Vincenzo Nicoli

Vincenzo Nicoli is a British actor who appears in film, television and theatre. He is best known for roles in blockbuster films, such as Alan Jude in the 1992 science fiction film Alien³, Enrico Biscaglia in the romantic drama film In Love and War (1996), Tony Genova in the 2016 short film The Naughty List (2016) and in the television programme Auf Wiedersehen, Pet as Sandro.

He is also known for his role as Papa Pete in the CBBC children's programme Hank Zipzer (2014–2016) and as the voices of Lorenzo and Beppe in Thomas & Friends (2019–2021). Along with actress Flaminia Cinque, he has appeared in Leap Year, The Knot, Brothers of Italy and Mama Cannelloni.

Early life Nicoli was born in Worcester to Italian parents originally from the region of Apulia.

He graduated from a three-year acting course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in London.

Career He made his acting debut when he appeared in the musical Bashville and as a minor character in Accidental Death of an Anarchist.

His television appearances include Rome, Dalziel and Pascoe, Dempsey and Makepeace, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Mr. Selfridge, EastEnders and Foyle's War.

Nicoli appeared as Antinous in the 1997 miniseries The Odyssey for two episodes of the miniseries. From 2014 to 2016, he played Papa Pete in the comedy programme Hank Zipzer with American actor and creator of the series Henry Winkler, who plays Mr. Rock, the music teacher of the title character.

He played a crime boss in the Christopher Nolan superhero film The Dark Knight, featuring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. He has appeared in films such as Captain Phillips (featuring Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi and Catherine Keener), Leap Year, Alien³ (with Sigourney Weaver), Buster, In Love and War (featuring Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnell) and The Naughty List.

Nicoli played the role of Jono in the 2014 critically acclaimed short film The Double Deal, which Mark Holden produced and starred in, after which Holden received four awards.

In 2019, he joined the voice cast of Thomas & Friends as the voices of Lorenzo and Beppe in the UK & US versions, respectively.

In 2020, Nicoli appeared as the mobster known as Vincenzo Murgida in the Father Brown episode, "The Folly of Jephthah", which aired on 10 January 2020. Nicoli's character Vincenzo Murgida is considered the most notorious Italian mobster who wants Hercule Flambeau (John Light) to choose his fate.

Personal life Nicoli is married to actress Heather Bleasdale. He has a daughter, Ella Nicoli-Horne, from a previous relationship, who studies at Bournemouth University. He speaks English and Italian. He upholds his British-Italian citizenship.

Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1988 Buster Gang Members 1992 Alien³ Alan Jude The Ballad of Kid Divine: The Cockney Cowboy Diablo 1995 The Perfect Life Dr. McCawley 1996 In Love and War Enrico Biscaglia 2006 The Detonator Yuri Mishalov Direct-to-video Rabbit Fever Italian Man Sixty Six Leo 2007 Flight of Fury Peter Stone Direct-to-video Dangerous Parking Greek Fisherman 2008 The Journey Home "Terry" Short film Bathory: Countess of Blood Zsigmond Bathory The Dark Knight Crime Boss 2010 Leap Year Stefano Rojin Man in Suit Short film Papa Edwardo Short film 2011 National Theatre Live: The Kitchen Alfredo Will Broker 2012 The Knot Mr. Fernandez 2013 Spiders 3D Caz Captain Phillips Andrew Brezinski 2014 The Double Deal Jono Short film 2016 The Naughty List Tony Genova Slugterra: Mark of the Streaker Slug Sa'mul (voice) Direct-to-video 2018 Artichoke Massimo, The Boss Brothers of Italy Giuseppe Petrucco Short film 2019 Thomas & Friends: Digs and Discoveries Lorenzo, Beppe, Workers, Passenger (voices) UK/US version Holy Cannelloni Papa Tony Short film 2020 Artemis Fowl Goblin Sergeant

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1983 The Accidental Death of an Anarchist Policeman Television movie 1984 On the Shelf Vincenzo Television movie 1985 Blue Money Second Colombian Television movie Up the Elephant and Round the Castle Lumps Episode: "One in the Rough" 1986 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Sandro Episode: "Marjorie Doesn't Live Here Anymore" The Kit Curran Radio Show Robber Episode: "The Street of Shame"Titled as Kit Curran in the second season The Return of Sherlock Holmes Pietro Venucci Episode: "The Six Napoleons" Mixed Doubles Pat Episode: "It's in the Book" Dempsey and Makepeace Colombian Episode: "The Cortez Connection" Call Me Mister Dave Episode: "The Carve Up" 1987 Truckers Mafioso Episodes: "Stinking Fish" and "The Heat of the Moment" 1914 All Out Stapleton Television movie Boon Vito Rossi Episode: "Paper Mafia" 1987–2011 EastEnders Terry / Mad Dog 3 episodes 1988 Hannay Gypsy Episode: "Death with Due Notice" Wish Me Luck Maurice Granier 5 episodes Home James! Bouncer Episode: "A Sheep's Eye for an Eye" 1989 Blind Justice Italian Episode: "Crime and Punishment" Me and My Girl Geordie Episode: "A Bit of Overtime" Making Out Nico 2 episodes Flying Lady Rambo Hawkshaw Episode: "The Match" Made in Spain Johnie Television movie Hit the Pitch Michael Television movie 1990 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries John Fassbender Episode: "Put on by Cunning" 1991 Very Big Very Soon Georgio Episode: "Double Dealing" 1992 Zorro Jorge Santiago Episode: "Mendoza the Malevolent" 1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Kazim Episode: "Palestine, October 1917" 1994 Frank Stubbs Promotes Suggett Episode: "Chinatown" 1995 Joseph Simeon Television movie Fist of Fun Episode: "#1.4" Shine on Harvey Moon Azzopardi 3 episodes 1996 The Vet Bruno Pirroda Episode: "A Fresh Start" 1997 The Odyssey Antinous Television miniseriesEpisodes: "Part I" and "Part II" Dalziel and Pascoe Dave Lee Episode: "A Killing Kindness" 1998 The Bill Paul Kane Episode: "Watching the Detectives" 1999 Grange Hill Mr. Savi 2 episodes Boyz Unlimited Mick McNamara 4 episodes 2002 Black Books Frederick Episode: "Blood" 2003 Twelfth Night, or What You Will Fabian Television movie 2004 Gory Greek Gods Poseidon Television movie 2005 Judge John Deed DS Rex Massey Episode: "Lost and Found" Rome Lysandros Episode: "Pharsalus" Ten Days to Victory Colonel Valerio Television documentary movie 2006 Suburban Shootout Emile Lesoux 4 episodes 2008 The Royal Tony Dannini Episode: "To Love and to Lose" 2009 Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant Venetian Ambassador Episode: "Warrior 1509–1525" 2010 Holby City Lloyd Fisher Episode: "The Short Straw" 2013 Run Zak Episode: "Richard"Television miniseries The Prey Antonio Fazio Television miniseriesEpisode: "Mergers and Acquisitions" 2014–2016 Hank Zipzer Peter "Papa Pete" Zipzer Main cast26 episodes 2014 Mr. Selfridge Uncle Gio 3 episodes 2015 Foyle's War Grant Episode: "High Castle" 2016 The Coroner Tam Bryant Episode: "The Captain's Pipe" I Want My Wife Back M'aitre D Episode: "Chapter Four" Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe Papa Pete Television movie 2019 Urban Myths Alberto Vitale Episode: "The Trial of Joan Collins" 2019–2021 Thomas & Friends Lorenzo, Beppe (voices) UK/US versions 2020 Father Brown Vincenzo Murgida Episode: "The Folly of Jephthah" Housebound Giuseppe 6 episodes Roadkill George Episode: "#1.3"Television miniseries

Video games YearTitleRoleNotes 2020 Zombie Army 4: Dead War Additional Voices (voice)

Stage YearTitleRoleNotes 1983 Bashville Performer 2003 Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight Gene 2011 The Kitchen Alfredo 2012 The Revenger's Tragedy The Duke 2013 The Shawshank Redemption Bogs Diamond 2014 The Merchant of Venice Duke Of Venice / Prince of Arragon

Radio YearTitleRoleNotes 2020 Doctor Who: Cry of the Vultriss Pagus Assets of War Vibax