Alex Giannini

Born in Northamptonshire, England, actor Alexander Von Giannini had a transient upbringing. His English father's work for the European Commission meant that the family relocated often. Giannini changed schools nearly 13 times throughout his youth. Originally a rockabilly star, Giannini was the lead singer of a group called Coast to Coast. His musical alter ego was Sandy Fontaine, and he sported a bright pink shock of hair. Giannini claimed that Steven Berkoff's play "East" inspired him to become an actor. Giannini attended acting classes at the East 15 acting school in Essex, England. Giannini's screen debut came in 1991 when he played a minister's aide in "Prisoner of Honor," a TV movie starring Richard Dreyfus. In 1992 Giannini appeared in a Western film, playing Sheriff Dan Johnson in "The Ballad of Kid Divine: The Cockney Cowboy." Throughout the '90s, Giannini appeared in a number of television series in the U.K., including "Inspector Morse" (ITV 1987-2000), "The Knock" (ITV 1994-2000), "The Echo" (ITV 1998) and "Grafters" (ITV 1998-99). Of partial Mediterranean descent, Giannini was known for playing Italian men as he did in an episode of "The Borgias" (2011-13), and in the film "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007). In 2015 Giannini played Tony Caponigro in the Tom Hardy vehicle "Legend." Theater was also a staple of Giannini's career, and he appeared in productions of "Guys and Dolls," "Not About Nightingales" and a live Batman performance wherein he donned a fat suit to play the Penguin. In 2015 Giannini died an hour before he was scheduled to appear on stage at England's Royal Theatre in Plymouth in a performance of "Mack & Mabel."