Joe Manganiello – “I am Half-Armenian, Half-Sicilian”

Recently, the Time magazine recognized Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara as the most charming and discussed couple in Hollywood.

Vergara and Manganiello met each other in May 2012 at the MTV Movie Awards ceremony. Vergara would afterwards admit that she had instantly became attracted with Manganiello. They met for the second time in early 2014 during a convention in the White House. Vergara could no longer resist, and the couple began dating shortly. On Christmas Day 2014, the couple became engaged. In November 2015, they married in Palm Beach, Florida.

Joseph Michael Manganiello was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on December 28, 1976. His father Charles John Manganiello is of Italian ancestry, whereas his mother Susan Brachanow is of Armenian, Croatian, and German descent.

Manganiello first attended St. Bernard School and then graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School with honors. In 2011, he won the high school’s Great Alumni Award. He for the first time played in the theater in the years of his study in the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. In particular, he played in the plays of William Shakespeare “The Merchant of Venice” and Henrik Ibsen’s “When We Dead Awaken.”

Manganiello played in over 20 feature films, including Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man”, Steven Soderbergh’s “Magic Mike”, and in the action thriller “Sabotage.” The latter also starred Manganiello’s childhood idol Arnold Schwarzenegger who would become a friend and mentor to Manganiello.

Manganiello became particularly famous after starring in HBO’s dark fantasy horror TV series “True Blood” where he played the werewolf Alcide Herveaux. For his role in the series, he won one nomination in Saturn Awards and NewNowNext Awards, and two in the Scream Awards.

Joe Manganiello is also a film director and producer. In 2007, he shot the short documentary “Die Hardz” about Steelers fans. He at some point also worked a roadie for the punk rock band “Goldfinger”. Remarkably, he was friends with the lead singer of the band John Feldmann. Apart from working a roadie, Manganiello toured with the group internationally as a security member.

Manganiello is also a philanthropist. Over the years, he donated to numerous charities, including UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the arts committee “Elysium” as well.

In 2013, “Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books” published Manganiello’s first book “Evolution” where the actor shares his experience and research in anatomy and nutrition. In fact, Manganiello possesses a handsome physique, which is another reason for his fame. In 2011, he was voted as one of “Men’s Health’s” “100 Fittest Men of All Time” along with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, and Bo Jackson. Manganiello is one of the few actors whose photos decorated the front page of the “Muscle & Fitness” magazine.

Joe Manganiello dance in Magic Mike XXL