Heather Elizabeth Parisi (born January 27, 1960) is an American-born Italian dancer, singer and television personality. She was one of the most popular personalities on Italian television from the late 1970s to the 1990s. As of 2011, she and her family mainly live in Hong Kong.

Life and career

Born in Los Angeles, Parisi worked for the San Francisco Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. During a vacation in Italy, she was noticed by choreographer Franco Miseria, who had her audition for RAI. In 1979, Parisi debuted on the show Luna Park, hosted by Pippo Baudo.

Her rise as a television star took place in the fall of the same year in the first edition of the Saturday night show Fantastico, which had high ratings (average of 23.6 million viewers). In each episode, Parisi performed a ballet and interpreted the opening song "Disco Bambina." The song became a hit, peaking several weeks at No. 1 on the Italian hit parade.

Parisi was cast in four more editions of Fantastico and in other successful variety shows, and had other musical hits including "Cicale," which ranked first on the hit parade for four weeks between 1981 and 1982. She slowed down her activities in the mid-'90s.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Parisi chose to remain unvaccinated. On her website in December 2021, Parisi logged an entry entitled "Damned for Eternity" in which she told women that they "should be ashamed" of having children vaccinated against COVID-19 and that it was "criminal". In a different post, Parisi said, "For me, being socially responsible is one of the most overestimated virtues."

Filmography

As an actress

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Grandi magazziniDollyFilm debut
1999A Midsummer Night's DreamNick's wife

As a director and screenwriter

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Blind MazeNoneDebut as a director and screenwriter

Other appearances

YearTitleRoleNotes
1979Luna ParkHerself/ DancerTelevision debut; variety show
1979–1988FantasticoVariety show (seasons 1–5, 8)
1981Stasera niente di nuovoVariety show
1983Al ParadiseHerself/ Co-hostVariety show (season 1)
1987Pronto Topolino?Herself/ Co-Host/ DancerVariety show
1988Contigo Televisión EspañolaHerself/ Co-Host/ DancerVariery show
1989Telegatto 1989Herself/ Co-hostAnnual ceremony
Un disco per l'estate 1989Herself/ HostAnnual music festival
1989–1990Finalmente venerdìHerself/ Co-hostVariety show
1991Stasera mi buttoTalent show (season 2)
1991–1992Ciao WeekendVariety show
1993VIP 93 Telecinco EspañaHerself/ Co-Host/ DancerVariety show
1993Bellezze al bagnoHerself/ HostGame show (season 5)
1995Castrocaro Music FestivalHerself/ Co-hostAnnual music festival
1995–1996Arriba!!! Arriba!!!Herself/ HostChildren's program
2002–2003Zecchino d'OroTalent show (seasons 45–46)
2003–2004Domenica InHerself/ Co-hostTalk show (season 28)
2004Miss Italia 2004Herself/ JudgeAnnual beauty contest
2005–2006Ballando con le StelleTalent show (seasons 1–2)
2016NemicamatissimaHerself/ HostVariety show
2018Amici di Maria De FilippiHerself/ JudgeTalent show (season 17)

Discography

Album

  • 1981 - Cicale & Company (CGD, CGD 20276)
  • 1983 - Ginnastica fantastica (Polydor, 815 721 1)
  • 1983 - Il fantastico mondo di Heather Parisi (reprint of Cicale & Company with three new songs)
  • 1991 - HP (Mercury, 846 417-1)
  • 1991 - Io, Pinocchio (Mercury, 510 738-2)

Singles

  • 1979 - Disco bambina/Blackout (CGD, CGD 10200)
  • 1981 - Ti rockerò/Lucky girl (CGD, CGD 10302)
  • 1981 - Cicale/Mr. pulce (CGD, CGD 10349)
  • 1981 - Quando i grilli cantano (CGD, CGD YD 601) promo juke box
  • 1983 - Radiostelle/Alle corde (CGD, CGD 10456)
  • 1983 - Ceralacca/Raghjayda (Polydor, 815-750-7)
  • 1984 - Crilù/No words (Polydor, 881-420-7)
  • 1984 - Ciao ciao/Maschio (Polydor, 821697-7)
  • 1985 - Crilù in Bangkok/Morning in Tokyo (Polydor, 881 924-1, 12") (as Angel Program)
  • 1986 - Teleblù/Videolips (Polydor, 883-952-7)
  • 1987 - Dolceamaro/All'ultimo respiro (Polydor, 887-180-7)
  • 1987 - Baby come back/I'm hot (White Records, 109 428)
  • 1989 - Faccia a faccia/Feelings come and go (Polydor, 871-572-7)
  • 1989 - Livido/Livido (Instrumental Version) (Polydor, 873-192-7)
  • 1991 - Pinocchio/Se te ne vai (Polydor, 866 194 7)

External links