THERE IS PROBABLY NO OTHER COUNTRY ON EARTH THAT SPEAKS SO MUCH TO OUR IMAGINATION AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BEING A RELATIVELY YOUNG NATION, MANY OF ITS CURRENT INHABITANTS STILL HAVE VERY CLOSE LINKS TO THEIR – MOSTLY – EUROPEAN ORIGINS. ONCE A COUNTRY OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION, MODERN DAY DEVELOPMENTS HAVE NOW SCRAPED AWAY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT GOLDEN LAYER OF MAGIC. BUT REGARDLESS OF ALL, FOR SOME AMERICA IS STILL THE PLACE WHERE DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.
Eugenio Campanaro was born in Napoli, Italy and is one of those courageous young men who made the journey to the New World in a time not so long ago. According to his grandson, Eugenio was an extraordinary man with simple dreams, consisting of a decent life, an honest occupation and a loving family. He entered his new life through Ellis Island and so many emigrants before him, and embraced every challenge that came upon his path, eventually succeeding in building a business and having that family he dreamed of.
Mario Campanaro is second generation American, born and raised in New Jersey. With a name like that doesn’t seem hard to guess Mario’s original background, and the fact that even though American, his Italian blood runs thick through his veins. Hence his Mediterranean looks. Mario started his career as actor at the very early age of eight years, learning the craft by working in regional theaters. It payed off though, because he later was able to continue his classical training at the prestigious conservatory The North Carolina School of the Arts. Like his grandfather, Mario doesn’t walk away from any challenge that comes on his way, and after his studies he eventually returned to New York, landing shows both on and off Broadway. On stage you could have seen the handsome new Jersey native in plays like Indoor/Outdoor, My Andy, The King Of Mackie Street and Tony Award winning Metamorphoses. But also in more known musicals, like Fame and Cabaret.
If you aren’t such a theater fan but still have the feeling Mario’s Italian features look familiar to you, it is very possible you have seen him on screen or TV. He played in Frat Brothers of KVL, Knitting Is Dangerous, The Good Student, Guiding light, Instant Adoring Boyfriend and the long running Soap opera As The World Turns. If that isn’t enough, Mario’s features have graced 15 TV commercials and about 60 print campaigns. Currently Mario still resides in New York City, taking one step at a time but smiling with each step, as once his grandfather must have done, following his American dream. –B-
Photography by Kent Taylor.
MARIO CAMPANARO | BEAUTIFUL
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