Laughter is good for you, and that’s not just a saying. It’s backed by science: laughing releases endorphins, eases tension, lightens the mind and, in its own way, helps steady the heart.
In an era where the news can feel like a never-ending bulletin of misery—disasters, conflict and economic pressure—some people have turned comedy into a quiet daily mission offering relief, sparking a smile and gently poking fun at the human weaknesses we all share.
For John Barresi, that mission has lasted more than half a century.
An Australian actor, comedian and entertainer with deep Italian roots—his parents are Sicilian, from Vizzini in the province of Catania—Barresi has spent 51 years building a rare career defined by both longevity and consistency.
For decades, he has mined the familiar characters and dynamics of Italian family life, delivering humour that comes from observation and is shaped by affection, becoming a shared language for the Italian community Down Under.
“There’s nothing better than knowing you’ve had an impact on people, knowing you can make their day better,” he says.
“In a world that’s becoming very dark, that’s the passion that keeps me going. It’s my real reason for living—the reason I get up in the morning.”
While the stage has always been his natural home, Barresi’s work has also reached film and television audiences. Over the years he has appeared in productions including Stingers (1998), The Wog Boy (2000) and La Spagnola (2001)—a film that was even put forward as Australia’s contender for the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category.
“I’ve been doing theatre for more than half a century. Stage work is very demanding. It takes so much out of you, and I don’t want to be like some people in other fields who keep going past their time,” he shares, framing his decision as one rooted in respect for the audience.
“As long as I feel good, I have energy, I know I’m still making people laugh and I know there are still people who want to listen to me, I want to keep going.”
That’s exactly why Barresi is now preparing to close the chapter on live performances and move into a new phase: a six-episode television series built around one of his most loved characters, Nonno Turi.
“I’ll be the actor, writer and producer,” he says plainly.
It’s a project he has been developing slowly, with the goal of giving the character a life beyond theatre, preserved in the permanence of the digital world.
And for anyone worried his humour might stumble in the age of political correctness, Barresi doesn’t flinch.
“I’m not interested in what’s politically correct. If something is real—a fact or a characteristic—I’ll talk about it. If people don’t like it, they can watch something else,” he says.
Barresi is determined to stay true to his voice: direct and unapologetically authentic. He’s ready for a new chapter while remaining unmistakably himself.
