Vico Torriani

Swiss actor and Schlager singer.

Born into a family of Lombard origin, Torriani grew up in St. Moritz where he trained as a cook and pastry chef, already making appearances as a singer. He later opened a restaurant in Basel and wrote cookbooks. Having won a talent competition in 1945, he toured several West European countries and in 1949 entered the Swiss charts, followed by his breakthrough in West Germany in 1951. The next year he gave his debut on Swiss television, later also on the German ARD broadcaster, where he hosted several TV shows with numerous guest stars.

In the 1950s and 1960s he also acted in musical films, operettas and musical theatre. He competed to represent Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1958 but fell against Margot Hielscher. From 1967 he succeeded Lou van Burg hosting the TV show Der goldene Schuß on the West German ZDF broadcaster until the production discontinued in 1970. In the 1970s he attained further success with Schlager and Volkstümliche Musik songs. Torrini received a Bambi lifetime achievement award in 1995.

He died on 26 February 1998, aged 77, in Agno, Switzerland.