Edoardo Cicorini is an Italian-born fashion model, actor and entrepreneur. Costa's career began in the fashion industry in the early 1990s, when he worked for the modeling agencyWhy Not. While working as a model, Costa decided to begin studying acting in Paris, Milan, and Los Angeles. Following his studies, Costa went on to make various appearances on U.S. television. Some series included Baywatch, Arliss, and The Bold and the Beautiful. Following his success on US television, Costa also made a variety of independent American films, which led him to play his first major role in the film Live Free or Die Hard starring Bruce Willis. In the film, Costa played the role of Thomas Gabriel's henchman, Emerson. His debut major role in an American film was the 2011 drama called Down the Shore alongside James Gandolfini and Famke Janssen. Costa has made forays into theater by acting in the plays Bread Love Fantasy and Very Old Man, alongside Marcello Mastroianni. Costa has worked on numerous Italian soap operas, television series, films, and reality shows throughout his career.
Early life
Costa was born on 7 August 1967 in the town of Varese in Northern Italy, around 34 miles north of Milan. His father, Pietro, was a transport business owner, and his mother, Rosangela, worked at the local electric company. He had some sibling, a younger sister, Monica. Costa was educated in Italy and attended Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, which is considered the largest Catholic University in the world. He studied Philosophy while at the University. After completing his education, Costa served his military service as a Carabinieri in the mid-1980s. It was during this period in his life when he was discovered by a modelling scout in a local bar in Milan.
Career
1980s - 2007: Early work
After being spotted by a modelling scout, Costa began to work for the modelling agency, Why Not. The modelling agency was founded in 1976 and had managed many famous models, including Naomi Campbell. Following his modelling career, Costa's first acting appearance came in 1988, when he featured in the film, Human Error. After appearing in Human Error, Costa featured in a number of US TV shows, including Baywatch, Arliss, and The Bold and the Beautiful. His appearances on American television coincided with various roles on Italian television series. This began in 1996, when he played the role of Lorenzo Macchia on the show Un posto al sole. Over the next decade, he spent a number of years working on various Italian TV shows. His first role in a major film came in 2007, when he played the villain's henchman in Live Free or Die Hard. In 2007, Costa took control of Beatrice International Models, which is considered within the fashion industry as a similar agency to Ford Models, Elite and Next with former models including Iman and Stephanie Seymour. The venture catapulted Costa into the international spotlight. The modeling agency also began a formal dialogue with the National Eating Disorders Association and its CEO, Dr. Lynne Grefe. The effort made it the first international modeling agency to work together with the association to spread awareness and positive prevention about the diseases that have plagued the industry for decades. In 2007, Costa also opened The Actor’s Academy Milano. Inspired by his experience studying acting in America, Costa began one of the first schools in Europe to exclusively recruit Lifetime Members of the Actor’s Studio—as well as teachers from other prestigious American acting schools including the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, the Beverly Hills Playhouse and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, all of whom specialized in method acting using the system created by Konstantin Stanislavski. The Actor's Academy Milano has hosted acclaimed actors such as Martin Landau and Mickey Rourke.
2008 - present
In 2008 and in 2009, Striscia la notizia, a news program in Italy, raised concerns about the alleged embezzlement of funds of a non-profit organization founded by Costa for the benefit of children in Kenya and the inhabitants of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. On May 24, 2011, Costa was charged with fraud by prosecutors in Milan, Italy. On July 12, 2012, Costa was sentenced to three years of prison, a fine of 2,000 Euros and 7,000 Euros. Costa denied the charges and later appealed against the original verdict. In 2010, Costa had a major role as Colonel Tanelli in The Black Tulip. In the film he played the role of Colonel Tanelli. The film revolves around the Mansouri family, who open a restaurant in Kabul. The film was selected for screening as Afghanistan's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards. In 2013, he appeared in the film Non-Stop with Liam Neeson. In the film he played the role of Herve Philbert.
