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George Kapiniaris

George Kapiniaris
Born1961 (age 62–63)
Australia
NationalityAustralian
Years active1980s–present
Notable workAcropolis Now (1989–1992)
The Flying Doctors (1988–1994)
Underbelly (2008)

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.

Career

Stage

Kapiniaris with Simon Palomares shown at right in 2008

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

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

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

Film

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

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

Year Title Role Type
2004 Rome: Total War Voice Video game

Stage

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 &

Melbourne International 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

[8] [9]

References

  1. ^ Dennehy, Luke (22 August 2019). "Acropolis Now: 30 years on, the inside story". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Simon Palomares". speakerssolutions.com.au. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang announces full cast". aussietheatre.com.au. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ^ "The Flying Doctors". IMDb. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Kick". IMDb. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. ^ "First shots fired in Underbelly". TV Tonight. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Broken Hill (2009) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  8. ^ "AusStage".
  9. ^ http://bgmagency.com.au/uploaded/cv/KAPINIARIS%20George.pdf [bare URL PDF]