- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMichael Nicholas Salvatore Bongiorno
- Height5′ 8½″ (1.74 m)
- Mike Bongiorno was born on May 26th, 1924 in New York City, New York, USA as Michael Nicholas Salvatore Bongiorno. He was known as the king of the Italian Quiz show. He hosted, among others: Lascia o raddoppia? (1955), Rischiatutto (1970), Telemike (1987), Tutti x uno (1992), and 3,125 episodes of La ruota della fortuna (1987). Bongiorno was married 3 times and with his last wife, Daniela Zuccoli, had 3 children: Michele Bongiorno, Nicolò Bongiorno and Leonardo (born on September 5th, 1989). Bongiorno died on September 8th, 2009 in Monte Carlo, Monaco, at 85.
- IMDb mini biography by: cdche@tin.it
- SpousesDaniela Zuccoli(March 23, 1972 - September 8, 2009) (his death, 3 children)Annarita Torsello(October 11, 1968 - January 20, 1972) (divorced)Rosalia Maresca(April 11, 1948 - 1952) (divorced)
- Children
- ParentsPhilip BongiornoEnrica Carello
- "Allegria!" is the constant greeting he used in the beginning of his shows
- He was repeatedly proposed (but never nominated) for Life Senatorship in Italy's Parliament.
- 2007: Received a degree honoris causa in "Television, cinema and multi medial production" from the IULM University.
- He was so famous in Italy that, upon his death, condolences were issued by President Giorgio Napolitano, Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Vatican Radio, and Bongiorno's favorite soccer (football) team.
- During WWII, he worked for the Italian resistance. He was captured, deported to a concentration camp, and later freed in a prisoner-of-war exchange.
- He was born in New York, but moved to Turin, Italy, his mother's hometown, as a child.
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