Lanzoni, known plainly as Fabio in the show business world, was a member of the Italian Army before coming to the United States to live permanently.
He became famous as a model for book novel covers, and has made a few cameo movie appearances, as well as commercials for I Can't Believe Its Not Butter and for Wickes Furniture.
Fabio has even co-penned a romance novel, named Pirate.
The first novel's cover in which he appeared was the cover for Hearts Aflame in 1987.
Despite all his celebrity, Fabio remains a person who is accessible to fans and is not known for denying them autographs.