George Kapiniaris

George Kapiniaris (born 27 February 1961) is an Australian stage, television and film actor and comedian. He is of Greek descent and is best known for his role in popular sitcom Acropolis Now and composed the series' theme song.

Career

Stage

Kapiniaris appeared in the stage show Wogs Out of Work with Nick Giannopoulos, in the 1980s. In 2007, he joined forces with fellow comedians Joe Avati, Nish Selvadurai and Simon Palomares for a national tour Il Dago. In late 2012, he played in the Australian stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Television In 1987, Kapiniaris joined the cast of the drama series The Flying Doctors as Demetris "D.J." Goannidis. He stayed on this role until 1991. During this time, he also starred in the Melbourne-based popular sitcom Acropolis Now with Giannopoulos, Simon Palomares and Mary Coustas. Since that show's cancelation, he has continued stand-up comedy and has produced a few stage performances, as well as emceeing events such as weddings. Some of his songs include a parody of Knockin' on Heaven's Door, called "Gnocchi on Heaven's Door".

In 2007, Kapiniaris starred in the television comedy series Kick on SBS as Takis Mavros. He also appeared in the same year on the television soap opera Neighbours, in a guest role as a celebrity chef. Kapiniaris appeared in the controversial 2008 mini series Underbelly, where he played a real life character George Defteros. Also in 2008, Kapiniaris (and his Acropolis Now co-star Simon Palomares) made consecutive appearances on successful Channel 31 show, the Deakin TV produced TheatreGames LIVE.

Kapinaris has also had minor stints in Paul Fenech comedies, such as Pizza as Ronnie McDoggle, Swift and Shift Couriers as a marriage celebrant and the 2011 comedy Housos in a minor role.

Kapiniaris has appeared in a series of comedic commercials for South Australian automotive repairer and insurance broker, the RAA, featuring Kapiniaris talking to a confidante; a barista named 'Trev' at a coffee shop. Kapiniaris created his own website based on the RAA ads. He also created a satirical Today Tonight segment entitled The Dummies, poking fun at politicians through the use of puppets.

Film In 2003, he had a role in the film Fat Pizza, playing the character of Ronnie McDoggle. In 2012, he had a minor role in Housos vs Authority, the screen version of the sitcom Housos.

In 2009, he appeared as Ricardo in Broken Hill, an inmate who played guitar in a jail band.

He plays Uncle Tasso in the 2015 film version of hit Australian stage play Alex & Eve, written by Alex Lykos

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1989 Closer and Closer Apart Enzo Vozza Direct-to-video film 1995 Rainbow's End Cafe Proprietor TV movie 1997 Joey Spiros Feature film 2003 Fat Pizza Ronnie McDoggle Feature film 2004 Thunderstruck Mr Koyths Feature film 2005 Bloody Footy Vito Short film 2009 Broken Hill Ricardo Romero Feature film 2010 Bad Language Lefteri Short film 2010 Latté John the Barista Short film 2011 Big Mama's Boy Theo Feature film 2012 Housos vs. Authority Stylist Feature film 2014 Fat Pizza vs. Housos Ronnie McDoggle Feature film 2015 Alex & Eve Uncle Tasso Feature film 2023 Finally Me Mr Paoadopoulos Feature film

Television Year Title Role Type 1986 The Fast Lane Arly TV series, 1 episode 1987 Willing and Abel TV series, 1 episode 1987 Theatre Sports Self (Team: "Lost on Stage") TV series, 1 episode 1987–91 The Flying Doctors Demetris 'D.J.' Goannidis TV series, 110 episodes 1988 Sentiments Immigration Officer TV series, 1 episode 1989–92 Acropolis Now Agamemnon 'Memo' Aristotele Hatzidimitropoulos TV series, seasons 1–5, 63 episodes 1992 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Self (stand-up comedian) TV special, 1 episode 1995, 2000 Blue Heelers Leo Tapis / Gordon Jennings TV series, 2 episodes 1999 Pig's Breakfast Queegle TV series, 1 episode 2000 Round the Twist Paulo TV series, 1 episode 2000 Russell Gilbert Live Racketeer TV series, 1 episode 2001–03 Pizza Ronnie / Nanna TV series, 4 episodes 2004 Stingers Serge the K TV series, 1 episode 2007 Kick Takis Mavros TV miniseries, 13 episodes 2007 Neighbours Tony Aristides TV series, 1 episode 2008 TheatreGames LIVE 2008 Swift and Shift Couriers Marriage celebrant TV series 2008 Underbelly George Defteros TV series, 3 episodes 2009 The Squiz Self TV series, 2 episodes 2011 Housos: The Thong Warrior George TV series, 1 episode 2011–12 Toon Time Special guest TV series 2014 It's a Date Tony TV series, 1 episode 2014 Planet Unearth Self TV series 2016 Offspring Nick TV series, 1 episode 2016–17 Fancy Boy Joe TV series, 1 episode 2019 King TV Self TV series, 2 episodes 2019–21 Fat Pizza: Back in Business Ronnie McDoggle TV series, 9 episodes 2023 Darradong Local Council Mayor Theo Theopoulos TV series, 9 episodes

Video game Year Title Role Type 2004 Rome: Total War Voice Video game

Stage Year Title Role Type 1980 Obedience / The Future is in Eggs Director Victoria College, Melbourne 1981 Oedipus Victoria College, Melbourne 1982 Hoopla - Opposite Waves Victoria College, Melbourne 1984 Good Things Come in Glass Victoria College, Melbourne 1984 Sorry - Audience / Private View Victoria College, Melbourne 1985 Death: The Cabaret St Martins Theatre, Melbourne 1986 Worry Beads and Furry Dice Comedian Little Sister's Cabaret Room, Adelaide for Adelaide Fringe 1987 Wogs Out of Work Comedian Melbourne International Comedy Festival 1989 Wogs Out of Work Comedian Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Geelong Arts Centre, Regal Theatre, Perth 1991 Acropolis Now Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre 1992 Return to the Forbidden Planet Captain Tempest Comedy Theatre, Melbourne 1993 An Evening with Merv Hughes His Majesty's Theatre, Perth 1994–96 The Last Proxy Comedian 1996 The New Rocky Horror Show Eddie / Dr. Scott Adelaide Festival Centre 1996 The Queen and I Archie Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Monash University, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Canberra Theatre, University of Sydney Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood with Geminiani Orchestra Una Razza Una Faccia Acropolis Now Live Comedian 1997 The New Rocky Horror Show Riff Raff Hong Kong Lyric Theatre 1998 Gangster Apparel Melbourne Athenaeum Honeymoon In Hellas Comedian 1999 Born Yesterday Assistant Manager Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company 1999 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Girl / various characters Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company The Bench The Comedy Club for Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2001 Who Let the Wogs Out? Comedian Enmore Theatre Sydney, Leopold Hotel, Perth, Civic Hotel, Perth, IMB Theatre, Thebarton Theatre Adelaide, Canberra Theatre 2001–02 Pizza – Live Enmore Theatre. Sydney 2002 Oh! What a Night Stretch Mulligan State Theatre, Melbourne with Majestic Theatre Company 2003 Flares Wrest Point Cabaret Room, Tasmania 2004–05 Twelve Angry Men Juror #2 QPAC Brisbane, Sydney Theatre & Melbourne Athenaeum with Arts Projects Australia 2004–05 Who Let the Wogs Out? Enmore Theatre Sydney, Leopold Hotel, Perth, Civic Hotel, Perth 2007–08 Il Dago Victoria & New South Wales tour with XYZ Entertainment 2008 From Burnside With Love The Cavern Club, Adelaide for Adelaide Fringe Festival 2010 Rockstar Comedian (solo show) The John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne for Sydney Comedy Festival & Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2010 The Give and Take Don Locke Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA 2012 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Goran Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Crown Theatre Perth, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane 2012 Comicus Erectus Comedian Melbourne International Comedy Festival & national tour 2015 Zorba the Freak Comedian (solo show) Casula Powerhouse, Creative Arts Space, Frankston 2015–16 Wild Wogs Comedian Jupiter’s Casino, Gold Coast, South West Italian Club, Bunbury, 2015 Nice Work if You Can Get It Cookie McGee State Theatre Arts Centre Melbourne with The Production Company 2017–18 Straight Outta Compo Comedian Woodville Town Hall, Arkaba Hotel for Adelaide Fringe, The Star Gold Coast, Astor Theatre, Perth, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Knox Club for Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, Ramsgate RSL Club, Burwood RSL, Enmore Theatre for Sydney Comedy Festival 2019 Wild 2 Wogs Comedian Bankstown Sports Club 2021 Who Let The Wogs Out Comedian 2021 Top End Comedy Spectacular Comedian Darwin with Wowza Entertainment / Top End Shows 2022 Crazy Rich Ethnics Comedian Australian tour 2023 Life of Byron Byron The Fusebox, Sydney for Greek Festival of Sydney & Alex Theatre, Melbourne 2023 Spot the Aussie Comedy Night 2024 Big Fat Greek - Comedy & Music Variety Show Comedian – Greek Elvis / various characters Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide tour 2024 Woggy Men in Black Comedian