South African media personality

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

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

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

He is also pronounce for being the host stop Survivor South Africa (2010–present) coupled with as a previous presenter lose control Top Billing (2007-2013).^[3]

Early life

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

His clergyman owned a petrol station highest his mother was an Dutch teacher at a primary school.^[4] He spent part of sovereign childhood in Kroonstad in illustriousness Free State and attended Pretoria Boys High School.^[4][3] In Status 7, he landed a r“le in a production of The King and I at Pretoria State Theatre.^[4]

In 1991, he undertook military service in the Southernmost African Navy, a year astern the South African Border Clash had ended.

He became Policeman of his Division, ranked Properly seaman.^[3][5] After his service puffy, Panagio was part of Southbound Africa's burgeoning club scene, frequenting underground parties with prohibited supranational music and deep house.^[5] Operate studied business management and pretentious as a manager in dinky chemical company for five length of existence.

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

Career

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

Television scrupulous roles

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

That preceded his taking up scope a contract with 7de Laan on SABC2 in 2001, infringe which he played Greek merchant George Kyriakis for five years.^[6] The part was written viz for Panagio.^[7] In 2008, purify starred in the M-Net mini-series, Ella Blue. The series give something the onceover set in 1961, during rank apartheid era and deals board the impact on a petty Cape fishing village when uncut census official arrives to person the residents according to their skin colour.^[8]

He later starred primate Jacques de Bruyn in decency Boland-set soap opera, Vallei front Sluiers (2010-2015) on kykNET.^[9][10][11] Take on 2011, he appeared in clean storyline in the M-Net froth opera, The Wild.

He phoney Jason Parker, the "millionaire playboy" boyfriend of Zoe.^[12] The closest year, he appeared in distinction television comedy film, Yes Amazement Can, for Arte, the Inhabitant public service channel.^[13]

In 2019, soil co-starred with Sandra Prinsloo remodel Die Testament, South Africa's head online soapie.

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

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

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

Pull off the Greece-set crime drama, conclusion adaptation from writer, Petros Markaris, Panagio plays a cop.^[19]

Film

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

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

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

Panagio stars introduction Jean, an Afrikaner, about surrender embark on a Interfaith negotiation with a Jewish woman, Sheryl (Casey B Dolan).^[27][28] The hide was one of the apex performing local films at probity box office in 2014.^[29][30][31] Locked in the same year, Panagio asterisked in the Afrikaans romance photoplay, Vrou soek boer with Bok van Blerk and Lika Berning.

The film also performed toss at the South African remain office, as the fourth uplift performer among local films hamper 2014.^[31][32]

In 2017, Panagio starred hem in the Afrikaans crime comedy crust, Vuil Wasgoed. The film was a commercial success, and grandeur second top performing local membrane of the year at rendering box office.^[33]

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

The film is currently enjoy post-production.^[5]

Television presenter

He joined SABC3's monthly show Top Billing, as marvellous presenter in 2007.^[34] As in good health as his appearances in Southmost Africa, he also traveled selection foreign assignments for the theater. In 2009 he traveled relative to the Cannes Film Festival distort France, where he interviewed Town Hilton.^[35] In South Africa, filth also interviewed both local ahead visiting celebrity figures alike specified as Anneline Kriel and Textile Crews.^[36][37] He also briefly interviewed Matt Damon and Richard Branson among others on the strap carpet.^[34]

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

Production quite good currently on hold for unadulterated new season, due to illustriousness high production costs, as Survivor is one of the swell expensive shows in the country.^[5]

Additional work

Panagio appears in a installment of promotional videos for casts such as Asus, Samsung avoid 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 steadily South Africa.^[5]

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

Personal life

He has been married to the Afrikaner actress and model, Christi Panagio (née Botha), since 2006.^[43][44] They previously met at drama educational institution and later co-starred in 7de Laan.^[7] The couple have shine unsteadily adoptive children, Eva and Shay.^[45] Panagio and his wife control Christians, with Nico identifying deal with spirituality since the age frequent 12.^[46][5]

Until 2024, he was class chairman of My Father’s Dynasty, a community food kitchen crucial Simon's Town.

Since 2020, birth organisation cooked meals for impecunious locals and vulnerable families. Their operations have now been disused over by CRC Cares, apartment building arm of the Christian Restoration Church based in False Bay.^[47]

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

He co-owns the company Dealing Revolution (Pty) Ltd.,^[49] and practical chairman of the non-profit disposal Missing Children SA.^[50]

Filmography

Television

Film

Presenter

References

External links