Paolo Kessisoglu

• Name — Paolo Kessisoglu • Born — 25 July 1969 • Birthplace — Genoa, Italy • Occupation — * Comedian • television presenter • actor • voice actor • Known for — Part of the duo Luca e Paolo with Luca Bizzarri • Children — 1

Kessisoglu was born in Genoa to an Armenian family. His paternal grandfather moved as a child with his family from Smyrna (today İzmir, Turkey) to Greece and later to Italy to escape from the Armenian genocide. The family settled in Trieste for several years before finally moving to Genoa. The original surname, Keshishian (Քեշիշյան), was Turkified during the escape in Keşişoğlu (with the Armenian hy-Latn ending replaced by the Turkish patronymic ending -oğlu) to arouse less attention, and then Hellenized to Kesísoglou (Κεσίσογλου). In June 2003, Kessisoglu married TV anchor and journalist Sabrina Donadel, with whom he has a daughter, Lunita (b. 2003).

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1997–1998 — Ciro, il figlio di Target — Himself/Various — Sketch comedy show (seasons 1–2) • 1999 — Ciro — Himself/Various — Sketch comedy show • 2000–2002 — MTV Trip — Himself/co-host — Reality show • 2001 — Mai dire Gol — Himself/Guest — Sports program (season 11) • 2001–2003 — Sitting Ducks — Aldo (voice) — Main role; 52 episodes • 2001–2011 — Le Iene — Himself/co-host — Variety/reality show (seasons 5–11, 13–15) • 2003–2017 — Camera Café — Paolo Bitta — Co-lead role; 1756 episodes • 2004 — Superciro — Himself/Various — Sketch comedy show • 2007 — La strana coppia — Felice "Felix" De Santis — Co-lead role; 30 episodes • 2011 — Sanremo Music Festival 2011 — Himself/co-host — Annual music festival • Così fan tutte — Paolo Bitta — Episode: "Episodio 1" • 2012 — Scherzi a parte — Himself/co-host — Prank show (season 12) • 2014 — Giass — Himself/co-host — Game show • 2015–2016 — Colorado — Himself/co-host — Variety show (seasons 17–18) • 2017–present — Quelli che... il Calcio — Himself/co-host — Sports program (seasons 24–present) • 2018 — Immaturi - La serie — Virgilio Montesi — Main role; 8 episodes