Panio Gianopoulos is a Greek-American author, editor, and martial artist. His work has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers, including ‘Details’, ‘Glamour’, and ‘Salon’. He has also made appearances in documentaries and films such as ‘Author: The JT LeRoy Story’ and ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’. Panio is the author of the acclaimed book ‘How to Get into Our House and Where We Keep the Money’ and the novella ‘A Familiar Beast’, which has been recognized as one of Amazon’s best books and an indie best seller. He is a recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship and currently serves as the Editorial Director of the publishing house, Heleo.
Quick Facts
- Age: 48 Years
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Molly Ringwald (m. 2007), children: Adele Georgiana Gianopoulos, Mathilda Ereni Gianopoulos, Roman Stylianos Gianopoulos
- Occupation: Novelist, Short Story Writer
- Height: 5’8″ (173 cm)
- Education: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Writing Style & Major Works
Most of the characters in Panio’s novels and stories exhibit extreme traits, either being volatile or displaying sadistic tendencies. However, he has also created characters that appear calm on the outside but struggle with torment internally. Throughout his writing career, Panio has made these types of characters his own.
A Familiar Beast
“A Familiar Beast” tells the story of a man who is disgraced and trying to recover from his divorce while searching for redemption. In a state of desperation and loneliness, he goes on a hunting trip with a long-lost friend from high school. The book follows their strange and comedic weekend together.
How to Get Into Our House and Where We Keep the Money
This collection consists of two stories centered around female protagonists. Panio has crafted these female characters with sensitivity, and his wife has contributed valuable insights during the character development process.
Luxury
“Luxury” is a novel that revolves around four women named Maude, Emma, Kara, and Paige, who despise each other.
Recommended Lists
- American Writers
- American Novelists
- American Short Story Writers
- Cancer Men
Film Appearances
Panio has appeared in two films and a TV series. In the films “Author: The JT LeRoy Story” (2016) and “The Cult of JT LeRoy” (2014), he played himself. In “Author: The JT LeRoy Story,” Panio read excerpts and shared his thoughts on the fictional writer JT LeRoy, created by American author Laura Albert.
Personal Life
Panio was born on July 7, 1975, and grew up in Massachusetts. He is of American-Greek descent and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a major in Literature. He also holds a management degree from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. In 2007, Panio married actress and author Molly Ringwald. They have three children together: Mathilda Ereni, Roman Stylianos, and Adele Georgiana. Their relationship has remained strong over the past decade.
Editorial and Review Works
- “Delivery,” a short story
- “The Daniel Craig Walk-Out Emergency Kit” by Thomas Horton
- “Meatball Day: Tales from a Family Restaurant”
- “How I Became the Youngest Child Laborer in the History of Our Town”
- “Philip Roth: A Eulogy for a Living Man”
- “Mighty Joe”