Gerry Scotti
Gerry Scotti | |
|---|---|
Scotti in 2010 | |
| Born | Virginio Scotti 7 August 1956 Miradolo Terme, Pavia, Italy |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse |
Patrizia Grosso
(m. 1991; div. 2009) |
| Partner | Gabriella Perino (2011–present) |
| Awards | Telegatto (2008) |
| Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 1987–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Graziano Pappalardo |
| Succeeded by | Davide Negri Andrija Borovićanin |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Italian Socialist Party |
Virginio Scotti (born 7 August 1956), known professionally as Gerry Scotti, is an Italian television presenter,[1] actor and former member of the Italian Parliament.
Early years
Scotti was born Virginio Scotti on 7 August 1956 in the hamlet of Camporinaldo, in Miradolo Terme, Pavia. After giving up studying law, Scotti began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey"[2] at Radio Milano International. In 1982, he moved to Radio DeeJay and a year later became the host of DeeJay Television, the first Italian programme for music videos, broadcast by Italia 1. Scotti also hosted other music programmes such as Festivalbar.
Television career
Scotti was a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies for the Italian Socialist Party from 1987 to 1992.
Since the 1990s, Scotti has been a television presenter, almost exclusively for Canale 5. He is known as a quiz show host,[2] having hosted Chi vuol essere milionario?, the Italian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,[2] Passaparola, the Italian version of The Alphabet Game,The Money Drop and The Wall.[2] He also directed entertainment programmes such as La sai l'ultima?, La Corrida, Paperissima, Buona Domenica (with Harold Davies), Lo Show dei Record and The Winner Is. He has been one of the co-hosts of the satirical show Striscia la Notizia, and acted in several films and situation comedies.
In 2008, he returned to radio on R101 (the former Radio Milano International), and became deputy-president of Monradio (the radio division of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore).
He was the host of Avanti un Altro! along with Paolo Bonolis in 2014 and 2015.
In 2015, he began hosting Caduta libera, the Italian version of Who's Still Standing, which achieved good ratings. In the summer of 2017, he presented The Winner Is. Since 2024, he hosts the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune, called La ruota della fortuna.
He co-hosted the first night of the Sanremo Music Festival 2025 alongside Carlo Conti and Antonella Clerici.[3]
Awards
Scotti won the Italian television Telegatto prize in 1984, 1985, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007.
In 2008, he won the platinum Telegatto in the Excellence category. Since 2011, he has held the Guinness World Records for the most episodes of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? hosted by a male presenter.[4]
Personal life
Scotti was married to Patrizia Grosso, with whom he had one son, Edoardo, in 1992. Since 2011, he has been in a relationship with architect Gabriella Perino. His son has two children, born in 2020 and 2023.[5]
On 27 October 2020, Scotti tested positive for COVID-19 and spent time in the hospital. He has since recovered.[6][7]
Filmography
Films
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cucciolo | 1998 | Himself | Cameo appearance |
| Natale a casa Deejay | 2004 | Bacco | |
| Toy Story 3 | 2010 | Chatter Telephone (voice) | Italian dub; voice role |
| A Dog's Purpose | 2017 | Bailey (voice) | Italian dub; voice role |
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deejay Television | 1983–1987 | Himself/ Presenter | Musical programme (seasons 1–5) |
| Zodiaco | 1985 | Himself/ Co-host | Game show |
| Candid Camera | 1986–1987 | Himself/ Presenter | Prank comedy show |
| Domenica Deejay | 1987 | Himself/ Presenter | Special |
| Deejay Beach | Himself/ Presenter | Special | |
| Smile | 1987–1990 | Himself/ Presenter | Prank comedy show |
| Candid Camera Show | 1988–1991 | Himself/ Presenter | Prank comedy show |
| Festivalbar | 1988–1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Annual music festival (editions 24–29) |
| Il vigile urbano | 1989 | Angelo Zemella | Episode: "Panettoni D.O.C." |
| Evviva l'allegria | 1990 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Il gioco dei 9 | 1990–1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (seasons 3–4) |
| I tre moschettieri | 1991 | Porthos | Television film |
| Sabato al circo | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show | |
| L'Odissea | Menelaus | Television film | |
| Simpaticissima | 1991–1995, 1998 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 1–4, 7) |
| Serata d'amore per San Valentino | 1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Special |
| Festa della mamma | Himself/ Presenter | Special | |
| 1992 Telegatto | Himself/ Presenter | Annual ceremony | |
| Ore 12 | 1992–1993 | Himself/ Presenter | Talk show |
| La grande sfida | 1992–1994 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| La sai l'ultima? | 1992, 1995–1999 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 1, 4–6) |
| Campionissimo | 1993 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Buona Domenica | 1993–1995 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 6–7) |
| Donna sotto le stelle | 1993–2003 | Himself/ Presenter | Fashion show (editions 8–12, 16, 18) |
| Il Quizzone | 1994–1997 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (seasons 1–4) |
| Stelle a quattro zampe | 1995–1998, 2000 | Himself/ Presenter | Dog's talent show (seasons 2–3, 5, 7) |
| Tutti in piazza | 1996 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Non dimenticare lo spazzolino da denti | 1996–1997 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (season 2) |
| Io e la mamma | 1997–1998 | Gigi | Lead role; 40 episodes |
| Striscia la notizia | 1997–present | Himself/ Guest host | Variety show (seasons 9, 11, 17, 19, 26, 28–34) |
| Scopriamo le carte | 1998 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Forza papà | Himself/ Presenter | Game show | |
| Finalmente soli | 1999–2004 | Gigi | Lead role; 85 episodes |
| Passaparola | 1999–2008 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Un disco per l'estate | 2000–2001 | Himself/ Presenter | Annual music festival |
| Chi vuol essere milionario? | 2000–2020 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Telegatto 2001 | 2001 | Himself/ Presenter | Annual ceremony |
| Gian Burrasca | 2002 | Father | Television film |
| La Corrida | 2002–2009 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 11–18) |
| Paperissima | 2004–2013 | Himself/ Presenter | Comedy show (seasons 9–13) |
| Additional voices | |||
| Chi ha incastrato lo zio Gerry? | 2005 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Il mio amico Babbo Natale | Achille Malerba | Television film | |
| Il mio amico Babbo Natale 2 | 2006 | Television film | |
| Finalmente Natale | 2007 | Gigi | Television film |
| 50-50 | 2008 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Finalmente a casa | Gigi | Television film | |
| Finalmente una favola | Television film | ||
| Italia's Got Talent | 2009–2013 | Himself/ Judge | Talent show (seasons 1–5) |
| Io canto | 2010–2013 | Himself/ Presenter | Talent show |
| I liceali | 2011 | Himself | Episode: "Il Milionario" |
| The Money Drop | 2011–2013 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Lo show dei record | 2011, 2015, 2022 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (seasons 4, 6, 8) |
| Avanti un altro! | 2014–2015 | Himself/ Co-host | Game show (season 4) |
| Tu sí que vales | 2014–present | Himself/ Judge | Talent show |
| Caduta libera | 2015–present | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Masters of Magic | 2016 | Himself/ Presenter | Talent show |
| Litte Big Show | 2016–2017 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| The Wall | 2017–2019 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Paperissima Sprint | 2018–present | Additional voices | Comedy show (seasons 25–present) |
| Amici Speciali | 2020 | Himself/ Judge | Talent show |
| Io canto Generation | 2023–present | Himself / Presenter | Talent show |
| La ruota della fortuna | 2024–present | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (season 20–present) |
| Sanremo Music Festival 2025 | 2025 | Himself/ Co-host | Annual music festival, 1st night co-host |
References
- ^ Fiorello, Catena (2008). Nati senza camicia: e non solo... : [interviste a personaggi famosi che hanno cambiato il loro destino con grande forza di volontà : Annamaria Bernardini De Pace ...] (in Italian). Baldini Castoldi Dalai. pp. 421–. ISBN 978-88-6073-470-9. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Scotti, Gerry". Enciclopedia Italiana. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Sanremo 75, Antonella Clerici e Gerry Scotti nella prima serata del Festival" [Sanremo 75, Antonella Clerici and Gerry Scotti on the first night of the Festival] (Press release) (in Italian). RAI. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ "Most episodes of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? hosted by a male presenter". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ "Gerry Scotti: età, ex moglie, compagna, figlio, malattia e i genitori morti all'improvviso. Chi è il conduttore ospite a Verissimo". Il Messaggero (in Italian). 4 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Candela, Giuseppe (27 October 2020). "Gerry Scotti: 'Se non ci fosse il covid avrei pensato a una febbriciattola, sono fortunato. Prima o poi tocca a tutti, forza'". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "COVID: TV host Gerry Scotti positive – English". ANSA.it. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
External links
- Gerry Scotti at IMDb
- Gerry Scotti at Italian Chamber of Deputies website (in Italian)