Checco Zalone

Luca Pasquale Medici, known professionally as Checco Zalone, is an Italian comedian, actor, showman, and filmmaker. Born on June 3, 1977, in Bari, Italy, he has family roots extending to Pulsano (Taranto). His stage name originates from the Barese insult 'Che cozzalone!', meaning 'What a boor!' or 'what a show-off'. He graduated from Liceo Scientifico Sante Simone di Conversano and studied law at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, though he did not complete his degree. Early in his career, he attempted to become a police officer and worked for INAIL in Rimini, and he began performing at wedding receptions in Puglia.

Zalone’s comedy style blends social satire with humor, often incorporating the vernacular of Southern Italy. He gained initial recognition performing at Zelig Off and Zelig Circus (2005), where he impersonated Carmen Consoli. He was a regular on the Canale 5 variety show Zelig and collaborated with jazz musicians such as Vito Ottolino and Pino Mazzarano. In 2006, his song ‘Siamo una squadra fortissimi,’ celebrating the Italy national football team, became a surprise hit, marking a significant turning point in his career. Gennaro Nunziante directed and co-wrote *Cado dalle nubi* (2009) alongside Checco Zalone, who also played a starring role; the film achieved a box office revenue of $14.5 million, marking Zalone’s entry into widespread popularity.

Since 2009, Zalone has consistently broken Italian box office records with his films, all co-written and starring him alongside Gennaro Nunziante, who directs. What a Beautiful Day (2011) earned $57 million, while Sole a catinelle (2013) garnered approximately $57 million. The 2016 film, a satire concerning job security and state aid, attained the status of Italy’s highest-earning film ever, with revenues totaling $70 million. He directed Tolo Tolo (2020), addressing immigration and social issues, and won a David di Donatello for Best Original Song for ‘Immigrato’ from that film. His films have collectively grossed €297 million, with five ranking among Italy's top ten highest-grossing films. Currently, he is collaborating with Francesco De Gregori on the musical album 'Pastiche', scheduled for release in 2024. In December 2025, a promotional short called ‘Prostata enflamada’ was released to publicize *Buen Camino*, a film intended to surpass the box office earnings of *Avatar*.