Demetri in the Youtube Red Series 'Cobra Kai'

Gianni DeCenzo | Biography

Initially got a Paid Role in a Non-union Insurance Advert

• By Ojasbi
• Update : September 08, 2021

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Gianni DeCenzo is an American actor widely recognized for his appearance as Demetri in the Youtube Red series Cobra Kai. 

Who is Gianni Decenzo?

Gianni DeCenzo is an American actor born on 27 October 2001 in Los Angeles. He initially started his acting career through commercials. Eventually, he began appearing as a brief guest on television shows, namely Dark Wall, The Middle, Eagleheart, and Back in the Game, in early 2010.

He is most recognized for his appearance in the TV series Cobra Kai (2018-present) as Demetri, a teenager who gets the confidence to tackle bullying after learning karate.

Who is Gianni DeCenzo Related to?

DeCenzo was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He belongs to a family of four, comprising his father, Vince DeCenzo, his mother, Susan DeCenzo, and an older brother Anthony. His parents run the disability support organization Helpful Hands Respite Services in the Santa Clarita Valley. The agency focuses on individuals with intellectual disabilities. His brother Anthony has autism and intense obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Gianni once referenced his autistic brother’s behavioral features in a role as a juvenile schizophrenic. 

At the age of 8, DeCenzo approached his parents and expressed his willingness to be on television. Supporting DeCenzo’s interest, his mother took some of his portraits in his “best little button-up shirt” in their front yard and got him prepared to be represented right away.

“They actually have a pretty extensive background in acting. They actually met in an acting class, and then my dad proposed in that same acting class. So, acting is very much in my family, and I just wanted to try it. At first, my parents were like, “Okay, we’ll do this a little bit. Maybe he’ll be able to get his SAG card and make a few bucks so that he can pay for college.’”

 His early years necessitated a lot of self-promotion and free work, which included acting in student films. He would in the future appear in hit shows such as Cobra Kai.

DeCenzo was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as just a teenager.

Career Start and Filmography

DeCenzo initially got a paid role in a non-union insurance advert for which he appeared alongside a 6,000-pound baby elephant called Suzy. 

He made a brief appearance in the TV series Dark Wall as Daniel in 2012. Additionally, he made guest appearances in several TV shows, namely, The Middle (2013) playing the role of a boy, The League (2013) as Young Ruxin, Eagleheart (2013) as Butch McCallister, Back in the Game (2014) as Nick Patoulis, Liv and Maddie (2014) as Young Joey, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street (2014) as Lance, 100 Things to Do Before High School as Arthur Pickwickle in 2015 and 2016 and Paltrocast as Darren Paltrowitz in 2021. Later, he got featured on Coop & Cami Ask the World as Caleb Williger in 2019 and 2020, and Cobra Kai (2018-2021) as Demetri.

What movies are Gianni DeCenzo in?

He also starred in a few TV short movies, namely, The Lucky One (2011), Il Mantello (2012), and Fartcopter (2014), and a TV movie Saint Francis (2014). He as well worked in the romance thriller  37: A Final Promise in 2014.

‘Cobra Kai’

Gianni portrayed the character of Demetri in the YouTube Red series Cobra Kai, produced by Netflix.

This series is both a melancholic treat featuring the extremely anticipated reunion of the two arch-rivals from the iconic Karate Kid and a fantastic, enjoyable, and engaging television show.

DeCenzo plays the role of Demetri in the series. His character is a teenage survivor of the bully. The character starts his journey in the series as a mildly geeky loner. Later, the character progresses to become one of the series’ most experienced and powerful fighters with the help of a karate coach who always motivated him to be a little more confident. 

DeCenzo learned krav maga and army training for the series.

Will there be a season 4 of Cobra Kai?

The show just finished its third season in January 2021 and is gearing up for its fourth season premiere in December 2021.

The Audition

During a one-on-one phone interview with Collider in February 2021, Gianni said that the audition process of the series was unprecedented, probably because the creative team was too short of time for filming and wanted to choose someone for Demetri’s role in less than a week.

After being asked to perform the original cafeteria scene from Karate Kid, he revealed he got a phone call from the team to go out to Georgia for filming on the very weekend of the audition.

Is Gianni DeCenzo Dating?

DeCenzo confirmed that he has a girlfriend during an Instagram Q&A. Still, he had not given many hints about who she was until he posted an anniversary post on his social media handles on 2 May 2020 with Melissa Rivera. 

He wrote, “Happy anniversary baby (I love you).” Ever since then, he has been sharing couple-snaps on Instagram

On 3 November 2020, he wrote, “Thank you SOOOO much to this amazing girl for the best year ever. Happy 1 year bubu,” and shared a picture of them sitting together while DeCenzo put her into her arms from the backside.

Did You Know?

DeCenzo’s is a spontaneously creative individual who loves expressing himself in several ways. He enjoys drawing and is good at creating animated characters. He occasionally shares photos of his artwork with his Instagram followers.