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Paul DiMeo
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Paul DiMeo

Paul DiMeo, while best known as the carpenter with attitude on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, is also an established actor, a man's man and the first to cry on this hit show. Think of a man, raised by Italian parents, who loves building the kitchen table as much as what goes on around it, and you have a true sense of the essence that is Paul DiMeo.

DiMeo is particularly renowned for his imaginative work on children's bedrooms. With boundless warmth and genuine nature, he remembers his early Pennsylvania roots and in particular how, at age five, he began his affair with home renovation after the family home burned to the ground. "My father and I embarked upon our own extreme makeover to reconstruct the family home." Indeed DiMeo's hallmark is his deep understanding of family hardship that shines through as the show's rugged carpenter with a heart of gold.

Originally from Media, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of five children, DiMeo attended Point Park College in Pittsburgh and majored in Theater Arts. He began perfecting his skill of set-building for the Pittsburgh Playhouse, while also developing his other big love -- acting. While serving as stage manager for the American Dance Ensemble, he started to build his own resume. A move to New York proved lucrative. Continuing to build a reputation for appearing both on and off the stage, and while living in the East Village, DiMeo befriended the owners of the Open Space Theater on St. Mark's Place, built sets, learned the art of dumpster diving and went on to freelance for the Dance Theater of Harlem, the Yiddish Theater, Carnegie Hall and numerous off-Broadway and Broadway venues. He also pioneered the Loft Living project, working on the renovation of lofts and brownstones, and as master carpenter renovated the Landmark Brownstone of Aaron Burr.

Off-Broadway DiMeo played the lead in director Al Carmines' In Circles and was stage manager for On 2nd Avenue and The Golden Boy. As a resident actor, he played Hamlet at King's County Shakespeare, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, as well as lead roles in The Bull and Wisdom's Age at the New York One Act Festival, winning first place for his performance. He has also appeared off-off Broadway in numerous roles, in particular at the 29th Street Playhouse and the Actors Repertory Theater. For television he co-starred with John Lithgow on 3rd Rock from the Sun and guest-starred on New York Undercover; and for feature film he played the lead in director Peter Maguire's No School Today and, demonstrating his great love for kids, was Sparky in the children's feature video, Sparky Moves to Manhattan.

After 17 years in New York, DiMeo decided to move to Los Angeles. Once again he continued the Loft Living movement by moving into an old firehouse in downtown L.A. He excelled in his field, renovating the homes and businesses of Hollywood's movers and shakers. His client list includes the Beverly Hills Ralph Lauren Polo store, the William Morris Agency, Glenn Close, Joan and Marty Ransholff, Arnold Rifkin, David Niven Jr., Ann Archer, Marjorie Lord, Angelo DeSapio and -- his most memorable client -- George Hamilton. DiMeo was diagnosed with high cholesterol several years ago and actively campaigns to raise awareness. He recently teamed up with WomenHeart, the Association of Black Cardiologists and AstraZeneca, to educate consumers about the importance of identifying and maintaining a cholesterol goal as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

For DiMeo, life is all about finding humor in the little things you do, while keeping a smile and making a joke here and there. Something he takes very seriously.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2007.

Paul DiMeo Facts

OccupationTV Host, Actor

Selected Filmography

Not available.