Italians (Italian: italiani) are an ethnic group native of Southern Europe that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence (though the principle of jus sanguinis is used extensively and arguably more favorably in the Italian nationality law), and are distinguished from people of Italian descent and, historically, from ethnic Italians living in the unredeemed territories adjacent to the Italian Peninsula.
In 2012, in addition to the 60 million Italians in Italy and 3,000 in San Marino, Italian-speaking, autonomous groups are found in neighboring countries: about 500,000 in Switzerland, a large, but undefined population in France (Nice, Corsica), and smaller groups in Slovenia and Croatia, primarily in Istria. If regarded as an ethnic group, they constitute one of the world's largest.
Because of wide-ranging and long-lasting diaspora, about 4 and half million Italian citizens and over 70 million people of full or part Italian ancestry live outside of Italy, most notably in South America, North America, Australia and parts of Europe.
This is a list of notable Italians in alphabetical order.
Aries Spears (born April 3, 1975) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, and comedian. Spears was a regular on Fox's sketch comedy series MADtv, appearing in 198 episodes, making him the second longest-serving original cast member on the show. He recently released a new special called Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling.[citation needed]
Spears was born in Chicago, Illinois. His mother Doris Spears is a jazz singer. Spears moved to New Jersey at age 11 and attended Arthur M. Judd Elementary School. He became a comedian at 14, performing stand-up comedy in various comedy clubs in New York City. He was expelled for fighting during his sophomore year in North Brunswick Township High School in North Brunswick Township, at age 17. Spears started doing his own comedy routine around his hometown. He is a self-professed Michael Jordan fan.
Spears' first television appearance was on Russell Simmons's Def Comedy Jam, followed by It's Showtime at the Apollo (1987). He moved to Los Angeles in 1992, landed a recurring role on A Different World (1993) and became a regular at The Comedy Store, The Improv and The Laugh Factory. Other television credits include Crosstown Traffic, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993) and Soul Train.
Carlo Verdone (born 17 November 1950) is an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director.
Carlo Verdone was born in Rome to Mario Verdone, an important Italian film critic, and during his youth he earned a degree in Modern Literature at Sapienza University of Rome and a degree in Film Direction at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. During 1970s he started a television career highlighting his varied comic style.
Verdone made his debut as director in 1980 with the movie Fun is beautiful, in which he played three different characters. He used the same formula of the first work in 1981, when he directed Bianco, rosso e Verdone, a funny movie about three men during the election day. The movie, produced by Sergio Leone, was a great success in Italy, thanks to his brilliant comic energy and to his odd characters. Carlo Verdone, in a long directing career, has refined very well his style, using very much the typical standard of the commedia all'italiana and paying attention to social themes and to pondering stories. In 2005 he took part in the Italian blockbuster romantic comedy named Manuale d'amore, and in the sequels named Manuale d'amore 2 - Capitoli successivi (2007) and Manuale d'amore 3 (2011), both directed by Giovanni Veronesi.
Russell Dominic Peters (born September 29, 1970) is a Canadian comedian, actor and disc jockey. He began performing in Toronto in 1989 and has been nominated for four Gemini Awards.
Russell Peters was born in Brampton, Ontario, Canada to Eric and Maureen Peters. His family is of Anglo-Indian ancestry and is Catholic. His father was born in Bombay, Maharashtra, India, and worked as a federal meat inspector; he is regularly mentioned and featured in his comedy work. His mother was born in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He has an older brother named Clayton who was born in Calcutta. Russell attended Chinguacousy Secondary School for grades 9–10, and North Peel Secondary School for grades 11–12 in Brampton.
Peters began performing in Toronto in 1989. Peters' popularity extends to several countries. He has since also performed in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Afghanistan, Sweden, South Africa, India, the Caribbean, Philippines, Vietnam, mainland China, Canada, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, France, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Norway, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Trinidad among other places.
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the mornin'
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the day
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the mornin'
Just a lil' lovin'
for started of the day
Hold me tight
and say that you love me
it's what i need to hear
when i open up my eyes
your my light
the sun shines above me
when the clouds reappear
you breakin' up my skies
i want to let you know
for everybody said i was saying
felt like my dream come true
the second sec my i eyes on you
to you my happiness
i owe to you the simple song i play
co'z you give me a lil' lovin'
early in the day
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the mornin'
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the day
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the mornin'
Just a lil' lovin'
for started of the day
Hold me tight
and say that you love me
it's what i need to hear
when i open up my eyes
your my light
the sun shines above me
when the clouds reappear
you breakin' up my skies
i want to let you know
for everybody was
felt like my dream come true
the second sec i laid my i eyes on you
to you my happiness
i owe to you the simple song i play
co'z you give me a lil' lovin'
early in the day
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the mornin'
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the day
Just a lil' lovin'
early in the mornin'
Just a lil' lovin'
for started of the day