Antonio Teocoli

Antonio Teocoli, known as Teo (Taranto, 25 febbraio 1945), is an Italian comedian, impressionist, cabaret artist, actor and television presenter. He was born in Taranto, where his father had been transferred for a short period, to parents from Reggio; shortly after his birth the family returned to Reggio Calabria, where he grew up in the Sbarre district until the age of 5, when the family settled definitively in Milan. As a teenager he performed as a rock and roll singer in Milan venues such as the Santa Tecla, with his band, I Demoniaci. In 1965 he obtained a recording contract with Dischi Ricordi. In 1966 he joined Quelli (the future Premiata Forneria Marconi) as lead vocalist, leaving in 1967.

In the following decade he made his debut as a cabaret artist at the Derby di Milano, alongside other well-known comedians such as Massimo Boldi, Cochi Ponzoni and Renato Pozzetto, Giorgio Faletti and Mauro Di Francesco, where he had the chance to meet Enzo Jannacci. He made his television debut in 1973 with a supporting appearance in the programme Il poeta e il contadino broadcast on Rete 2, with Cochi e Renato, but success arrived on Antennatre alongside Massimo Boldi in the programme Non lo sapessi ma lo so in 1982. After Drive In and Una rotonda sul mare, in 1989 he introduced the character of Peo Pericoli, a Milan supporter, in the programme Emilio.

From the 1992/1993 season he presented Mai dire gol until 1995, when he was replaced by Claudio Lippi. In 1996 he hosted the variety show Il boom on Canale 5 together with Gene Gnocchi and Simona Ventura. In 1997 he moved to Rai and hosted the variety show Faccia tosta on Rai 1 together with Wendy Windham, and that same year received the Premio Regia Televisiva for best male personality of the year. In 2000 he joined Fabio Fazio and Luciano Pavarotti in hosting the 50º Festival di Sanremo. In 2014 he joined the cast of contestants on the talent show Ballando con le stelle paired with Natalia Titova, but withdrew after three episodes due to physical problems. On 31 dicembre 2016 he hosted, together with Amadeus, the programme L'anno che verrà on Rai 1.