Fabio Lanzoni

Fabio Lanzoni (; born March 15, 1959), known mononymously as Fabio, is an Italian-American actor, fashion model, and spokesman. Lanzoni is known for his wide-ranging career including work as a romance novel cover model throughout the late 1980s into the 1990s, roles in film and television including multiple cameo appearances as himself, and music and books. He has been a spokesman for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! and the American Cancer Society.

Early life Lanzoni was born March 15, 1959, in Milan, Italy, to Flora Carnicelli Lanzoni and Sauro Lanzoni, a mechanical engineer and owner of a conveyor-belt factory and/or company. Lanzoni has an older brother, Walter, and a younger sister, Cristina.

During the first five years of Lanzoni's life, he was raised primarily by his grandmother, whom he has called "the most influential woman" in his life. At three years old, Lanzoni was hospitalized after drinking liquor from the kitchen counter; this unpleasant experience "left a lasting bad impression" and caused a lasting aversion to alcohol. He claims he first became aware of his magnetism in kindergarten,

Lanzoni served in the Italian Army, where he was required to shave his hair. His modelling career began when he was discovered by a photographer while working out. In 2015, while describing his career, Lanzoni told The Guardian, I'd be the biggest hypocrite if I said I really worked very hard for my career, because it was given to me on a silver platter. I can't take any credit. My major focus was sports and going to the gym. Lanzoni hoped to live in America, calling it "the greatest country in the world." In his teenage years, Lanzoni participated in such sports as horseback riding, windsurfing, and slalom and downhill skiing. and moved to the US, to the frustration of his parents. whom Lanzoni called "the biggest photographer in the world" at the time. While dancing in a Miami nightclub, Lanzoni was recognized by three women from his appearance on romance novel covers. Prior to the encounter, Lanzoni knew he had taken photos for use in book covers, but had never seen the finished product. In a 2021 People interview, Lanzoni recalls:[These] three girls come over and say, "You look exactly like the guy on our books!" I said, "That's a good pickup line." [After they return to show me the books,] I go like, "Oh my God, that's me." It was the first time I saw myself on the cover of the books. In 1990, Lanzoni acted as an angel in horror film The Exorcist III. In the 1991 film Scenes from a Mall, Lanzoni is credited for the role of "Handsome Man."

In 1992, Robert Gottlieb of William Morris Agency became Lanzoni's literary agent. Avon Books signed a six figure deal with Lanzoni for three books and he became the first bestselling male romance writer to use his real name. Rogue (1994), Viking (1994), Comanche (1995), and Champion (1995), all of which were written in collaboration with romance author Eugenia Riley. Lanzoni later collaborated with Wendy Corsi Staub to write Dangerous (1996), Wild (1997), and Mysterious (1998).

During the Christmas season of 1992, an all-Fabio pin-up calendar for 1993 appeared in major bookstores and was a top seller. In 1993, Lanzoni released an album titled Fabio After Dark, which included 17 tracks. Billboard reported that Lanzoni's contributions "were all spoken word; he let guests like Billy Ocean and Dionne Warwick do the singing." Interspersed between the music are Lanzoni's soliloquies on his philosophies of love, such as "Fabio: On Inner Beauty" and "Fabio: On Humor."

In 1993, Versace contracted Lanzoni to model their Mediterraneum fragrance. Lanzoni alleged in 2021 that the company still owed him $1 million in profits. In 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported on a promotional meet-and-greet at the Sherman Oaks Bullock's men's fragrance department. That year, he became the spokesman for spread brand I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! The following year, Lanzoni was featured as himself in a Step by Step episode "Absolutely Fabio." In 1998, he appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien doing a brief comedic sketch. In 1996, his manager Eric Ashenberg stated that Lanzoni was looking for "something more in the Errol Flynn style, something romantic."

In 2000, Lanzoni had a cameo in the stoner comedy film Dude, Where's My Car? Lanzoni lampooned himself in comedy film Zoolander the following year, which featured over a dozen celebrity cameos. Screen Rant describes his cameo as one of the most memorable:

Fabio is showcased in Zoolander early on. He appears after the opening sequence, as a fellow model at the ceremony the main characters attend. He is shown accepting an award before Male Model of the Year is awarded. Fabio's lines are funny, thanking the audience for naming him the best "actor slash model, and not the other way around." In 2002, 2003, and 2012, Fabio appeared in soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, as a close friend of the character Sally Spectra, played by Darlene Conley. In 2005, Lanzoni hosted the American reality television series Mr. Romance. The series featured a dozen male contestants competing for the title of "Mr. Romance" and the opportunity to appear as a romance novel cover model. and played the character Captain Hawk in The Suite Life on Deck episode "Senior Ditch Day."

Spokesman Lanzoni appeared prominently in advertising for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! and has been the spokesman for the company since 1994. He was also the spokesman for the Geek Squad in 2007, Oral-B's Sensitive Advantage Toothbrush in 2006 (whose ad was featured in Times Square), and one of his most popular ads to date is for Nationwide Insurance. In 2006, the commercial for Nationwide aired during the Super Bowl and was the most viewed commercial for the game, garnering over 1 million views within two weeks. Other endorsements included Wickes Furniture, Ames Hardware, Old Spice, and the American Cancer Society.

On July 26, 2011, Old Spice launched a campaign on YouTube in which Lanzoni challenges Isaiah Mustafa to try to replace him as the New Old Spice Guy. The online challenge was entitled Mano a Mano in el Baño (hand-to-hand in the bathroom). Mustafa emerged as the winner, though Lanzoni's Old Spice YouTube Channel received more than 9 million views in the week after its debut, rising to Number 4 on YouTube for the week.

Once a spokesman for the American Cancer Society, Lanzoni has spoken for the controversial Burzynski Clinic, where his sister was receiving treatment for ovarian cancer. In April 2013, Lanzoni stated in an interview that "[Stanislaw Burzynski] is a genius. He definitely, I believe, he has the cure for cancer... They have to let him get his office back and let him do his work..." Lanzoni's younger sister died

In 2021, he launched a hair and skincare line for men titled Aston James, with the help of two Australian entrepreneurs. The company's mission is to "bring the experience of buying a Rolex to the men's personal care space." Lanzoni has stated the company name Aston James is a portmanteau of Aston Martin and James Bond. an event occurred that became popularly known as Lanzoni's "goose incident." During a promotional event, Lanzoni was seated in the front row for the inaugural ride of the Apollo's Chariot roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The goose died, and Lanzoni disembarked from the ride with blood on his face. The only video that exists was filmed from the ride entrance. and avoids consuming alcohol, caffeine, soy, cheese most of the time, He also reduces exposure to the sun. but has praised his native Italian cuisine and called it "among the best-loved [and] most nutritious in the world". He also consumes whey protein. In 2021, Lanzoni said he was retired and hoping to marry and have children. He also said he sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber because he believes it reverses aging. He described his potential partner to People as "someone with a beautiful soul [and] great sense of humor [...] a woman that can do sports and can be a little bit tomboy".

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1993 Acapulco H.E.A.T. Claudio / Hotel Owner 1993 Roseanne Himself Episode: "Guilt by Imagination" (Season 6, Ep. 8) 1995 Bobby's World Himself (voice) CameoEpisode: "Hooked on Caps" (Season 6, Ep. 3) 1995 Eek! The Cat Himself (voice) 2 episodes 1998 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Himself Episode: "Fabio/Vicki Lewis/Deftones" (Season 5, Ep. 128) 1997 Step by Step Himself Episode: "Absolutely Fabio" (Season 6, Ep. 11) 1997 The Weird Al Show Himself Episode: "Al Plays Hooky" (Season 1, Ep. 9) 2002 The Bold and the Beautiful Himself Guest role; 2002, 2003, 2012 2003 High Chaparall Himself One episode 2003 Yes, Dear Himself One episode 2005 Mr. Romance Himself2006 Bo! In the USA Himself 2 episodes America's Next Top Model Himself One episode 2007 Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide Himself Episode: "Positives and Negatives" 2009 Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory Himself One episode 2010 Big Time Rush Himself 3 episodes The Suite Life on Deck Captain Hawk Episode: "Senior Ditch Day" 2010 Keith Lemon's World Tour Himself One episode 2011 Cupcake Wars Himself One episode 2012 Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory Himself / Fabulous Fabio One episode 2013 Lemon La Vida Loca Himself One episode 2014 Almost Royal Himself One episode2014The Birthday BoysEdmundSketch: "The Wrong Sperm" 2020 Robot Chicken Himself (voice) Episode: "Endgame"

Music videos Year Title Artist Role 1995 "I Kissed a Girl"Jill SobuleHimself 2019 "Miss You In My Sheets"Trisha PaytasHimself