Wikipedia

Jake Canuso

Jake Canuso (born 1970) is a Swiss-British actor,[1] best known for his role in the ITV comedy series Benidorm, in which he played the Solana barman Mateo Castellanos from 2007 until 2018. Canuso was a professional dancer for eighteen years, working with artists Kylie Minogue, Rozalla, Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and Elton John.

Jake Canuso
Canuso in 2015 while in character of Mateo Castellanos in Benidorm
Born1970 (age 55–56)
Zurich, Switzerland
Citizenship
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active1990–present
Known forRole of Mateo Castellanos in: Benidorm (2007–2018)
Benidorm Live (2018–2019)
Spouse
​
(div. 2024)​

Early life

edit

Canuso was born near Zurich, Switzerland, to immigrants from southern Italy. He moved to the United Kingdom as a young boy.[2]

Career

edit

Previously a dancer, Canuso appeared dressed as a ballet dancer in the music video for "No More I Love You's" by Annie Lennox. He also appeared in the video of Kakko's 1990 song "We Should Be Dancing", JX's "Son of a Gun", Alex Party's "Don't Give Me Your Life", Carter USM's "Let's Get Tattoos", 2 unlimited's "Here I Go", and Emma Bunton's "Crickets Sing for Anamaria". Canuso also toured as a dancer for acts including the Spice Girls, Elton John and Annie Lennox.[3] He also appeared as a dancer on Top of the Pops.[2]

Between 2007-2018, Canuso featured in the ITV comedy series Benidorm as flirtatious barman Mateo Castellanos and is the sitcom's longest-serving actor, appearing in all 74 episodes.[4] Canuso was chosen along with several other members of the cast to star in Benidorm Live, a touring stage adaptation of the show.[5]

In January 2013, Canuso participated in ITV diving show Splash!, hosted by Gabby Logan and Vernon Kay.

Canuso has performed in numerous pantomimes. In 2022, he appeared as Abanazar in Aladdin, which was staged at the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre.[6][7]

Personal life

edit

Canuso was married to Benidorm creator Derren Litten but they separated in late 2022 and divorced in August 2024.[citation needed]

He survived the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004,[8][9] whilst on holiday in Ko Phra Thong, Thailand. He climbed a tree after seeing the first waves, and was trapped underwater after the tree snapped.[8] He developed aquaphobia and did not swim for several years.

Credits

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
2004 School for Seduction Giovanni
Piccadilly Jim Marcel
2005 Kinky Boots Waiter
Russian Dolls Miguel
2006 In A Day Italian Waiter
Flyboys French Infantryman
Flirting with Flamenco Pablo
2007 Tick Tock Lullaby Laurence
2008 Journal of a Contract Killer Alessandro
2009 City Rats Marco Harper
Nine Reporter 4
2011 Naachle London Alan
2012 The Dark Knight Rises Waiter in Florence café
2019 Fork Robert Medlow
Wisteria Cottage Carl Short film
2024 Fyre Rises Alejandro

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Hustle Barman Series 1 episode 5: A Touch of Class
Keen Eddie Michael Hoffman Series 1 episode 13: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
2005 Heartbeat Giovanni Viora Series 14 episode 15: Icon
Casualty Matt Franks Series 19 episode 40: Swallowers
2006 Doctors Andy Clark Series 7 episode 155: Ignorance is Bliss
2007 Suburban Shootout Yuri 1 episode
2007–2018 Benidorm Mateo Castellano 74 episodes
2009 Shameless Damien di Soto Series 6 episode 4: Loving Wife
2012 The Hour Peter Grey Series 2 episode 3: Vice
2013 The Bible Daniel 9 episodes
Bad Education Javier Series 2 episode 7
2014 Cardinal Burns Priest Series 2 episode 5: The Priest
2017 Snatch Petru 1 episode
Drunk History Various characters 5 episodes; series 3
2018 The Royals Javier 1 episode
2019 Scarborough Tony Peroni 6 episodes
MyBad! Stewie Television film
2024 Grace Pierre Series 4, episode 4

Music videos

edit

Theatre

edit
Year Title Role Location
2014–2015AladdinAbanazar[10]The Forum, Billingham
2015–2016Jack & the BeanstalkJackAlhambra Theatre, Bradford
2017–2018Mother GooseDemon Vanity[11]Sheffield Lyceum, Sheffield
2018–2019Benidorm LiveMateo CastellanosUK tour with 250 shows
2019–2020AladdinThe GenieNew Theatre, Hull
2022AbanazarRhyl Pavilion Theatre

Video games

edit
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Driver 3 Didier Dubois, additional voices [12]
2012 Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney Additional voices

References

edit
  1. ↑ "Jake Canuso". IMDb. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 Benidorm Live Podcast 2 - Jake Canuso, retrieved 1 April 2019
  3. ↑ Features. "An Interview with Jake Canuso | The Enquirer Newspaper". Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  4. ↑ Benidorm (TV Series 2007– ) - IMDb, retrieved 1 April 2019
  5. ↑ "Benidorm on Stage". www.benidormonstage.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  6. ↑ Vranic, Marko (6 December 2022). "Jake Canuso talks about upcoming role in Rhyl's Aladdin panto". Rhyl Journal. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. ↑ Owen, Annie (8 October 2022). "Meet the TV stars swapping Benidorm and Coronation Street for Rhyl this Christmas". Daily Post. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 Jake Canuso [@JakeCanuso] (26 December 2010). "Today 6 years ago i survived the Tsunami,thanks to a stubborn tree. Unfortunately some of my friends and thousands of others werent so lucky" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ↑ Dixon, Laura. "Tsunami survivor Jake Canuso's terror at diving lessons".
  10. ↑ O'Hara, Carl (10 December 2014). "Gallery: Aladdin - Billingham Forum's Panto". Teesside Live. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  11. ↑ O'Hara, Carl (10 December 2014). "Gallery: Aladdin - Billingham Forum's Panto". Teesside Live. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Jake Canuso (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information). Retrieved 28 September 2021.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jake_Canuso&oldid=1356017159"