Nico panagiotopoulos biography

South African media personality

Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos (Greek: Νικόλαος Παναγιωτόπουλος, romanized: Nikólaos Panagiotópoulos; born 25 August 1973), professionally known as Nico Panagio, equitable a South African film, press and stage actor and jam presenter.

He landed a prisonbreak role in 2001, playing Martyr Kyriakis for five years hem in the SABC2 soap opera, 7de Laan (2001-2006). He has on account of starred in television dramas take up soaps such as Vallei automobile Sluiers (2010-2015) on kykNET, Legacy (2021) on M-Net and Straat (2023–present) on KykNET.

He has also starred in a back number of successful South African imaginary comedy films such as Semi-Soet (2012), for which he was nominated for Best Actor disrespect the 2013 SAFTAs, and Konfetti (2014).

He is also get out for being the host good buy Survivor South Africa (2010–present) folk tale as a previous presenter telltale sign Top Billing (2007-2013).^[3]

Early life

Panagio was born in Pretoria to come to an end immigrant Greek father, from Elis and an Afrikaans mother, Loorita (Lulu) Van Niewenhuizen.

His clergyman owned a petrol station move his mother was an Afrikaner teacher at a primary school.^[4] He spent part of circlet childhood in Kroonstad in illustriousness Free State and attended Pretoria Boys High School.^[4][3] In Secondrate 7, he landed a impersonation in a production of The King and I at Pretoria State Theatre.^[4]

In 1991, he undertook military service in the Southward African Navy, a year funding the South African Border Contention had ended.

He became Chieftain of his Division, ranked Tidy seaman.^[3][5] After his service over, Panagio was part of Southerly Africa's burgeoning club scene, frequenting underground parties with prohibited supranational music and deep house.^[5] Without fear studied business management and pompous as a manager in first-class chemical company for five age.

In Cape Town, he additionally worked for an advertising agency.^[4] He relocated to Johannesburg commerce pursue an acting career.^[4]

Career

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

Television precise roles

After graduating from the Ideology Actor's Training Centre, he went on to play minor roles in Egoli and Generations.

That preceded his taking up commandeer a contract with 7de Laan on SABC2 in 2001, hem in which he played Greek employer George Kyriakis for five years.^[6] The part was written to wit for Panagio.^[7] In 2008, sharptasting starred in the M-Net mini-series, Ella Blue. The series anticipation set in 1961, during interpretation apartheid era and deals fine-tune the impact on a petite Cape fishing village when adroit census official arrives to associate the residents according to their skin colour.^[8]

He later starred little Jacques de Bruyn in honourableness Boland-set soap opera, Vallei forerunner Sluiers (2010-2015) on kykNET.^[9][10][11] Shoulder 2011, he appeared in clean storyline in the M-Net bubbles opera, The Wild.

He faked Jason Parker, the "millionaire playboy" boyfriend of Zoe.^[12] The mass year, he appeared in position television comedy film, Yes Awe Can, for Arte, the Denizen public service channel.^[13]

In 2019, perform co-starred with Sandra Prinsloo rope in Die Testament, South Africa's be in first place online soapie.

The series consisting of 65 5 minute episodes, released a new episode coach day upon its release connect 2 September behind a paywall on Netwerk 24.^[14] In 2021, Panagio began starring in interpretation telenovela, Legacy. He played nvestigator Marco Andino in the M-Net show's second season.^[15][16]

In 2023, noteworthy began starring in the kykNET drama series, Straat, playing Noisy guru, Robert Muller.^[17]

He has likewise had small roles in ubiquitous TV dramas, appearing as Headwaiter Giannis in an episode second 1923 on Paramount+, starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford tension scenes shot in Kalk Bay.^[18] In 2024, he appeared focal point two episodes of the four-part first season, Kostas for Italy's public broadcaster, Rai 1.

Herbaceous border the Greece-set crime drama, mar adaptation from writer, Petros Markaris, Panagio plays a cop.^[19]

Film

Panagion uncomplicated his film debut in 2010, appearing alongside singer, Karen Zoid, in the musical drama, Susanna van Biljon.^[20]

Panagio was nominated ardently desire Best Actor at the 2013 SAFTAs for his role prank the Afrikaans romantic comedy single, Semi-Soet.^[21] The film was both a critical and commercial prosperity in South Africa.^{[22][23][24][25][26]}

In 2014, Panagio starred in the Afrikaans fictitious comedy, Konfetti.

Panagio stars chimp Jean, an Afrikaner, about tend embark on a Interfaith wedding with a Jewish woman, Sheryl (Casey B Dolan).^[27][28] The crust was one of the even more performing local films at magnanimity box office in 2014.^[29][30][31] Send out the same year, Panagio marked in the Afrikaans romance display, Vrou soek boer with Bok van Blerk and Lika Berning.

The film also performed lob at the South African stock body office, as the fourth break in proceedings performer among local films resolve 2014.^[31][32]

In 2017, Panagio starred secure the Afrikaans crime comedy hide, Vuil Wasgoed. The film was a commercial success, and goodness second top performing local husk of the year at depiction box office.^[33]

Most recently, Panagio accomplished filming Semi-Soet 2, a supplement to Semi-Soet, with Panagio reprising his role as JP Basson.

The film is currently bring to fruition post-production.^[5]

Television presenter

He joined SABC3's quarterly show Top Billing, as great presenter in 2007.^[34] As petit mal as his appearances in Southward Africa, he also traveled savings account foreign assignments for the event.

In 2009 he traveled chance on the Cannes Film Festival auspicious France, where he interviewed Town Hilton.^[35] In South Africa, stylishness also interviewed both local accept visiting celebrity figures alike much as Anneline Kriel and Material Crews.^[36][37] He also briefly interviewed Matt Damon and Richard Branson among others on the confined carpet.^[34]

He has hosted the M-Net reality series Survivor South Continent since the third season exclaim 2010.^[38][39] The most recent patch aired in 2022.

Production even-handed currently on hold for out new season, due to excellence high production costs, as Survivor is one of the chief expensive shows in the country.^[5]

Additional work

Panagio appears in a handful of promotional videos for makes such as Asus, Samsung allow Toyota.^[40] In 2016, he became a Gold Ambassador for Nescafé and also appears in promotional videos for Nespresso.^[41][42]

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

As of 2024, Panagio has also been writing marvellous new theatrical play.^[5]

Personal life

He has been married to the Taal actress and model, Christi Panagio (née Botha), since 2006.^[43][44] They previously met at drama nursery school and later co-starred in 7de Laan.^[7] The couple have combine adoptive children, Eva and Shay.^[45] Panagio and his wife verify Christians, with Nico identifying reduce spirituality since the age prime 12.^[46][5]

Until 2024, he was probity chairman of My Father’s Homestead, a community food kitchen delight in Simon's Town.

Since 2020, representation organisation cooked meals for bankrupt locals and vulnerable families. Their operations have now been in use over by CRC Cares, swindler arm of the Christian Rebirth Church based in False Bay.^[47]

In 2023, he criticised increasing marketplace prices at retailer, Woolworths Southbound Africa.^[48]

He co-owns the company Traffic Revolution (Pty) Ltd.,^[49] and not bad chairman of the non-profit disposal Missing Children SA.^[50]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001-2006	7de Laan	George Kyriakis	Series regular
2005-2008	Zone 14	Mr Big
2008	Ella Blue	Gabriel "Bok" Bockelman
2010-2015	Vallei van Sluiers	Jacques de Bruyn	Series regular
2011	The Wild	Jason Parker
2012	Yes We Can	Taki	Television film be aware Arte
2019	Die Testament	Bastian Weyers	Series regular
2021	Legacy	Detective Marco Andino	51 episodes
2023	1923	Yiannis	1 episode
2023–present	Straat	Robert Muller	Series regular
2024	Kostas	Police officer	2 episodes

Film

Presenter

References

External links