Born in Cape Town, this New York actor and SAG nominee is one of South Africa's most successful exports. Has been a steady product of lauded independent and foreign features that have been distributed worldwide. Received outstanding critical reviews for his portrayal of real life mafia boss Joe 'The Boss' Masseria in AMC's The Making Of The Mob: New York with Previously TV's Sarah Bunting stating 'Stelio is reminiscent of James Gandolfini, I liked a certain gravitas-emblance to the Fini that I saw in Stelio'. His portrayal was also praised by The Examiner's Diane Zoller Ciatto. Further outstanding critical reviews for his portrayal of a ruthless policeman in the South African film A Million Colours, and for his role as a Jewish prisoner in Once We Were Slaves; winning Best Actor at the prestigious American Movie Awards, the SOFIE Awards and IndieFest.
Has worked with some of the most respected names in film, television and on stage. Being directed in projects by BAFTA, Cannes & Venice winner Peter Greenaway (Eisenstein In Guanajuato), Mark Duplass & Jay Duplass (Togetherness for HBO), Ivan Reitman (in Twentieth Century Fox's My Super Ex Girlfriend), Academy award winner Juan José Campanella (Law & Order SVU), Academy award nominee Joan Stein (Solidarity), Allen Coulter (Sopranos), Academy award winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind), Broadway director & Tony & Drama Desk award winner Gregory Mosher (110 Stories), Drama Desk nominee Trip Cullman (Arabian Night) and the following projects produced by J.J. Abrams (Undercovers & Person Of Interest), T.D. Jakes (A Million Colours), Gavin Hood (Breakout Kings), Gavin Polone (My Super Ex Girlfriend), David Lancaster (Sony's Starship Troopers 3: Marauder), David Chase (Sopranos), Dick Wolf (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Andrew Carlberg (110 Stories) and Tony award winner Jennifer Maloney (110 Stories).
Also portraying roles directly opposite several Academy award winners & nominees including Samuel L. Jackson in 110 Stories, Susan Sarandon in 110 Stories, Uma Thurman in Ma super ex (2006), Salma Hayek in Ugly Betty (2006), Melissa Leo in 110 Stories, John Hawkes in 110 Stories, Russell Crowe in Un homme d'exception (2001), Kathleen Turner in 110 Stories, Ruby Dee in 110 Stories, Angela Lansbury in New York - Unité spéciale (1999), Sally Kirkland in Awakened (2013), & Marianne Jean-Baptiste in NCIS: Enquêtes spéciales (2003).
In 2007 he along with Ugly Betty's lead ensemble cast received a SAG nomination, becoming the first ever male South African actor to receive this honor. In addition to his recurring role on Ugly Betty, he has also recurred on My Own Worst Enemy, All My Children & The Making Of The Mob: New York.
An original cast member of 110 Stories. He has portrayed the role of Bolivar Arellano at the The Public Theater, Geffen Playhouse, The Vineyard Theatre and Skirball Center for the Performing Arts opposite Ed Asner, Michael Beach, Billy Crudup, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Edie Falco, James Gandolfini, John Hawkes, Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa Leo, Jeremy Piven, Susan Sarandon, Tony Shalhoub, John Turturro, Kathleen Turner, Diane Venora and many others. As producer: performances at NYU Skirball and the LA debut at The Geffen Playhouse in 2010 including all the above mentioned cast. He, alongside Sarah Tuft was acknowledged with Ray Romano, Bruce Springsteen, Patricia Heaton, Paul McCartney and many others in BIO channel's prime-time special When Pop Culture Saved America: A 9-11 Story, directed by David Levin.
Having spent the majority of his adult life in New York (Manhattan & Queens), he is a student of acclaimed acting teachers Robert X Modica, William Alderson & Deborah Kampmeier, and has fifteen plus years of New York stage credits with strong reviews from the NY Times, for the plays Mortal Coils, and the NY stage premiers of Murder In The First, Arabian Night, My Blackie and The Case Of Kaspar Mayer.
Recently named alongside Nelson Mandela & Charlize Theron on the South African Consulate of NY's 'Notable South Africans' list and he has also featured on the cover of The Sunday Times, Tonight, The Weekend Argus and many other print and online publications. South Africa's premiere entertainment journalist Nikki Greenwall acknowledged him as one of the country's top exports, Screen Africa magazine labeled him 'the chameleon', and he was listed in the Daily Mail & Guardian as a South African who is rising to the top of his field.
Was inducted into the Alpha Psi Omega honors society for his achievement in American collegiate theater at the University of West Alabama and in 2014 served on the actor's panel of the San Diego film festival with Josh Duhamel, Tom Berenger and Dennis Haysbert, hosted by Variety and film critics Jeffrey Lyons and Ben Lyons.
