Ștefan Bănică

Ștefan Bănică Jr. ([ʃteˈfam bəˈnikə]; born October 18, 1967 in Bucharest, Romania) is a Romanian entertainer, of Romani origin from his father's side, TV presenter, one of the most important Romanian TV personalities, and the son of actor Ștefan Bănică Sr. In his early career he starred in a couple of successful romantic films ("Liceenii", "Liceenii Rock'n'Roll"). He is well known in Romania for presenting the Romanian version of “Dancing with the Stars”, the most long-lived dance competition ever aired in Romania, broadcast on Pro TV and for his role as a talent judge on The X Factor.

Later he concentrated on television acting, playing the character of Ciupanezu in the TV series "Băieți buni" ("Good Guys"), which was aired in 2005 on ProTV. In 2005, Bănică also played the role of Billy Flynn in the Romanian stage version of the Chicago musical (based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins) at the National Theatre in Bucharest.

He released several music albums (marketed as rock'n'roll), and successfully toured the country. In January 2006, he married television producer and show host Andreea Marin. In January 2013, they announced their divorce on amicable terms. Together they have a daughter.

Characters in theater

• Himself – Drum spre adevăr / The Truth Way written by N. Munteanu, staged by Adriana Popovici, 1987, Students' Theater Casandra
• Nae Girimea – D`ale carnavalului / Carnaval stories written by I. L. Caragiale, staged by Ion Cojar, 1989, Students' Theater Casandra
• Algernon – Bună seara, d-le Wilde! / Good evening, Mr. Wilde! written by Oscar Wilde, staged by Ion Cojar, 1989, Students' Theater Casandra
• Luca – Maidanul cu dragoste / Love on a maydan written by G.M. Zamfirescu, staged by Grigore Gonţa, 1990, The Small Theater
• Sir Persant - Merlin written by Tankred Dorst, staged by Cătălina Buzoianu, 1991, Bulandra Theater
• Melchior – Deşteptarea primăverii / Spring Awakening written by Frank Wedekind, staged by Liviu Ciulei, 1991, Bulandra Theater
• Demetrius – Visul unei nopti de vară / A Midsummer Night's Dream written by William Shakespeare, staged by Liviu Ciulei, 1992, Bulandra Theater
• Florizel – Poveste de iarnă / The Winter's Tale written by William Shakespeare, staged by Alexandru Darie, 1994, Bulandra Theater
• Ionel - Domnişoara Nastasia / Missis Nastasia written by G.M. Zamfirescu, staged by Horea Popescu, 1996, Teatrul Odeon
• Paul Bratter – Desculţi în parc / Barefoot in the Park written by Neil Simon, staged by Dinu Manolache, 1996, Comedy Theater- 1997, The Small Theater
• Mr. White - Black & White written by Watherhouse & Hall, staged by Florian Pittiş, 1997, Bulandra Theater
• Laertes - Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, staged by Liviu Ciulei, 2000, Bulandra Theater
• Feste, clown – A douasprezecea noapte / Twelft Night written by William Shakespeare, staged by Gelu Colceag, 2003, Comedy Theater

• Billy Flynn, the lawyer - Chicago written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, staged by Ricard Reguant Molinos, 2005, Bucharest National Theater
• Hlestakov, inspector of Petersburg - The Government Inspector by Gogol, staged by Horatiu Malaele, 2006, Comedy Theater
• Paul Bratter – Desculţ în parc / Barefoot in the Park written by Neil Simon, staged by Stefan Banica, 2009, The Operetta National Theater “Ion Dacian”, Bucharest
• George – Cui i-e frica de Virginia Woolf? / Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?, written by Edward Albee, staged by Gelu Colceag, 2010, Comedy Theater

Movies

Banica has played in several movies for cinema or TV and one of them - Teenagers - is one of the most popular films in the history of Romanian cinema.

• Eroii nu au vârstă / Ageless Heroes – TV serial, directed by M. Constantinescu, 1984 (character: Guriţă)
• The Graduates – directed by Nicolae Corjos, 1986 (character: Mihai)
• Extemporal la dirigenţie – directed by Nicolae Corjos, 1987 (character: Mihai)
• Călătorie de neuitat / An Unforgettable Journey – TV serial, directed by Geo Saizescu, 1988 (character: Ion)
• Liceenii rock'n'roll / Rock'n'Roll Teenagers – directed by Nicolae Corjos, 1990 (character: Mihai)
• Templul tăcerii / The Temple Of Silence – directed by George Busecan, 1992 (character: Alec)
• Omul Negru / The Man in Black - 50 min., musical, TV movie, produced and directed by Oana Ionescu, 1992 (characters: the Man in black, the tourist)
• Cine l-a răpit pe Moş Crăciun? / Who kidnapped Santa Claus? – 50 min. musical, TV movie, produced and directed by Oana Ionescu, 1992 (character: the detective)
• Triunghiul morţii / The Triangle Of Death – directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu, 1998 (character: Franz)
• Sexi harem Ada-Kaleh / Ada-Kaleh Sexy Harem – directed by Mircea Mureşan, 1999 (character: Gicu)
• Proprietari de stele / Owners Of Stars – directed by Savel Stiopu, 1999 (character: Dan)
• Băieţi buni / Good Guys – TV serial, 2005 (character: Ciupanezu')
• A Beautiful Life – directed by Alejandro Chomski, 2007
• Ho Ho Ho – directed by Jesus del Cerro, 2009

Television

Banica was the host of the Romanian version of “Dancing with the Stars” on PRO TV.

• Children's programs
• Entertainment shows on several Romanian TV channels (TVR 1, TVR 2, ANTENA 1, TELE 7abc, PRO TV, PRIMA TV)
• 10 TV Shows – duo Popeasca & Bănică (TVR, ANTENA 1, PRO TV)
• Participation to all the high rated shows on all the TV channels
• Host of the show competition "21" (TVR, 1999)
• Advertising and publicity (DERO) 1999-2003
• Stage manager, introducer and composer of the sound track “Dansez pentru tine" - Romanian version of Dancing with the Stars (PRO TV) 2005–present days

In Fall 2014, he was named as a member of the jury for X Factor Romania on Antena 1.

Radio

• Broadcasting Radio Theater
• Boemii / The Bohemians - staged by Ion Vova
• Introducer and producer of the shows:
• Ness Caffe Brasero (Radio 21)- 1996-1998;
• Bonsoir (Radio Romantic)- 2000-2002

Music

Composer, text writer, arranger of musical works. With the musical accompaniment of the bands The 50s and Rock’n’roll. These bands have been created by himself in 1994.

14 author disks

• „Un actor/ un rock’n’roll / An actor / a rock'n'roll” – audio tape, 1992, DRĂGAN MUSIC
• „Te rock…frumos / I rock you... nicely” – CD and audio tape, 1996, ROTON
• „Cel de acum / The one from now” – CD and audio tape, 2000, MEDIAPRO MUSIC
• „Doar un Crăciun cu tine / Only one Christmas with you” – CD and audio tape, 2000, MEDIAPRO MUSIC
• „De dragoste… in toate felurile / Of love... in all ways” – CD and audio tape, 2001, CAT MUSIC
• „Stefan Bănică jr. în concert / Concert with Stefan Bănică jr.” – CD and audio tape 2003, CAT MUSIC
• „Zori de zi / Sunrise” – CD and audio tape, 2003, CAT MUSIC
• „Duete / Duets” – CD and audio tape, 2005, CAT MUSIC / „Numele tău / Your name” – CD and audio tape, 2005, CAT MUSIC
• “Marile hituri” / “The greatest hits”, CD + DVD 2007, CAT MUSIC
• "Împreună / Together", CD, 2007, Roton
• “Toata lumea danseaza / Everybody dance”, CD, 2009, the special edition of National Journal
• “Un Craciun cu Stefan Banica / A Christmas with Stefan Banica”, CD, 2009, MediaPro Music
• “Super-love”, CD and VINYL, 2010, MediaPro Music
• “Altceva”, CD, 2012, MediaPro Music
• DVD - „Concert extraordinar Ştefan Bănică jr live la Sala Palatului / Extraordinary concert Ştefan Bănică jr live at Sala Palatului„ - DVD, 2004, PRO Video
• DVD - „10 Ani - Live la Sala Palatului„ - DVD, 2011 PRO Video

Music Videos

• Te iubesc ca un bleg / I love you like a sissy, staged by Ştefan Bănică jr, 1990, staged by Oana Ionescu (TVR1) - album “Un actor/un rock’n’roll / An actor / a rock'n'roll”
• Cristina, 1992, staged by Oana Ionescu, (TVR1)
• Omul Negru / The Man in Black, 1992, staged by Oana Ionescu, (TVR1)
• Rodica, staged by Ştefan Bănică jr, 1997 - album “Te rock...frumos / I rock you... nicely”
• Poveste / Story, staged by Petre Nastase, 2000 - album “ Cel de acum /The one from now”
• Doar un Crăciun cu tine / Only a Christmas with you, staged by Petre Nastase, 2000 - album “Doar un Crăciun cu tine / Only a Christmas with you”
• Mi-e dor de ochii tăi / I miss your eyes, staged by Petre Nastase, 2001- album “Cel de acum / The one from now”
• Găseşte-mi loc în inima ta / Find me a place in your heart, staged by Bogdan Toader, 2001 - album “ De dragoste...în toate felurile / Of love... in all ways”
• Te iubesc, femeie / I love you, woman, staged by Bogdan Toader & Ştefan Bănică jr, 2002 - album “Of love... in all ways”
• Ăsta-s eu / That's me, staged by Bogdan Toader & Ştefan Bănică jr, 2002 - album “Of love... in all ways”
• Încă o zi / One more day, staged by Bogdan Toader & Ştefan Bănică jr, 2002 - album “Of love... in all ways”
• Poveste Rock'n'Roll / Rock'n'Roll story, staged by Bogdan Toader, 2003 - album “Ştefan Bănică jr în concert / Concert with Ştefan Bănică jr”
• Vorbe-n vânt / It's will all talk, staged by Bogdan Toader & Ştefan Bănică jr, 2003 - bonus track album “Zori de zi / Sunrise”
• Am s-o aştept mereu / I shall wait her always, staged by Dragoş Buliga, 2003 - album “Zori de zi / Sunrise”
• Iubeşte-o sincer / Love her sincerely, staged by Dragoş Buliga, 2004 - album “Zori de zi / Sunrise”
• Veta, staged by Bogdan Toader & Ştefan Bănică jr, 2004 - album “Zori de zi / Sunrise”
• Doar o dată-i Crăciunul / Only once it's Christmas, staged by Bogdan Toader & Ştefan Bănică jr, 2004 - bonus track album “Zori de zi / Sunrise”
• Numele tău / Your name, staged by Eduardo Vasquez, 2005 - album “Numele tău / Your name”
• Cum am ajuns sa te iubesc / How I ended up loving you, staged by Petre Nastase, 2006 - album “Duete / Duets”
• Toata lumea danseaza / Everybody dance, 2007
• S-o facem lată / Let's party hard, staged by Iulian Moga, 2007- album "Împreună / Together"
• Tu si eu / You and me - album "Împreună / Together", 2008
• Danseaza baba / The old woman dances, 2008
• Epilog / Epilogue, 2009
• Super-love, 2010

CONCERTS

• over 1000 concerts across the country;
• over a 150.000 spectators who bought tickets at his concerts;
• from 1994 till present date, he already performed in over 30 concerts “sold out” at Sala Palatului, a very well known and the biggest concert building in the country
• 1994 - ÎNTRE PRIETENI / AMONGST FRIENDS
• 1994 - ROCK'N'ROLL ÎNTRE PRIETENI / ROCK'N'ROLL AMONGST FRIENDS (2 concerts)
• 1995 - GALELE 7ABC / THE GALAS 7 ABC
• 2001 – DERO CK'N'ROLL – POVESTEA UNEI SERI DE MAI / DERO CK'N'ROLL – EVENING STORY ON MAY
• 2002 - GĂSEŞTE-MI LOC ÎN INIMA TA / FIND ME A PLACE IN YOUR HEART (2 concerts)
• 2002 - ÎNCĂ O ZI / ONE MORE DAY
• 2003 - ZORI DE ZI / SUNRISE (2 concerts)
• 2004 - DOAR O DATĂ-I CRĂCIUNUL / ONLY ONCE IT'S CHRISTMAS (3 concerts)
• 2005 - DUETE DE CRĂCIUN / DUETS AT CHRISTMAS (3 concerts)
• 2006 - CONCERT EXTRAORDINAR DE CRACIUN / GREAT CHRISTMAS CONCERT/PERFORMANCE (5 concerts)
• 2006 - CONCERT AT HYDE PARK FROM LONDON - he sang with the soprano Angela Gheorghiu the play "Your Name", the symphonic pop-rock variant
• 2007 - ÎMPREUNĂ DE CRĂCIUN / TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS (6 concerts)
• 2008 - CONCERT EXTRAORDINAR DE CRACIUN / GREAT CHRISTMAS CONCERT / PERFORMANCE ( 7 consecutive concerts - a real record in Romania)
• 2009 - CONCERT EXTRAORDINAR DE CRACIUN / GREAT CHRISTMAS CONCERT / PERFORMANCE ( 6 consecutive concerts )

Live concerts broadcast on television

§ “Festivalul Mamaia / Mamaia Festival”- 1992, 2002, 2004 (TVR);

• “Cerbul de Aur“ / The Golden Stag – 1997, 2003, 2008 (TVR);
• “Galele Tele7abc / The Galas of Tele 7 abc“- 1995, 1998 (Tele 7 abc) ;
• “Camel Planet“- 1997 (TVR) ;
• “Povestea unei seri de mai / Evening story on may“ – 2001 (ANTENA1);
• “Găseşte-mi loc în inima ta / Find me a place in your heart“- 2002 (PRIMA TV);
• “Ăsta-s eu / That's me“ - 2002 (ANTENA1);
• “Vorbe-n vânt / It's will all talk“- 2003 (ANTENA 1)
• "Zori de zi / Sunrise " - 2003 ( Pro TV )

§ "Doar o data-i Craciunul / Only once it's Christmas " - 2004 ( Pro TV )

§ "Duete de Craciun / Duets at Christmas" - 2005 ( Pro TV )

§ "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert/Performance " - 2006 ( Pro TV )

§ "Impreuna de Craciun / Together for Christmas " - 2007 ( Pro TV )

§ "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert/Performance " - 2008 ( Pro TV )

• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2009 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2010 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2011 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2012 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2013 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2014 ( ANTENA 1 )

Christmas concerts

Every year since 2002 Banica has performed in the most popular Christmas concerts in Romania.

• “Încă o zi / One more day“, 2002 (PRO TV);
• “Zori de zi / Sunrise“, 2003(PRO TV);
• “Doar o dată-i Crăciunul / Only once it's Christmas“, 2004 (PRO TV);
• “Duete de Crăciun / Duets at Christmas“, 2005 (PRO TV)
• "Concert extraordinar de Crăciun / Great Christmas Concert/Performance", 2006 (PRO TV)
• "Împreună de Crăciun / Together for Christmas", 2007 (PRO TV)
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2008 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2009 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2010 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2011 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2012 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2013 ( Pro TV )
• "Concert extraordinar de Craciun / Great Christmas Concert / Performance " - 2014 ( Antena 1 )

Awards

1987 - ACIN award for interpretation (for the character Mihai in the movie Liceenii / The Teenagers)

1995 – The best entertainment TV show - Ceaiul de la ora 5 / Five o'clock tea

1998 – The best TV satiric musical duo - Popeasca & Bănică, Moftul român / Romanian mood

1999 – The prize Big duos of the small screens - Popeasca & Bănică

1999 – The best rock singer, District-Dialog

2000 – First place, pop music section, Mamaia Festival

2001 – The best pop-rock album - “De dragoste…în toate felurile / Of love... in all ways“, Prizes of the Romanian Music Industry

2002 – First place, pop music section, Mamaia Festival

2002 – The best singer, Radio Romania

2002 – The artist of the year, Radio Romania

2002 – The most loved singer, Radio Bucharest

2002 – The most loved singer, Surprize, Surprize / Surprises, Surprises, TVR

2002 - DOUBLE GOLDEN DISC AND PLATINUM DISC - „De dragoste... în toate felurile / Of love... in all ways”

2003 – TV K Lumea prize

2003 – The best singer, Radio Romania

2003 – The year star, Music actuality

2004 – The BEST SOLO MUSIC PERFORMER, MTV ROMANIA MUSIC AWARDS

2004 – The most loved singer, Surprize, Surprize / Surprises, Surprises, TVR

2004 – Order Rank Of Knight, Presidency of Romania

2004 - GOLDEN DISC - „Zori de zi / Sunrise”

2005 – The most loved pop, rock, dance grup - Ştefan Bănică jr. and Rock'n'roll Band – prize received within the show of "Cei mai iubiţi / The most loved", TVR

2005 – The most popular song of the year 2005 - Veta – prize received within the show "Cei mai iubiţi / The most loved", TVR

2006 – The best solo musical performer - Ştefan Bănică jr. ("Numele tău / Your name") - MTV Romania Music Awards

2006 and 2007 - TV Mania magazine - Best TV-show for ordinary people - „ Dansez pentru tine (Dancing for you)” -Pro TV

2007 - MTV - Best song - Stefan Banica Jr featuring Stefan Banica Senior - Cum am ajuns să te iubesc(How did I get to love you); Best solo artist/performer - Toată lumea dansează (Everybody's dancing); Best live performance

2008 - Radio Romania Actualitati - best performer ; best pop album – Impreuna / Together

2008 – “The Celebrities of the year Gala”– Stefan Banica – The singer of the year

2009 – VIP Awards – the best theatrical production for “Barefoot in the park”

2009 – “The Celebrities of the year Gala”– Stefan Banica - The singer of the year

2009 – VIP Awards – the best musical show in Romania – Stefan Banica