Paolo Kessisoglu (; born 25 July 1969) is an Italian actor, comedian and television presenter. He is best known for the duo Luca e Paolo, formed with his friend, Luca Bizzarri. Kessisoglu was also a member of the comedic group ("Rotten Horses").
Early and personal life Kessisoglu was born in Genoa to an Armenian family. Luca e Paolo: «Aiuto! Ci avete messo in mezzo» His paternal grandfather moved as a child with his family from Smyrna (today İzmir, Turkey) to Greece and later to Italy to escape from the Armenian genocide.Anna Maria Giordano, L'ultimo atto di un genocidio è la sua negazione, Rai Radio 3, 2013. The family settled in Trieste for several years before finally moving to Genoa. The original surname, (), was Turkified during the escape in (with the Armenian ending replaced by the Turkish patronymic ending ) to arouse less attention, and then Hellenized to ().
In June 2003, Kessisoglu married TV anchor and journalist Sabrina Donadel, with whom he has a daughter, Lunita (b. 2003).
Filmography Films YearTitleRoleNotes1999E allora mambo!Mauro Paternò2000The Emperor's New GrooveKronk (voice)Italian dubTandemPietro Borsello2001The Living ForestHo-Ho (voice)Italian dub2003Oggi è una bella giornataPaoloShort film2005…e se domaniMatteo Cellario2008Asterix at the Olympic GamesOmegaTinker BellClank (voice)Italian dub2009Tinker Bell and the Lost TreasureItalian dub2010Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy RescueItalian dub2011The ImmatureVirgilio Montesi2012The Immature: The Trip2013Colpi di fortunaPieroSegment: "Primo episodio"2014Un fidanzato per mia mogliePietro2020Un figlio di nome ErasmusJacopoPer tutta la vitaMarkPost-production
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1997–1998Ciro, il figlio di TargetHimself/VariousSketch comedy show (seasons 1–2)1999CiroHimself/VariousSketch comedy show2000–2002MTV TripHimself/co-hostReality show2001Mai dire GolHimself/GuestSports program (season 11)2001–2003Sitting DucksAldo (voice)Main role; 52 episodes 2001–2011Le IeneHimself/co-hostVariety/reality show (seasons 5–11, 13–15)2003–2017Camera CaféPaolo BittaCo-lead role; 1756 episodes2004SuperciroHimself/VariousSketch comedy show2007La strana coppiaFelice "Felix" De SantisCo-lead role; 30 episodes2011Sanremo Music Festival 2011Himself/co-hostAnnual music festivalCosì fan tuttePaolo BittaEpisode: "Episodio 1"2012Scherzi a parteHimself/co-hostPrank show (season 12)2014GiassHimself/co-hostGame show2015–2016ColoradoHimself/co-hostVariety show (seasons 17–18)2017–presentQuelli che... il CalcioHimself/co-hostSports program (seasons 24–present)2018Immaturi - La serieVirgilio MontesiMain role; 8 episodes
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