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Nick Giannopoulos

Nicholas Giannopoulos (born 1 July 1963) is a Greek-Australian stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director best known for creating and starring in the Wog Boy film trilogy, which depicts the life of a stereotypical Greek-Australian "wog" navigating welfare systems and cultural clashes, and for his lead role in the television sitcom Acropolis Now.^[1]^[2] Born in Melbourne to Greek immigrant parents, Giannopoulos began his career in stand-up comedy with stage shows like Wogs Out of Work in the late 1980s, drawing from his experiences in working-class Greek communities.^[3]^[4] His breakthrough came with Acropolis Now (1989–1992), a five-season series he co-created and starred in as a cafe worker, which popularized ethnic humor centered on Greek-Australian immigrant stereotypes.^[3]^[5] Giannopoulos's Wog Boy (2000), which he wrote, produced, and starred in as the welfare-dependent protagonist Steve "Wog Boy" Karamitsis, achieved significant commercial success by breaking Australian opening-weekend box office records and ranking among the country's top-grossing films at the time.^[6]^[7] The franchise expanded with sequels Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos (2010) and Wog Boy: The Traditional Life (2019), maintaining a focus on comedic exaggerations of Mediterranean immigrant culture in Australia.^[5] His work has earned recognition including two MO Awards for Best Comedy Performer (1998–1999) and the IF Award for Most Successful Box Office Feature for Wog Boy.^[8]^[9] Beyond film and TV, Giannopoulos has performed live comedy tours and hosted events, leveraging his persona rooted in first-generation migrant anecdotes.^[10]

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Nicholas Giannopoulos was born on July 1, 1963, in Melbourne, Australia, as the eldest son of Greek immigrant parents.^[1]^[11] His mother, Petroula, arrived in Australia from Greece in 1961 at the age of 19 aboard the liner Patris, while his father, Leonidas, had immigrated shortly before, seeking opportunities in the post-war migration wave.^[12]^[4] The family settled in Melbourne's working-class inner suburbs of Fitzroy and Richmond, where they navigated the challenges of assimilation as recent migrants.^[11]^[13] Leonidas initially worked on the Ford assembly line before managing a milk bar, a common small business for Greek immigrants, which provided modest stability but required long hours from the family.^[4]^[7] Young Giannopoulos often assisted at the milk bar, gaining early exposure to the entrepreneurial grit of his parents' generation amid ethnic prejudices like schoolyard taunts of "wog boy."^[7]^[14] Leonidas Giannopoulos, who passed away in January 2021 at age 88, embodied the refugee-to-citizen archetype, arriving penniless yet instilling values of hard work and resilience in his children despite cultural barriers.^[15] The family's Greek heritage remained central, with traditions preserved in a household that balanced old-world expectations with Australian realities, shaping Giannopoulos's formative years in a milieu of economic frugality and community solidarity among migrants.^[13]^[4]

Initial interest in comedy

Giannopoulos, born to Greek immigrant parents in Melbourne on July 1, 1963, grew up in working-class suburbs such as Fitzroy and Richmond, where his family's milk bar exposed him to a diverse array of characters and interactions that later informed his observational humor.^[7]^[11] As a child and adolescent, he faced ethnic prejudice, including schoolyard taunts labeling him a "wog boy," experiences that instilled resilience and a budding recognition of humor's power to reframe adversity.^[14] These formative encounters sparked his initial interest in comedy as a means of self-expression and cultural commentary, transforming personal marginalization into material that celebrated migrant life. During high school, Giannopoulos exhibited comedic aptitude, particularly in drama classes, where encouragement from teachers highlighted his potential for performance.^[16] He pursued this inclination through formal education, graduating in 1985 with a degree in dramatic arts from Rusden College and the Victorian College of the Arts.^[8]^[11] However, post-graduation barriers to acting roles for ethnic performers prompted a pivot to stand-up, where he could originate content drawing directly from his background; this led to his professional debut with the self-financed stage show Wogs Out of Work at the inaugural Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1987.^[4]^[17]

Comedy career

Stand-up beginnings

Giannopoulos entered the stand-up comedy scene in 1987 by co-writing, co-producing, and starring in the ethnic humor stage show Wogs Out of Work alongside George Kapiniaris.^[5]^[10] The production debuted that year at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, drawing on exaggerated portrayals of Greek-Australian immigrant life to satirize cultural clashes and working-class stereotypes.^[18] The show rapidly gained traction, touring nationally across Australia from 1987 to 1990 and performing to audiences exceeding 750,000, which established Giannopoulos as a pioneer in ethnic stand-up comedy amid a landscape dominated by Anglo-centric humor.^[5] This success stemmed from its raw, unapologetic routines that transformed derogatory terms like "wog" into self-deprecating punchlines, resonating with second-generation migrants.^[18] Prior to this, Giannopoulos had graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts, where his training in performance laid the groundwork, though no earlier professional stand-up appearances are documented.^[10] The duo's collaborative format—blending scripted sketches with improvisational elements—served as his foundational platform, leading to subsequent solo and ensemble projects that refined his observational style on family dynamics, assimilation, and urban Australian identity.^[5]

Development of ethnic humor style

Giannopoulos drew from his upbringing in a Greek immigrant family in Melbourne during the 1960s and 1970s, where encounters with Anglo-Australian prejudice shaped his comedic perspective on ethnic identity. The term "wog," originally a pejorative for southern European migrants, was reframed by him as a badge of resilience rather than shame, reflecting a deliberate strategy to confront racism through self-aware exaggeration of cultural traits like familial loyalty, machismo, and linguistic mangling of English.^[17]^[19] In the mid-1980s, amid Australia's shift toward multiculturalism under policies promoting ethnic diversity, Giannopoulos began integrating these observations into live performances at Melbourne's burgeoning comedy venues, testing material on audiences familiar with migrant struggles such as unemployment and assimilation pressures. His style emphasized authenticity over caricature, using physical mannerisms, accents, and anecdotes about overbearing parents and community gossip to elicit recognition from second-generation audiences while challenging mainstream dismissals of ethnic life as inferior.^[19]^[20] The style crystallized with the 1987 debut of Wogs Out of Work at the inaugural Melbourne International Comedy Festival, a stage production co-written and co-performed with Simon Palomares and George Kapiniaris that directly appropriated "wog" to satirize joblessness among Mediterranean migrants. Touring nationally from 1987 to 1990, the show drew over 750,000 attendees and refined the format through iterative feedback, balancing broad appeal with pointed commentary on inter-generational conflicts and economic marginalization, thus establishing ethnic humor as a viable, entrepreneurially driven genre in Australian comedy.^[17]^[19]^[21] Subsequent iterations, including extensions with additional performers like Mary Coustas, allowed Giannopoulos to evolve the humor toward greater inclusivity across ethnic groups while maintaining a core of unapologetic realism about cultural foibles, such as Greek claims to historical primacy or immigrant thriftiness, which resonated empirically with audience demographics in working-class suburbs. This approach prioritized causal links between lived migrant experiences and comedic payoff, eschewing sanitized narratives in favor of raw, relatable truths that fortified ethnic pride amid ongoing societal tensions.^[19]^[22]

Television career

Acropolis Now

Acropolis Now is an Australian sitcom created by Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris, and Simon Palomares, who also starred in the series as key characters in a fictional Greek café in Melbourne.^[23] The show premiered on the Seven Network on August 9, 1989, and ran for five seasons, concluding with its final episode in November 1992 after producing 63 episodes.^[24] Produced by Crawford Productions, it drew inspiration from real-life Greek cafés like Cafe Neon in South Melbourne and evolved from the creators' successful stage show Wogs Out of Work.^[25] Giannopoulos portrayed Jim Stefanidis, the well-meaning but bumbling young Greek-Australian owner who inherits the Acropolis Café after his father returns to Greece, managing a diverse staff amid everyday mishaps, romantic entanglements, and cultural clashes.^[26] Co-writing and co-creating the series, Giannopoulos contributed to its ethnic humor style, emphasizing second-generation migrant experiences, and played a pivotal role in casting Mary Coustas as the sassy waitress Effie, whose character debut in the fifth episode of the first season boosted the show's appeal.^[25] The ensemble included Kapiniaris as the cook Memo and Palomares as the Spanish waiter Rick, with guest appearances such as a young Russell Crowe as Danny in 1991.^[25] The series received strong viewership, occasionally topping ratings charts and earning a Logie Award for Coustas as Most Popular Actress in 1991, praised for its portrayal of multicultural Australia through comedic lenses on family, work, and assimilation.^[25] Despite its popularity, Channel Seven axed Acropolis Now at its peak, replacing it with the game show Newlyweds, a decision Giannopoulos later described as baffling given the show's ongoing success.^[25] Directed initially by Ted Emery and later by Pino Amenta, the program highlighted Giannopoulos' transition from stage to television, solidifying his reputation for unapologetic ethnic comedy.^[25]

Guest appearances and specials

In 2004, Giannopoulos hosted and produced the two-part television special Greece Is the Word, broadcast on the Seven Network.^[27] The program featured Giannopoulos touring Greece, highlighting its islands such as Mykonos and Santorini while blending travelogue elements with comedic insights into Greek culture and heritage.^[28] It drew an audience of over 3 million viewers and was rebroadcast immediately before the Athens Olympics opening ceremony.^[5] Giannopoulos also served as a guest presenter on episodes of the Australian travel series Getaway, sharing perspectives on destinations tied to his Greek background.^[29] In 2007, he hosted The Singing Office, a singing competition show on Fox 8, though it received limited acclaim and did not lead to further seasons.^[5] These appearances underscored his versatility beyond scripted comedy, leveraging his ethnic humor for light-hearted cultural commentary.^[30]

Film career

The Wog Boy franchise

The Wog Boy franchise comprises three Australian comedy films featuring the character Steve "The Wog Boy" Karamitsis, a Greek-Australian archetype satirizing ethnic immigrant experiences, unemployment, and cultural clashes, played by Nick Giannopoulos, who created the role and served as producer across the series while co-writing the first installment.^[31]^[30] The films emphasize broad humor derived from "wog" stereotypes—slang for southern European migrants—with Giannopoulos drawing from his own background to portray Steve as a welfare-dependent, family-oriented anti-hero navigating absurdity in Australian society.^[1] Commercially, the series resonated with domestic audiences, particularly Greek-Australian communities, grossing over A$18 million combined in Australia despite mixed critical reception for repetitive tropes.^[32] The inaugural film, The Wog Boy, released on 25 February 2000 and directed by Aleksi Vellis, follows Steve Karamitsis, an unemployed Melbourne resident on welfare, who collides his car with the limousine of a federal employment minister, sparking media frenzy and his unwitting recruitment as a poster boy for dole reform.^[31] Co-written by Giannopoulos and Chris Anastassiades, with Giannopoulos also co-producing, the film grossed A$11.46 million at the Australian box office, marking one of the highest-grossing local productions at the time and surpassing records set by Crocodile Dundee II.^[32]^[33] The sequel, Wog Boy 2: The Kings of Mykonos (also marketed as The Kings of Mykonos), premiered on 20 May 2010 under director Peter Andrikidis, relocating Steve to the Greek island of Mykonos after he inherits a prime beachfront plot from a deceased uncle, entangling him in local rivalries and development schemes alongside friend Frank (Vince Colosimo).^[34] Giannopoulos starred and produced, maintaining the franchise's focus on exaggerated ethnic pride and get-rich-quick mishaps, though it earned A$4.9 million domestically, underperforming relative to the original amid competition from international releases.^[32]^[35] The third entry, Wog Boys Forever, released on 6 October 2022 and directed by Frank Lotito, depicts a middle-aged Steve as a taxi driver targeted for deportation by an immigration minister seeking vengeance for his mother's political downfall two decades prior, forcing him and Frank to confront generational irrelevance, family obligations, and modern bureaucratic hurdles.^[36] Written and produced by Giannopoulos, the film grossed A$1.95 million in Australia, reflecting a niche appeal in a streaming-dominated era but sustaining the series' unapologetic embrace of outdated cultural humor.^[37]

Other films and directing roles

Giannopoulos directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the 2003 Australian comedy The Wannabes (known as Criminal Ways in the United States), portraying Danny, an unsuccessful entertainer tricked into training a group of amateur criminals as a children's band.^[38] The film, which premiered in Australian cinemas on September 25, 2003, co-starred Russell Dykstra as Marcus, Isla Fisher as Kirsty, and Michael Carman as Jimmy King, and received mixed reviews for its slapstick humor centered on misfits pursuing absurd schemes.^[39] This marked his only feature-length directorial effort to date.^[5] Beyond The Wannabes, Giannopoulos took on supporting acting roles in other films, including a cameo as a taxi driver in the 2014 comedy Fat Pizza vs. Housos, a crossover featuring characters from the Pizza and Housos television series. He also voiced the character Georgios in the 2022 action-comedy Hazard.^[40] These appearances were minor compared to his lead work in the Wog Boy series.

Controversies and disputes

Trademark battles over "Wog Boy"

In late 2019, Nick Giannopoulos, known for creating the Wog Boy film franchise, engaged in a public dispute with fellow Australian comedians over his trademarks on the terms "wogs" and "wog boy".^[41]^[42] Giannopoulos had successfully registered these marks with IP Australia, which he stated were intended to protect branding associated with his comedy work, including the 2000 film The Wog Boy and its sequels.^[43]^[44] Upon discovering other performers using variations like "wog" in show titles—such as proposed productions titled "Wog Life" or similar ethnic humor routines—Giannopoulos instructed his lawyers to issue cease-and-desist letters, warning of potential legal action for trademark infringement.^[45]^[46] The conflict escalated into media coverage, with Giannopoulos defending his position on programs like A Current Affair, arguing that the trademarks safeguarded his intellectual property developed over decades of pioneering "wog" comedy, and that unauthorized use diluted his brand without compensation.^[46]^[45] Critics among peers, including rival ethnic comedians, labeled the moves "petty" and accused him of attempting to monopolize a cultural term central to Greek-Australian and migrant humor traditions, potentially stifling emerging artists.^[44]^[47] No formal lawsuits materialized from the 2019 exchanges, but the spat highlighted tensions between individual IP rights and communal ethnic comedy tropes.^[43]^[42] Giannopoulos clarified that the trademarks applied specifically to entertainment services and merchandise linked to his productions, not the standalone ethnic slur "wog", countering claims of overreach.^[41]^[43] The episode underscored broader debates in Australian comedy about commercializing reclaimed slurs, with some outlets framing it as a "war of the ethnics" over linguistic ownership.^[45]^[42]

Backlash against un-PC comedy

Giannopoulos's comedy, characterized by self-deprecating ethnic stereotypes and reclamation of the slur "wog," drew limited but pointed criticism from segments of the Greek-Australian community and commentators sensitive to racial language. In a 2019 letter to Neos Kosmos, Odysseus Gipalis argued that Giannopoulos's humor "perpetuates a racist view of Greek Australians" and misleads non-Greeks into assuming universal acceptance of the term "wog."^[48] This reflected broader unease among some diaspora members who viewed such routines as reinforcing outdated caricatures rather than subverting them, though empirical data on audience reception—such as high ratings for Acropolis Now (peaking at over 1 million viewers per episode in 1990-1992)—indicated mainstream appeal outweighed niche objections.^[25] Critics in cultural commentary have highlighted the "flagrant use of ethnic stereotypes" in works like The Wog Boy (2000), where humor derives from exaggerated immigrant tropes such as machismo and family loyalty, potentially normalizing derogatory views under the guise of in-group satire.^[49] A 2018 SBS analysis questioned whether "wog" humor remained viable amid shifting sensitivities, noting Giannopoulos's acknowledgment in live shows that "many find the use of the word wog offensive," yet defending it as authentic reclamation from his 1988 Sydney Theatre Company performances onward.^[50] Such discourse aligns with academic observations of ethnic comedy's dual role in challenging and entrenching class-based immigrant identities, but no large-scale boycotts or cancellations materialized, contrasting with more polarized reactions to non-ethnic comedians.^[19] Despite these critiques, Giannopoulos maintained that his approach exposed "essential truth to [the] 'offensive' stereotypes," prioritizing lived migrant experiences over external propriety standards, as echoed in defenses from peers in the ethnic comedy scene.^[51] Community figures like George Kapiniaris credited Acropolis Now with softening prejudices against migrants, suggesting the humor's causal impact leaned toward integration rather than alienation, substantiated by its role in popularizing positive ethnic visibility without formal backlash metrics like complaint tallies from broadcasters.^[52]

Reception and legacy

Commercial achievements

The Wog Boy (2000), co-written, produced, and starring Giannopoulos as Steve 'The Wog Boy' Karamitsis, grossed A$11.46 million at the Australian box office, ranking it among the top 30 highest-earning Australian films historically.^[32] The low-budget production, partially self-financed by Giannopoulos with an estimated A$2.5 million investment, achieved significant commercial viability through strong domestic appeal to ethnic comedy audiences.^[53] The sequel Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos (2010) earned A$4.9 million in Australia, securing it as the third highest-grossing local film of that year and demonstrating sustained franchise profitability.^[54]^[32] Wog Boys Forever (2022), the trilogy's conclusion with Giannopoulos reprising his lead role, generated A$1.96 million domestically despite post-pandemic market challenges, marking the strongest opening for an Australian film that year.^[55] Overall, the Wog Boy series has amassed over A$18 million in Australian box office receipts across its three entries.^[56]

Cultural impact and influence

Giannopoulos's work, beginning with the 1987 stage production Wogs Out of Work co-created with Simon Palomares and Maria Portesi, pioneered a form of self-deprecating ethnic humor that reclaimed the term "wog"—originally a derogatory slur for Mediterranean migrants in Australia—as a symbol of cultural pride and resilience. This approach allowed Greek and Italian Australians to satirize their own experiences of migration, labor, and assimilation, transforming immigrant stigma into a source of communal laughter and identity.^[19]^[17] By centering narratives on unemployment, family dynamics, and class struggles within migrant communities, his productions highlighted the economic and social realities faced by post-World War II arrivals, fostering broader societal recognition of multiculturalism's contributions to Australian life.^[19]^[25] The television adaptation Acropolis Now (1989–1992), which Giannopoulos co-wrote and starred in, extended this influence by depicting a Greek-run Melbourne café, thereby embedding ethnic comedy into mainstream broadcast media and reaching audiences beyond live theater. This sitcom, alongside the Wog Boy film series starting in 2000, normalized portrayals of non-Anglo masculinity, family loyalty, and cultural clashes, influencing subsequent Australian comedians and filmmakers to draw from migrant heritage for authentic storytelling.^[25]^[57] The franchise's commercial success underscored a shift in cultural attitudes, where humor served as a tool to challenge exclusionary norms and affirm the integral role of "wog" labor in shaping Australia's economy and identity.^[19]^[58] Through these efforts, Giannopoulos contributed to the "wog phenomenon," a body of cultural texts that evolved ethnic entrepreneurship into convivial labor narratives, inspiring later multicultural works while prompting debates on the term's ongoing relevance in an era of heightened sensitivity to racial language.^[19] His insistence on unfiltered comedy as a counter to racism has been credited with empowering second-generation migrants to own their stereotypes, though some contemporary critics argue it risks perpetuating outdated tropes amid evolving social norms.^[17]^[50]

Retirement from stage

In 2023, Nick Giannopoulos announced his retirement from live stage performances following a farewell tour titled Wog Life - My Farewell Tour Farken!, marking the end of over 3,000 appearances spanning four decades.^[59]^[60] The tour, which blended stand-up routines with iconic characters like The Cleaning Lady and The Taxi Driver, reflected on Greek-Australian immigrant experiences from the 1960s and 1970s, including themes of racism and cultural adaptation, while incorporating personal anecdotes and archival photos for a nostalgic tone.^[59] Performances commenced in late 2023, with key dates including Melbourne's Palais Theatre on February 16–17, 2024, and concluding in Sydney in March 2024, alongside stops in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, and Wollongong.^[59]^[60] Giannopoulos cited the physical and logistical demands of touring—such as extended time away from home and living out of a suitcase—as factors contributing to his decision, expressing a desire to pursue other interests after a lengthy career.^[59] A pivotal influence was a 1990s encounter with actor Bob Denver, known for Gilligan's Island, whom he observed performing in a diminished capacity at age 75 in a U.S. supermarket to a sparse audience of 5–10 people; Giannopoulos described this as "one of the saddest things" he had witnessed, vowing not to replicate such an undignified scenario by continuing "wog jokes" into old age.^[60] He articulated this resolve in a podcast interview, stating, "I refuse to become Cousin Jim at 75, hawking my Monaro outside a supermarket, sporting a fake monobrow and a mullet, clinging to past glories. No more Wog jokes at 75 for me."^[60] The retirement applies specifically to live stage work and does not preclude other forms of performance or creative endeavors, though Giannopoulos has not detailed immediate post-tour plans beyond emphasizing gratitude to audiences.^[59] The tour served as both a commercial send-off and a cultural capstone, allowing fans a final opportunity to experience his ethnic humor in person.^[61]

Personal life

Relationships and work-life balance

Giannopoulos began dating at age 17 with an Australian woman two years his senior. In his twenties, he entered a five-year relationship with comedian Mary Coustas, whom he met while co-starring in the television series Acropolis Now; the pair remain close friends.^[12] He has approached marriage on multiple occasions but never proceeded, citing career priorities.^[12] As of 2017, Giannopoulos was in a relationship with Natalie Neville, known professionally as DJ Femme, whom he had been dating for 18 months after meeting at a party in St Kilda.^[12] Giannopoulos's extensive touring schedule from 1987 to 2002—15 years of near-constant road work—severely strained his personal relationships, as he prioritized professional success over romantic commitments.^[12] He has acknowledged regrets but maintains that forgoing such focus would have prevented his achievements, stating, "if I didn’t put my work first I wouldn’t have succeeded."^[12] By 2017, he reported improved equilibrium, describing himself as "in a much better place now."^[12] No public records indicate that Giannopoulos has children or has ever married.^[62]

Awards and recognition

Mo Awards

Nick Giannopoulos won two Mo Awards for Best Comedy Performer in 1998 and 1999, recognizing his stand-up comedy routines that drew on Greek-Australian immigrant experiences.^[63]^[9] These victories highlighted his breakthrough in Melbourne's live entertainment scene, where the Mo Awards annually honor achievements in cabaret, comedy, and variety acts.^[64]^[8] The awards followed sold-out shows at venues like the Athenaeum Theatre, cementing his status as a leading ethnic comedian in Australia during the late 1990s.^[65] No further Mo Awards were reported for Giannopoulos after 1999, as his career shifted toward film and television production.^[5]

Other honors

Giannopoulos received the Comedy Star of the Year award at the 55th Australian International Movie Convention in 2000 for his leading role in The Wog Boy, recognizing his contribution to the film's commercial success as Australia's highest-grossing comedy at the time.^[53]^[5] This honor, presented on the Gold Coast, underscored his breakthrough in blending ethnic humor with mainstream appeal.^[6] Reports of a New York Media Award appear in promotional profiles but lack independent verification from primary sources.^[64] No additional major personal honors beyond these and the Mo Awards were documented in contemporary entertainment records.

References

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Nick Giannopoulos | ACMI: Your museum of screen culture
Nicholas Giannopoulos (born 1 July 1963) is a Greek Australian stand-up comedian, stage, TV and film actor and film director.
[2]
Nick Giannopoulos — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Nicholas Giannopoulos is an Australian stand-up comedian, film and TV actor and film director of Greek descent. Nicholas Giannopoulos is an Australian ...
[3]
Nick Giannopoulos - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays
Australian comedian and actor who became famous for his stage show Wogs Out of Work. He starred in the sitcom Acropolis Now which ran for five seasons.
[4]
Nick Giannopoulos | Giannopolous - OnlyMelbourne
Nicholas "Nick"Giannopoulos is a stand-up comedian, actor and director born in Melbourne, grew up in Fitzroy and went to Abbotsford Primary School and Richmond ...
[5]
Nick Giannopoulos - IMDb
Nick is an actor/writer/producer/director. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, the first born son of Greek Immigrant parents.
[6]
Artists | NICK GIANNOPOULOS - Nanette Fox
Nick Giannopoulos is one of Australia's most revered comedians. He is one of a handful of performers who have easily transitioned through stage, television and ...
[7]
Nick Giannopoulos Biography: Early Life, Career, Net Worth, and ...
Jan 16, 2025 · Nicholas Giannopoulos, born on July 1, 1963, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, is a distinguished stand-up comedian, actor, and film ...
[8]
Nick Giannopoulos - Platinum Speakers
Known for his roles in Wog Boys and TV show Acropolis Now, Nick is a highly successful comedian, actor and writer.
[9]
"The Wog boy" of Australia - ellines.com
He has won numerous awards, among which two Mo Awards for «Best Comedy Performer» in the period 1998-1999, the IF Award for Most Successful Box Office ...
[10]
Nick Giannopoulos - Independent Film Producer, Writer & Actor
Nick Giannopoulos is one of Australia's most successful filmmakers & comedians. He has written, starred and produced stage shows, TV sitcoms and movies.
[11]
Nick Giannopoulos - Biography - IMDb
He was born in Melbourne, Australia, the first born son of Greek Immigrant parents. He grew up mainly in the inner Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy & Richmond. His ...Missing: early life
[12]
Nick Giannopoulos: I've finally learnt how to balance my career and ...
Jul 19, 2017 · My mother, Petroula, migrated to Australia from Greece in 1961, at age 19. She was the youngest in her family, boarding a liner, the Patris, ...Missing: childhood | Show results with:childhood<|separator|>
[13]
ONE LAST CHANCE TO FLOG THE 'WOG' - AFR
Jun 19, 1995 · Giannopoulos was born in Australia of Greek parents, who ran a milkbar in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Richmond. He says cultural and racial ...
[14]
How Nick Giannopoulos became a true Australian showbiz success ...
Giannopoulos is a true Australian showbiz success story, turning the "wog boy" jibes that he used to endure in the schoolyard as a child into a booming comedy ...
[15]
My father Leonidas Giannopoulos, 88, passed away last ... - Facebook
Jan 15, 2021 · Condolences to the Nick Giannopoulos family. Our fathers and mothers arrived in Australia penniless. They worked hard and endured hardships ...
[16]
Comedian Nick Giannopoulos has dedicated his new film Wog Boys ...
Oct 5, 2022 · Yeah. Yeah. Look yeah so I I started showing some sort of potential at high school when I was a young kid and my drama school teacher really ...Missing: origin | Show results with:origin
[17]
Wog boy Nick Giannopoulos says "comedy is more important now ...
Oct 28, 2022 · 'Wogs Out of Work', Giannopoulos' first show opened at the first Melbourne Comedy Festival in 1987. At the time, he purposefully chose the ...
[18]
'WOGS AT WORK' - Snowdome Foundation
Sep 22, 2017 · Written by Nick Giannopoulos, 'Wogs Out of Work' debuted in 1987 at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and was enormously successful, ...
[19]
Wogs as work: humour as ethnic entrepreneurship and convivial ...
Aug 31, 2023 · This paper sets out the history of this evolution and the societal context in which 'wog' humour was invented in a uniquely 'Australian' way.
[20]
Sticks and Stones and Wogs - Greek City Times
Oct 3, 2022 · In 1987, Nick Giannopoulos and Co performed the first public exorcism on the word 'WOG' with the stage play Wogs out of Work, expelling from it ...
[21]
Sticks and stones and WOGs - - Greek City Times
Dec 4, 2019 · In 1987, Nick Giannopoulos and Co performed the first public exorcism on the word 'WOG' with the stage play Wogs out of Work, expelling from ...Missing: beginnings | Show results with:beginnings<|control11|><|separator|>
[22]
Nick Giannopoulos: 'I'll tell you what wog face is' - Neos Kosmos
Jul 23, 2018 · “I love Greece and I go every year. But we're not Greeks. We're unique, and I think that uniqueness is what makes us extra special to people all ...
[23]
Acropolis Now (TV Series 1989–1992) - IMDb
Rating 7.1/10 (412) Acropolis Now: Created by Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris, Simon Palomares. With Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris, Mary Coustas, Tracey Callander.
[24]
Acropolis Now (TV Series 1989–1992) - Episode list - IMDb
S1.E1 ∙ Old Bar... New Bar. Wed, Aug 9, 1989 ; S1.E2 ∙ The Proxy Blues. Wed, Aug 16, 1989 ; S1.E3 ∙ The Martinez Inquiry. Wed, Aug 23, 1989 ; S1.E4 ∙ The Trouble ...
[25]
Acropolis Now: Nick Giannopoulos reveals why the show really ended
Aug 22, 2019 · Giannopoulos describes the late '80s era in Melbourne as the golden age in comedy, with the likes of Steve Vizard, Rob Sitch and Jane Kennedy, ...
[26]
Acropolis Now - Nostalgia Central
Acropolis Now ; Jim Stefanidis Nick Giannopoulos ; Ricardo 'Rick' Martinez Simon Palomares ; Agamemnon 'Memo' Hatzidimitropoulos George Kapiniaris ; Effie ...
[27]
Greece is the Word (2004) - The Screen Guide
Greece is the Word 2004. Documentary | 2 x 44mins | Completed. Comedian Nick Giannopoulos presents two very informative and funny programs on his homeland ...
[28]
Greece Is the Word (TV Movie 2004) - IMDb
Rating 7.8/10 (10) Greece Is the Word ... Nick Giannopoulos, star of the films 'The Wog Boy' and 'The Wannabes' takes you on an all expenses paid trip of his ancestral home, Greece.
[29]
Nick Giannopoulos filmography - FamousFix.com list
18. Getaway. television series. Role: Self / Self - Guest presenter, Self. Getaway. Overview: Getaway is Australia's longest ...<|separator|>
[30]
Nick Giannopoulos - The Screen Guide
Comedian Nick Giannopoulos presents two very informative and funny programs on his homeland Greece. He takes us through the beautiful islands of Mykonos and ...
[31]
The Wog Boy (2000) - IMDb
Rating 5.8/10 (2,395) When a 'dole bludging' Greek gains national fame following a television appearance, he's recruited by a political party as the face of their campaign.
[32]
Top Australian films - Feature film releases - Cinema - Fact Finders
Wog Boy, The, Fox, 2000, 11,460,200. 31, Piano, The, BVI, 1993 ... Estimates have been used for films released before 1988 where gross box office is unknown.
[33]
The 'Real' Box Office Figures for Australian Movies - Ozflicks
Aug 27, 2017 · The Wog Boy (2000) 11,449,799 (24) $17,518,192; Caddie (1976) ... TOP 100 AUSTRALIAN FEATURE FILMS OF ALL TIME (ranked by total reported gross ...
[34]
The Kings of Mykonos (2010) - IMDb
Rating 4.5/10 (2,777) Steve 'The Wog Boy' Karamitsis inherits a beach on the resort island of Mykonos from an uncle he's never met.
[35]
The box office Kings, of Mykonos - IF Magazine
Jun 11, 2010 · THE KINGS OF MYKONOS: WOG BOY 2 took A$1,819,000 in its opening ... gross over A$7.5 million. These excellent results put THE KINGS OF ...
[36]
Wog Boys Forever (2022) - IMDb
Rating 5.2/10 (638) Brianna Beagle-Thorpe, Minister for Immigration, hatches a plan to exact her revenge on Steve for destroying her late mother's political career 20 years earlier ...Missing: summary | Show results with:summary
[37]
Wog Boys Forever (2022) - Box Office and Financial Information
Financial analysis of Wog Boys Forever (2022) including production budget, domestic and international box office gross, DVD and Blu-ray sales reports.
[38]
Criminal Ways (2003) - IMDb
Rating 3.8/10 (536) Criminal Ways: Directed by Nick Giannopoulos. With Nick Giannopoulos, Russell Dykstra, Isla Fisher, Michael Carman. The world's worst actor Danny, meets the ...
[39]
The Wannabes (2003) - The Screen Guide
Crew ; Nick Giannopoulos; Writers ; Andrew Penney; Dir. of Photography ; Dan Burstall; Composer ; David Hirschfelder; Editor ; Peter Carrodus; Production Designer ...
[40]
https://www.themoviedb.org/person/80950-nick-giannopoulos
[41]
"The Wog Boy" of Australia warns other comedians to stop using the ...
Nov 25, 2019 · Greek Australian actor and comedian, Nick Giannopoulos has warned other comedians to stop using the word "wog", stating that he would take legal action.Missing: origin | Show results with:origin
[42]
War of the 'Wogs': Comedians fight over right to use racial slur - SBS
Nov 28, 2019 · Comedians have told SBS Italian that Greek-Australian comedian Nick Giannopoulos threatened them with legal action to defend his trademark of the word “wog”.
[43]
Letter: Nick Giannopoulos did not trademark the word 'wogs' but his ...
Dec 2, 2019 · 'Wog boy' Nick Giannopoulos seems to think so. This all changed a week ago when a comedian accused Giannopoulos of taking legal action ...
[44]
Rival comedians brand Wog Boy star 'petty' over trademark spat - 3AW
Nov 25, 2019 · Rival comedians brand Wog Boy star 'petty' over trademark spat ... Australian comedians have branded Nick Giannopoulos “petty” after he ...
[45]
'War of the ethnics' erupts as comedians fight over word 'wog'
'Wog Boy' Nick Giannopoulos discusses naming rights scandal on A Current Affair ... Giannopoulos's lawyers told A Current Affair he took a punt in filing for a ...
[46]
'Wog Boy' Nick Giannopoulos in stoush over controversial trademark
Dec 3, 2019 · Comedy icon Nick Giannopoulos is accusing fellow comedians of nicking the title of his song for one of their upcoming shows.Missing: ethnic jokes
[47]
There's a war over the 'wogs' trademark, but where are all the female ...
Dec 4, 2019 · Comedian Nick Giannopoulos has trademarked the word 'wogs'. Women have been left out of the discussion, writes Koraly Dimitriadis.Missing: humor | Show results with:humor
[48]
Letters and readers' reactions on Nick Giannopoulos ... - Neos Kosmos
Nov 29, 2019 · His humour perpetuates a racist view of Greek Australians. And let's non-wogs believe we are all Ok with the word wog. Odysseus Gipalis He ...Missing: criticism | Show results with:criticism
[49]
Life as a pizza: the comic of traditions of wogsploitation films ... - Gale
The controversial content of the wogsploitation films is exemplified by their flagrant use of ethnic stereotypes. Much of the comedy in The Wog Boy derives from ...
[50]
Comment: Is 'wog' humour still funny? | SBS Voices
Oct 2, 2018 · I especially liked Giannopoulos' joke about how Greeks think they invented everything including the internet - because every time you reply to ...Missing: development | Show results with:development
[51]
Australia's new wave of 'wog humour' is about class as much as race
Jul 7, 2018 · Australia's new wave of 'wog humour' is about class as much as race. These comedians insist there's an essential truth to their 'offensive' stereotypes.Missing: humor | Show results with:humor
[52]
Kapiniaris: We used to be the enemy - - Greek City Times
Sep 30, 2022 · According to actor and comedian George Kapiniaris, comedies like Acropolis Now helped to change attitudes towards migrant families as they integrated.
[53]
The Wog Boy - Australian Cinema
The film beat the 12-year box office record held by Crocodile Dundee 2. It reaped the biggest opening weekend of all time for an Australian film.
[54]
Box office success for Wog Boy 2 - Neos Kosmos
Feb 7, 2011 · Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos has been named the equal third highest grossing local film in Australia for 2010.
[55]
Wog Boys Forever (2022) - Box Office Mojo
Steve 'Wog Boy' Karamitsis is now single and working as a taxi driver. ... Asia Pacific. Area, Release Date, Opening, Gross. Australia, $523,919, $1,963,217 ...Missing: earnings | Show results with:earnings
[56]
Nick Giannopoulos on his battle to make Wog Boy 3
Sep 30, 2022 · Nick Giannopoulos' first two Wog Boy films banked more than $15 million at the box office, but when it came to funding a third, ...
[57]
Frank Lotito's wog boys forever and multicultural comedy - Informit
Yet even if the film's jokes don't always hit the mark, Giannopoulos' passion for reflecting Australia's multicultural identity and satirising exclusionary ...Missing: impact | Show results with:impact
[58]
Nick Giannopoulos, Wog TM and the custodian of 'wogs'
Nov 26, 2019 · Unlike Theroux however, Giannopoulos' wit is more gentle, more generous, creating sympathy for all his characters and recognising the ethnic ...Missing: development humor style
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Nick Giannopoulos on why 'Wog Life' is your final chance to see him ...
Jan 31, 2024 · While not the end of his performing career altogether, after the 'Wog Life' tour Giannopoulos is retiring from live stage. Photo: Supplied. “The ...
[60]
EXCLUSIVE: Why Nick Giannopoulos is retiring from the stage in ...
Jan 18, 2024 · As Nick Giannopoulos, the pioneer of ethnic humour, prepares to bow out of the spotlight, he reveals the surprising inspiration behind his ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
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Nick Giannopoulos makes wog comeback with farewell tour
Jan 25, 2024 · Nick Giannopoulos' 'Wog Life' is coming to Melbourne's Palait Theatre on 16, 17 February before travelling to Sydney in March.Missing: retirement | Show results with:retirement
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Nick Giannopoulos dating history
According to our records, Nick Giannopoulos is possibly single. Relationships We have no records of past relationships for Nick Giannopoulos.
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Star and car: Nick Giannopoulos - Drive
Oct 31, 2012 · The low-down: Born in Melbourne to Greek immigrant parents and graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts, Nick has built a ...
[64]
Nick Giannopoulos - Ovations! Speaker's Bureau
Nick Giannopoulos has won two MO Awards for best comedy performer, the New York Media Award and was awarded the Comedy Star of the Year for his performance ...
[65]
https://www.nanettefox.com.au/Artists/Nick-Giannopoulos/