the Deakin TV produced TheatreGames LIVE.[citation needed]
Kapinaris has also had minor stints in Paul Fenech comedies, such as Pizza as an Albanian war criminal, Swift and Shift Couriers as a marriage celebrant and the 2011 comedy Housos in a minor role.[citation needed]
Kapiniaris has appeared in a series of comedic commercials for South Australian automotive repairer and insurance broker, the RAA, featuring Kapiniaris talking to a confidante; a barista named 'Trev' at a coffee shop. Kapiniaris created his own website based on the RAA ads. He also created a satirical Today Tonight segment entitled The Dummies, poking fun at politicians through the use of puppets.[citation needed]
Film edit
In 2003, he had a role in the film Fat Pizza, playing the character of Ronnie McDoggle. In 2012, he had a minor role in Housos vs Authority, the screen version of the sitcom Housos.[citation needed]
In 2009, he appeared as Ricardo in Broken Hill,[7] an inmate who played guitar in a jail band.
He plays Uncle Tasso in the 2015 film version of hit Australian stage play Alex & Eve, written by Alex Lykos
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Closer and Closer Apart | Enzo Vozza | Direct-to-video film |
| 1995 | Rainbow's End | Cafe Proprietor | TV movie |
| 1997 | Joey | Spiros | Feature film |
| 2003 | Fat Pizza | Ronnie McDoggle | Feature film |
| 2004 | Thunderstruck | Mr Koyths | Feature film |
| 2005 | Bloody Footy | Vito | Short film |
| 2009 | Broken Hill | Ricardo Romero | Feature film |
| 2010 | Bad Language | Lefteri | Short film |
| 2010 | Latté | John the Barista | Short film |
| 2011 | Big Mama's Boy | Theo | Feature film |
| 2012 | Housos vs. Authority | Stylist | Feature film |
| 2014 | Fat Pizza vs. Housos | Mr Greek | Feature film |
| 2015 | Alex & Eve | Uncle Tasso | Feature film |
| 2023 | Finally Me | Mr Paoadopoulos | Feature film |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Fast Lane | Arly | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1987 | Willing and Abel | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 1987 | Theatre Sports | Self (Team: "Lost on Stage") | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1987–91 | The Flying Doctors | Demetris 'D.J.' Goannidis | TV series, 110 episodes |
| 1988 | Sentiments | Immigration Officer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989–92 | Acropolis Now | Agamemnon 'Memo' Aristotele Hatzidimitropoulos | TV series, seasons 1–5, 63 episodes |
| 1992 | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | Self (stand-up comedian) | TV special, 1 episode |
| 1995, 2000 | Blue Heelers | Leo Tapis / Gordon Jennings | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Pig's Breakfast | Queegle | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000 | Round the Twist | Paulo | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000 | Russell Gilbert Live | Racketeer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001–03 | Pizza | Ronnie / Nanna | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2004 | Stingers | Serge the K | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007 | Kick | Takis Mavros | TV miniseries, 13 episodes |
| 2007 | Neighbours | Tony Aristides | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2008 | TheatreGames LIVE | ||
| 2008 | Swift and Shift Couriers | Marriage celebrant | TV series |
| 2008 | Underbelly | George Defteros | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 2009 | The Squiz | Self | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Housos: The Thong Warrior | George | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2011–12 | Toon Time | Special guest | TV series |
| 2014 | It's a Date | Tony | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2014 | Planet Unearth | Self | TV series |
| 2016 | Offspring | Nick | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2016–17 | Fancy Boy | Joe | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2019 | King TV | Self | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2019–21 | Fat Pizza: Back in Business | Ronnie McDoggie | TV series, 9 episodes |
| 2023 | Darradong Local Council | Mayor Theo Theopoulos | TV series, 9 episodes |
Video game edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Rome: Total War | Voice | Video game |
Stage edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Obedience / The Future is in Eggs | Director | Victoria College, Melbourne |
| 1981 | Oedipus | Victoria College, Melbourne | |
| 1982 | Hoopla - Opposite Waves | Victoria College, Melbourne | |
| 1984 | Good Things Come in Glass | Victoria College, Melbourne | |
| 1984 | Sorry - Audience / Private View | Victoria College, Melbourne | |
| 1985 | Death: The Cabaret | St Martins Theatre, Melbourne | |
| 1986 | Worry Beads and Furry Dice | Comedian | Little Sister's Cabaret Room, Adelaide for Adelaide Fringe |
| 1987 | Wogs Out of Work | Comedian | Melbourne International Comedy Festival |
| 1989 | Wogs Out of Work | Comedian | Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Geelong Arts Centre, Regal Theatre, Perth |
| 1991 | Acropolis Now | Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre | |
| 1992 | Return to the Forbidden Planet | Captain Tempest | Comedy Theatre, Melbourne |
| 1993 | An Evening with Merv Hughes | His Majesty's Theatre, Perth | |
| 1994–96 | The Last Proxy | Comedian | |
| 1996 | The New Rocky Horror Show | Eddie / Dr. Scott | Adelaide Festival Centre |
| 1996 | The Queen and I | Archie | Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Monash University, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Canberra Theatre, University of Sydney |
| Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood | with Geminiani Orchestra | ||
| Una Razza Una Faccia Acropolis Now Live | Comedian | ||
| 1997 | The New Rocky Horror Show | Riff Raff | Hong Kong Lyric Theatre |
| 1998 | Gangster Apparel | Melbourne Athenaeum | |
| Honeymoon In Hellas | Comedian | ||
| 1999 | Born Yesterday | Assistant Manager | Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company |
| 1999 | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui | Girl / various characters | Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company |
| The Bench | The Comedy Club for Melbourne International Comedy Festival | ||
| 2001 | Who Let the Wogs Out? | Comedian | Enmore Theatre Sydney, Leopold Hotel, Perth, Civic Hotel, Perth, IMB Theatre, Thebarton Theatre Adelaide, Canberra Theatre |
| 2001–02 | Pizza – Live | Enmore Theatre. Sydney | |
| 2002 | Oh! What a Night | Stretch Mulligan | State Theatre, Melbourne with Majestic Theatre Company |
| 2003 | Flares | Wrest Point Cabaret Room, Tasmania | |
| 2004–05 | Twelve Angry Men | Juror #2 | QPAC Brisbane, Sydney Theatre & Melbourne Athenaeum with Arts Projects Australia |
| 2004–05 | Who Let the Wogs Out? | Enmore Theatre Sydney, Leopold Hotel, Perth, Civic Hotel, Perth | |
| 2007–08 | Il Dago | Victoria & New South Wales tour with XYZ Entertainment | |
| 2008 | From Burnside With Love | The Cavern Club, Adelaide for Adelaide Fringe Festival | |
| 2010 | Rockstar | Comedian (solo show) | The John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne for Sydney Comedy Festival & |
| 2010 | The Give and Take | Don Locke | Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA |
| 2012 | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | Goran | Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Crown Theatre Perth, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane |
| 2012 | Comicus Erectus | Comedian | Melbourne International Comedy Festival & national tour |
| 2015 | Zorba the Freak | Comedian (solo show) | Casula Powerhouse, Creative Arts Space, Frankston |
| 2015–16 | Wild Wogs | Comedian | Jupiter’s Casino, Gold Coast, South West Italian Club, Bunbury, |
| 2015 | Nice Work if You Can Get It | Cookie McGee | State Theatre Arts Centre Melbourne with The Production Company |
| 2017–18 | Straight Outta Compo | Comedian | Woodville Town Hall, Arkaba Hotel for Adelaide Fringe, The Star Gold Coast, Astor Theatre, Perth, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Knox Club for Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, Ramsgate RSL Club, Burwood RSL, Enmore Theatre for Sydney Comedy Festival |
| 2019 | Wild 2 Wogs | Comedian | Bankstown Sports Club |
| 2021 | Who Let The Wogs Out | Comedian | |
| 2021 | Top End Comedy Spectacular | Comedian | Darwin with Wowza Entertainment / Top End Shows |
| 2022 | Crazy Rich Ethnics | Comedian | Australian tour |
| 2023 | Life of Byron | Byron | The Fusebox, Sydney for Greek Festival of Sydney & Alex Theatre, Melbourne |
| 2023 | Spot the Aussie Comedy Night | ||
| 2024 | Big Fat Greek - Comedy & Music Variety Show | Comedian – Greek Elvis / various characters | Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide tour |
| 2024 | Woggy Men in Black | Comedian |
References edit
- ^ Dennehy, Luke (22 August 2019). "Acropolis Now: 30 years on, the inside story". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Simon Palomares". speakerssolutions.com.au. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang announces full cast". aussietheatre.com.au. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "The Flying Doctors". IMDb. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Kick". IMDb. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "First shots fired in Underbelly". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ^ "Broken Hill (2009) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/203360
- ^ http://bgmagency.com.au/uploaded/cv/KAPINIARIS%20George.pdf
External links edit
