''Largo Winch'' is a
television program
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, e ...
based on the
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
comic book series
of the same name by
Philippe Francq
Philippe Francq (; born 13 December 1961) is a Belgian comic book artist, best known for the series ''Largo Winch''.
Biography
Philippe Francq was born in Etterbeek in 1961.De Weyer, Geert (2005). "Philippe Francq". In België gestript, pp. 111 ...
and
Jean Van Hamme
Jean, knight Van Hamme (born 16 January 1939) is a Belgian novelist and comic book writer. He has written scripts for a number of Belgian/French comic series, including ''Histoire sans héros'', ''Thorgal'', ''XIII'' and ''Largo Winch''.
Biogr ...
that first aired on January 26, 2001 in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
on
M6, and May 3, 2001 in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
on
ProSieben
ProSieben (, ''sieben'' is German for "seven"; often stylized as Pro7) is a German free-to-air television network owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media.
It was launched on 1 January 1989. It is Germany's second-largest privately owned television company ...
. The show lasted two seasons. Guest stars included
Kim Poirier
Kim Jacinthe Poirier (born February 6, 1980) is a Canadian actress, singer, film producer, and television host.
Biography
Personal life
Born in Drummondville, Quebec, the daughter of actress/model Carol Laquerre who was Miss Toronto in 1976, sh ...
,
Vernon Dobtcheff
Vernon Dobtcheff (born 14 August 1934) is a British actor, best known for his roles on television and film, he has acted in numerous stage productions.
Biography
Dobtcheff was born in Nîmes, France, of Russian descent. He attended Ascham Prep ...
,
Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Ann Cuthbert Phaneuf (; born 30 November 1982) is a Canadian actress and model. As a Child actor, child actress, she made her first televised appearance as an extra in the Canadian horror-themed series for children ''Are You Afraid of the ...
,
Olga Kurylenko
Olga Kostyantynivna Kurylenko ( uk, Ольга Костянтинівна Куриленко; born 14 November 1979) is a Ukrainian and French actress and model. She started her acting career in 2005, and first found success as an actress for ...
and
David Carradine
David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series ''Kung Fu'', playi ...
.
Plot
Largo Winch (
Paolo Seganti
Paolo Seganti (born 20 May 1964 in Rovereto, Trentino, Italy), is an Italian actor and model, known for playing Damian Grimaldi in the CBS television soap opera ''As the World Turns''.
Career
Seganti is known for his portrayal of Damian Grimald ...
) is a 28-year-old adventurer, drifting around the world, searching for himself. Along the way he's picked up with Simon Ovrannaz (
Diego Wallraff
Diego is a Spanish language, Spanish masculine given name. The Portuguese language, Portuguese equivalent is Diogo (name), Diogo. The name also has several patronymic derivations, listed below. The etymology of Diego is disputed, with two majo ...
), an ex-thief he met in a Turkish prison. The two are best friends...almost brothers.
Then one day, Largo's life is changed forever when he learns that Nerio Winch (
David Carradine
David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series ''Kung Fu'', playi ...
), the step-father he barely knew, is dead. Nerio is an
Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Socrates Onassis (, ; el, Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης, Aristotélis Onásis, ; 20 January 1906 – 15 March 1975), was a Greek-Argentinian shipping magnate who amassed the world's largest privately-owned shipping fleet and wa ...
-like billionaire who secretly adopted Largo as a child, but never took him in. Instead, he paid a family in Luxembourg to raise him, then sent him to a monastery as a teenager to be educated. Nerio paid the bills, and that was pretty much the extent of their relationship. These last few years, they barely saw each other.
Now Nerio has committed suicide because he was dying of a brain tumor...and, incredibly, has left his vast fortune and control of Group W, his multi-national corporate empire, to Largo. Largo is overwhelmed by the responsibility of this sudden inheritance. The board of directors at Group W despise him, thinking him unworthy and incompetent.
Then Largo receives an astonishing video recorded by his step-father just before his death. On it, Nerio reveals that he was once a member of a mysterious organization called ''The Adriatic Commission'', a secret conspiracy of billionaires and politicians who work to control the economic and political destiny of the world for their own ends. For years they have tried to kill Nerio for leaving. In the video Nerio says that if he is dead, despite what the official cause of death may be, it is because they have finally succeeded. Nerio ends by charging Largo with using Group W to seek out and destroy ''The Commission'' and uncover the names of its secret members.
Eventually Largo discovers another bit of amazing information. Nerio was not his step-father at all, but his biological parent. He kept Largo's existence a secret to protect him from ''The Commission'', which would have surely used the son against the father.
And so Largo faces a series of enormous challenges. He must learn to run one of the world's biggest corporations, all the while being opposed and undermined at every turn by his own board of directors. They are led by Michel Cardignac (
Charles Powell), a charming, scheming, ruthless executive who will do whatever he can to see Largo ousted and himself at the head of Group W.
Largo must also follow his father's wishes and try to expose and destroy The Adriatic Commission. And since The Commission is determined to gain control of Group W, they are always shadowing him, always waiting for an opportunity to pounce and destroy him.
But Largo is an adventurer at heart, not a businessman. And so, at every opportunity, he bolts the boardroom and sets off in search of excitement. But he doesn't go alone. He's assisted by Joy Arden (
Sydney Penny
Sydney Margaret Penny (born August 7, 1971) is an American actress. She is known for her portrayal of Julia Santos Keefer on the soap opera ''All My Children'' and Samantha "Sam" Kelly on the CBS soap opera ''The Bold and the Beautiful''. She ...
), a beautiful ex-CIA agent who used to work for Group W's security under Nerio, and Georgi Kerensky (
Geordie Johnson
Geordie () is a nickname for a person from the Tyneside area of North East England, and the dialect used by its inhabitants, also known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English. There are different definitions of what constitute ...
), a former KGB agent who left Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union.
His biggest ally inside Group W is John Sullivan (
Serge Houde
Serge Houde (born February 16, 1953) is a Canadian film and television character actor.
He is best known for his role in Jon Cassar's Emmy-nominated miniseries '' The Kennedys'' playing the notorious Chicago mafia boss Sam Giancana opposite Tom ...
), head of the Group W legal department and a member of the board of directors. He was Nerio's best friend, and swore to do all he could to help Largo navigate the treacherous waters of Nerio's empire.
Cast
*
Paolo Seganti
Paolo Seganti (born 20 May 1964 in Rovereto, Trentino, Italy), is an Italian actor and model, known for playing Damian Grimaldi in the CBS television soap opera ''As the World Turns''.
Career
Seganti is known for his portrayal of Damian Grimald ...
as Largo Winch
*
Sydney Penny
Sydney Margaret Penny (born August 7, 1971) is an American actress. She is known for her portrayal of Julia Santos Keefer on the soap opera ''All My Children'' and Samantha "Sam" Kelly on the CBS soap opera ''The Bold and the Beautiful''. She ...
as Joy Arden
*
Diego Wallraff
Diego is a Spanish language, Spanish masculine given name. The Portuguese language, Portuguese equivalent is Diogo (name), Diogo. The name also has several patronymic derivations, listed below. The etymology of Diego is disputed, with two majo ...
as Simon Ovronnaz
*
Serge Houde
Serge Houde (born February 16, 1953) is a Canadian film and television character actor.
He is best known for his role in Jon Cassar's Emmy-nominated miniseries '' The Kennedys'' playing the notorious Chicago mafia boss Sam Giancana opposite Tom ...
as John Sullivan
*
Geordie Johnson
Geordie () is a nickname for a person from the Tyneside area of North East England, and the dialect used by its inhabitants, also known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English. There are different definitions of what constitute ...
as Georgy Kerensky
*
Tyrone Benskin
Tyrone Benskin (born 29 December 1958) is an English-Canadian actor, theatre director and politician. He was elected Member of Parliament in the Jeanne-Le Ber riding, in Montreal, Quebec, in the 2011 Canadian federal election and served as an M ...
as Waldo Buzetti
*
Sonia Benezra Sonia Benezra (born September 25, 1960 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian TV and radio interviewer and personality and actress who formerly hosted shows on MusiquePlus, MusiMax, MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic. She hosted a daily live talk show on the ...
as Alicia Del Ferill
*
Charles Powell as Michel Cardignac
*
Victoria Sanchez as Vanessa Ovronnaz
*
Michelle Lipper
Michelle may refer to:
People
*Michelle (name), a given name and surname, the feminine form of Michael
* Michelle Courtens, Dutch singer, performing as "Michelle"
* Michelle (German singer)
* Michelle (Scottish singer) (born 1980), Scottish wi ...
as Marissa Green
*
Agathe De La Boulaye
Agathe de La Boulaye is a French film and television actress. She played Adele Rousseau in 2004 science fiction film ''Alien vs. Predator''. In 2008 she played quadriplegic psychiatrist Claire Etxebarra in the television series '' Disparitions, ...
as Diana Murray
*
Lucie Jeanne
Lucie Jeanne (born 13 March 1976) is a French television actress
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media su ...
as Danielle Haddad
Guest
*
Babsie Steger
Babsie Steger (born 1968) is an Austrian television actress, dancer, singer and television presenter.
Biography
Babsie Steger was born in Waidhofen an der Ybbs in Lower Austria. She left her native Austria at age 18 after studying classical d ...
as Anna Faubert (Season 1, Episode 14)
Episodes
Season 1
# The Heir (part one) (Pilot)
# The Heir (part two) (Pilot)
# Legacy
# Just Cause
# Sins of the Father
# Revenge
# Arctic Project
# AKA: Vanessa
# Blind Eye
# Queen of Hearts
# Sylvia
# Nuclear Family
# Contessa Vanessa
# Briefcase
# Endgame
# Redemption
# Cheap Thrills
# Blast from the Past
# Dear Abby
# Forget Me Not
# Flashback
# Court of Last Resort
# The Hunted
# Business as Usual
# See You in Court
# Revelations
Season 2
# Bloodlines
# A Breed Apart
# Love Hurts
# Cold Hearted
# Skin Deep
# Psycho Killer
# Scent of Suspicion
# Killer Cardignac
# Hot Property
# Rest and Relaxation
# Down on the Pharm
# Errors of Commission
# Time in a Bottle
External links
*
TV Section of the LargoWinch.net WikiForums dedicated to Largo Winch {{in lang, en, fr
2001 French television series debuts
2001 French television series endings
2001 German television series debuts
2001 German television series endings
2000s Canadian drama television series
2001 Canadian television series debuts
2001 Canadian television series endings
2001 American television series debuts
2001 American television series endings
French action television series
Television shows filmed in Montreal
Television series by CBS Studios
Adaptations of works by Jean Van Hamme
Television series based on Belgian comics
Television series by Muse Entertainment
ProSieben original programming