{{short description|Italian television and radio presenter (born 1962)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Expand Italian|topic=bio|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Amadeus | image = Amadeus 2023.jpg | image_size = | caption = Sebastiani in 2023 | birth_name = Amedeo Umberto Rita Sebastiani | birth_date = {{Birth date and age text|4 September 1962}} | birth_place = Ravenna, Italy | occupation = {{Flatlist| *Television presenter *radio presenter *disc jockey }} | employer = {{flatlist| *Mediaset (2006–2008)<br>RAI (1999–2006; 2009–2024)<br>Warner Bros. Discovery (2024–) }} }} '''Amedeo Umberto Rita Sebastiani''' (born 4 September 1962), known professionally as '''Amadeus''' ({{IPA|it|amaˈdɛus|pron}}), is an Italian television host and radio presenter.
== Life and career == Born in Ravenna to Sicilian parents, Sebastiani grew up in Verona.<ref name="la rep">{{cite news|last1=Fulvio Abbate|title=Amadeus nel teatro domestico siciliano|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/12/15/amadeus-nel-teatro-domestico-siciliano.html|accessdate=11 February 2016|work=La Repubblica|date=15 December 2004}}</ref><ref name=Viventi>Giorgio Dell'Arti, Massimo Parrini. ''Catalogo dei viventi''. Marsilio, 2009. {{ISBN|9788831795999}}.</ref> He started his career in 1979 as a deejay for a small radio station in Verona after a successful audition.<ref name=Viventi/>
One day in 1985, Sebastiani spent six hours outside a hotel to lend Vittorio Salvetti, Italian television producer, a VHS with his audition. Salvetti then got him in touch with talent scout Claudio Cecchetto, to which Sebastiani recorded and sent a demo cassette. The talent scout gave him a chance in 1986 and made him debut for Radio DeeJay with the stage name "Amadeus", basing it off of ''Rock Me Amadeus'', 1985 single by ''Falco.<ref>{{Cite web |title=People from Cecchetto – Video |url=https://www.raiplay.it/video/2023/12/People-from-Cecchetto-218a1f80-ed72-461b-b74e-cd0f40a9d1ab.html |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=RaiPlay |language=it}}</ref>'' Over the next two years he became one of the main radio presenters for ''Radio Capital Music Network'', where he co-hosted many programmes with Luca Laurenti among mang others. He made his television debut in 1988, appearing in the Radio DeeJay spin-off ''DeeJay Television'' on Italia 1.
His debut on a RAI network was in 1999 as a quality juror for Sanremo Music Festival 1999. In September of that year he became the host of ''Domenica In'' for the next season. In October 2000, ''Quiz Show'' premiered on Rai 1 with him as the host. The game later rebranded to ''L'eredità'', which he kept hosting until he briefly quit Rai in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2014 |title=Quiz show – Raiuno |url=http://www.archivio.raiuno.rai.it/schede/0066/006641.htm |access-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826040811/http://www.archivio.raiuno.rai.it/schede/0066/006641.htm |archive-date=26 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 September 2014 |title=Carlo Conti story {{!}} L'eredità dal 2006 {{!}} Miss Italia-ascolti in calo |work=Realityshow |url=http://realityshow.blogosfere.it/post/544600/carlo-conti-nel-2006-leredita-affonda-amadeus-e-bonolis-scotti-lo-elogia-cala-miss-italia-eletta-claudia-andreatti |access-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903092634/http://realityshow.blogosfere.it/post/544600/carlo-conti-nel-2006-leredita-affonda-amadeus-e-bonolis-scotti-lo-elogia-cala-miss-italia-eletta-claudia-andreatti |archive-date=3 September 2014 }}</ref>
During his career, Amadeus hosted several high-profile programmes, both for RAI and Mediaset, including five editions of Festivalbar, four seasons of {{lang|it|L'eredità}}, the Sanremo Music Festival (2020 to 2024), {{lang|it|L'anno che verrà}}, and several early evening quiz shows.<ref name="la rep" /><ref name="Viventi" /><ref name="Adnkronos">{{cite news |date=18 March 1999 |title=RAIDUE: ''Festa di classe'' con Amadeus |url=https://www1.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/1999/03/18/Spettacolo/RAIDUE-FESTA-DI-CLASSE-CON-AMADEUS-5_111600.php |accessdate=11 February 2016 |work=Adnkronos}}</ref>
In April 2024, he left Rai at the end of his contract and signed a four-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.<ref name="IlPostAmadeusDiscovery">{{cite web |title=Amadeus lascerà la Rai per passare a Discovery |url=https://www.ilpost.it/2024/04/15/amadeus-lascia-rai-discovery/ |website=Il Post |publisher=Il Post |date=15 April 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> His final appearances for Rai included ''Una. Nessuna. Centomila – in Arena'',<ref name="RepubblicaUnaNessuna">{{cite web |title=Una Nessuna Centomila all’Arena di Verona: Mannoia, Elodie e Annalisa per le donne |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2024/05/06/news/una_nessuna_centomila_arena_verona_mannoia_elodie_annalisa-422828130/ |website=la Repubblica |publisher=GEDI Gruppo Editoriale |date=6 May 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> ''Viva Rai2!'' hosted by Fiorello,<ref name="FQvivaRai2">{{cite web |title=Viva Rai 2!, Fiorello cala il sipario e festeggia con Amadeus, Jovanotti e Ultimo: "Da stasera spengo il telefono" |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2024/05/10/viva-rai-2-fiorello-cala-il-sipario-e-festeggia-con-amadeus-jovanotti-e-ultimo-devo-cercare-una-bella-idea-da-stasera-spengo-il-telefono/7543135/ |website=Il Fatto Quotidiano |publisher=SEIF – Società Editoriale Il Fatto |date=10 May 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> and ''Affari tuoi''<ref name="RepubblicaAffariTuoi">{{cite web |title=Amadeus, stasera l’ultima puntata di Affari tuoi |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/tv-radio/2024/06/01/news/amadeus_stasera_ultima_puntata_affari_tuoi-423144138/ |website=la Repubblica |publisher=GEDI Gruppo Editoriale |date=1 June 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> (English: "Your Business"), the Italian version of ''Deal or No Deal''.
On Nove, he launched ''Suzuki Music Party'',<ref name="DeejaySuzukiMusicParty">{{cite web |title=Suzuki Music Party: la scaletta e tutti gli ospiti dello show di Amadeus su NOVE |url=https://www.deejay.it/articoli/suzuki-music-party-scaletta-amadeus-nove/ |website=Radio Deejay |publisher=Gruppo GEDI |date=22 September 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> the quiz show ''Chissà chi è''<ref name="SorrisiChissaChiE">{{cite web |title=Amadeus: "Torno in tv e dico: ‘Chissà chi è’" |url=https://www.sorrisi.com/tv/programmi/amadeus-torno-in-tv-e-dico-chissa-chi-e/ |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni |publisher=Arnoldo Mondadori Editore |date=22 September 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> and ''La Corrida – Dilettanti allo sbaraglio'',<ref name="NoveCorrida">{{cite web |title=Amadeus conduce "La Corrida – Dilettanti allo sbaraglio" dal 6 novembre sul NOVE |url=https://nove.tv/amadeus-conduce-la-corrida-dilettanti-allo-sbaraglio-dal-6-novembre-sul-nove |website=NOVE.tv |publisher=Warner Bros. Discovery Italia |date=7 November 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> and also hosted the 2024 SIAE Music Awards.<ref name="BillboardSIAE">{{cite web |title=Amadeus condurrà i SIAE Music Awards 2024 |url=https://billboard.it/eventi/amadeus-siae-music-awards-2024/2024/11/12173913/ |website=Billboard Italia |publisher=BFC Media |date=12 November 2024 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> In 2025, he joined the jury of Amici di Maria De Filippi<ref name="VirgilioAmici">{{cite web |title=Amadeus sbarca su Mediaset ad Amici: deroga da Discovery all’esclusiva, l’annuncio della nuova avventura |url=https://www.virgilio.it/notizie/amadeus-sbarca-su-mediaset-ad-amici-deroga-da-discovery-all-esclusiva-l-annuncio-della-nuova-avventura-1668174 |website=Virgilio Notizie |publisher=Italiaonline |date=10 March 2025 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> on Canale 5 before returning to Nove in May to present ''Like a Star'',<ref name="VanityLikeAStar">{{cite web |title=Like a Star: il nuovo programma tv di Amadeus su Nove |url=https://www.vanityfair.it/article/like-a-star-amadeus-programma-tv-nove |website=Vanity Fair Italia |publisher=Condé Nast Italia |date=15 May 2025 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref> the Italian version of ''Starstruck'', which was followed in June by ''The Cage – Prendi e scappa''.<ref name="FQTheCage">{{cite web |title=Amadeus e Giulia Salemi in The Cage – Prendi e scappa: come funziona il nuovo game show sul Nove |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2025/05/25/amadeus-e-giulia-salemi-in-the-cage-prendi-e-scappa-come-funziona-il-nuovo-game-show-sul-nove/8002127/ |website=Il Fatto Quotidiano |publisher=SEIF – Società Editoriale Il Fatto |date=25 May 2025 |language=it |access-date=13 August 2025 }}</ref>
=== Personal life === Between 1993 and 2007, Sebastiani was married to Marisa Di Martino. They have a daughter, Alice Vittoria, born in 1997.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
In 2003, after separating from his first wife, Sebastiani began a relationship with the showgirl Giovanna Civitillo, whom he had met while working at ''L'eredità''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanna |first=Andrea |date=16 November 2023 |title=Giovanna Civitillo racconta come Amadeus le ha chiesto di sposarla |url=https://www.novella2000.it/giovanna-civitillo-amadeus-chiesto-sposarla/ |access-date=23 March 2024 |website=Novella 2000 |language=it-IT}}</ref>
In January 2009, Sebastiani and Giovanna had a son, José Alberto, named after José Mourinho, who at the time was coaching Inter Milan – the team Sebastiani supports. The couple married later that year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alfano|first=Laura|url=https://www.televisionando.it/articolo/amadeus-a-luglio-si-sposa-e-poi-torna-in-rai/14677/|title=Amadeus, a luglio si sposa e poi torna in Rai|language=it|work=Televisionando|date=4 July 2009|access-date=19 August 2023}}</ref>
==Television== {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1988–1989 |''1, 2, 3 Jovanotti'' |Co-host |Musical programme |- |1989–1990 |''Deejay Beach'' |Presenter |Musical programme (seasons 3–4) |- |1993 |Festivalbar 1993 |Co-host |rowspan="3"|Annual music festival |- |1994 |Festivalbar 1994 |rowspan="2"|Presenter |- |1995 |Festivalbar 1995 |- |1995–1996 |{{lang|it|Buona Domenica}} |Co-host |Variety show (season 8) |- |1996 |Festivalbar 1996 |rowspan="3"|Presenter |Annual music festival |- |1996–1997 |{{lang|it|Campioni di ballo}} |Talent show (season 2) |- |rowspan="2"|1997 |Festivalbar 1997 |Annual music festival |- |{{lang|it|Matricole}} |Co-host |Docuseries (season 1) |- |rowspan="2"|1998 |{{lang|it|Il Quizzone}} |Presenter |Game show (season 5) |- |{{lang|it|Meteore – Alla ricerca delle stelle perdute}} |Co-host |Variety show (season 1) |- |1999 |{{lang|it|Festa di classe}} |rowspan="12"|Presenter |Variety show |- |1999–2000 |{{lang|it|Domenica in}} |Variety show (season 24) |- |2000 |{{lang|it|In bocca al lupo!}} |Game show (season 3) |- |2000–2002 |''Quiz Show'' |Game show |- |2001 |Castrocaro Music Festival 2001 |Annual music festival |- |2002 |{{lang|it|Azzardo}} |Game show (season 1) |- |2002–2006 |{{lang|it|L'eredità}} |Game show (seasons 1–4) |- |rowspan="2"|2003 |{{lang|it|La partita del cuore}} |Annual charity sports event |- |{{lang|it|Miss Italia nel Mondo}} |Annual beauty contest |- |2004 |''Music Farm'' |Talent/reality show (season 1) |- |2006 |{{lang|it|Formula segreta}} |rowspan="3"|Game show |- |rowspan="2"|2007–2008 |{{lang|it|1 contro 100}} |- |{{lang|it|Canta e Vinci}} |Co-host |- |2009 |{{lang|it|Fiore e Tinelli}} |Himself |TV series (episode "{{lang|it|Quiz in famiglia|i=no}}") |- |2009–2016 |{{lang|it|Mezzogiorno in famiglia}} |rowspan="2"|Presenter |Variety show (seasons 17–23) |- |2010 |{{lang|it|Cuore di mamma}} |Reality show |- |rowspan="2"|2013 |{{lang|it|Altrimenti ci arrabbiamo}} |rowspan="2"|Contestant |Talent show |- |{{lang|it|Tale e quale show}} |Talent show (season 3) |- |2014–2017 |{{lang|it|Reazione a catena}} |rowspan="2"|Presenter |Game show (seasons 8–11) |- |2014; 2016 |''Colors'' |Game show |- |2015 |{{lang|it|Techetechetè}} |Guest |Archive footage/variety show |- |2015–2018 |{{lang|it|Stasera tutto è possibile}} |rowspan="2"|Presenter |Game show (seasons 1–4) |- |2015–2023 |{{lang|it|L'anno che verrà}} |New Year's Eve special (8 specials) |- |2016 |{{lang|it|Sanremo Giovani}} |Judge |Annual music festival |- |2016–2017 |''Music Quiz'' |rowspan="3"|Presenter |Game show |- |2017–2023 |{{lang|it|Soliti ignoti – Il ritorno}} |Game show (seasons 6–12) |- |2018–2019 |{{lang|it|Ora o mai più}} |Talent show |- |2019 |{{lang|it|Ballata per Genova}} |Co-host |Special |- |2019–2024 |{{lang|it|Sanremo Giovani}} |Presenter |Talent show |- |2020 |''Sanremo Music Festival 2020'' |rowspan="2"|Presenter and artistic director |rowspan="2"|Annual music festival |- |2021 |''Sanremo Music Festival 2021'' |- |2021–2023 |''Arena Suzuki'' |Presenter |Music variety show |- |rowspan="2"|2022 |''Sanremo Music Festival 2022'' |Presenter and artistic director |Annual music festival |- |{{lang|it|Affari tuoi – Formato famiglia}} |Presenter |Game show |- |2023 |''Sanremo Music Festival 2023'' |Presenter and artistic director |Annual music festival |- |2023–2024 |{{lang|it|Affari tuoi}} |Presenter |Game show (season 15–16) |- |2024 |''Sanremo Music Festival 2024'' |Presenter and artistic director |Annual music festival |- |2025 |''Amici di Maria De Filippi'' |Judge |Talent show (season 24; final stage only) |}
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1993 |{{lang|it|Laura non-c'è}} |Doctor |Feature film debut |- |2003 |{{lang|it|Il pranzo della domenica}} |Himself |Cameo appearance |- |2023 |''Wish'' |Valentino |Italian voice-over |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * {{IMDb name|0023741}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Italian television presenters Category:Italian radio presenters Category:Italian radio personalities Category:Mass media people from Verona